Corey Wootton

Corey Andrew Wootton was born on June 22, 1987, in Rutherford, New Jersey. He developed his football skills at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey, before attending Northwestern University. During his collegiate career at Northwestern, Wootton distinguished himself. In 2006, after a medical hardship year in 2005, he became the first Northwestern player since 1995 to achieve every major defensive statistic in a single season. He was the team’s seventh-leading tackler, leading in sacks, and leading in tackles for loss. His performance earned him a Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-American selection and a spot on the Sporting News Freshman All-Big Ten team. In 2007, he continued to excel, ranking second on the team in tackles for loss and pass deflections, and second among defensive linemen with 39 tackles. As a junior in 2008, he received first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors and was named Northwestern’s Most Valuable Player.

Wootton’s professional career began when he was selected in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He played for the Bears from 2010 to 2013, making his mark by recording his first career sack against Brett Favre in 2010, which led to Favre’s concussion and eventual retirement. In 2012, Wootton appeared in all 16 games with seven starts, accumulating seven sacks and scoring his first career touchdown off a blocked punt. In 2013, he exhibited versatility by shifting to defensive tackle due to injuries to teammates. Following his tenure with the Bears, he signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings on March 20, 2014, playing one season before joining the Detroit Lions on a one-year deal on May 14, 2015. He played his final NFL season in 2014, retiring on July 26, 2016, after six seasons in the league. Post-retirement, Wootton transitioned into broadcasting, providing football coverage as an analyst for Fox Chicago and the Big Ten Network.