As quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, Woodley is best known as the bridge between the eras of hall of famers Bob Griese and Dan Marino.
Despite being an eighth-round selection in the 1980 NFL draft and initially fourth on the depth chart, he was elected the team MVP for his rookie season in 1980.
Despite starting the game well with a 76-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Cefalo, Woodley and the entire offense then struggled, with no completions in eight attempts in the second half.
The ongoing struggles prompted coach Don Shula to insert Marino, then a rookie, into the lineup midway through a 17–7 road loss to the New Orleans Saints in week five.
He would compete with Mark Malone for his new team's starting quarterback job, as elbow problems had forced Terry Bradshaw to retire and Cliff Stoudt had left for the USFL.
Notified by head coach Chuck Noll that Malone, and not he, would be the starter for the upcoming 1986 season,[9][10] Woodley abruptly retired in June[11] despite being the Steelers' highest-paid player ($500,000).
[12] In 1987, the Green Bay Packers acquired Woodley from the Steelers for a draft pick,[9][10] but his stay was short, and his playing career officially ended when he was released in late August.