New Orleans Breakers Flashback: Woodrow Wilson (VIDEO)

The New Orleans Breakers were a United States Football League franchise that played in the Louisiana Superdome for one season, in 1984. The Breakers began their USFL tenure in Boston, in 1983, but a stadium issue forced a move, allowing New Orleans real estate developer Joe Canizaro to buy the team, and move it to New Orleans for the 1984 season.

In 1984, the Breakers began the season 5-0, but went 3-10 the rest of the way, and missed the USFL playoffs.

New Orleans supported the team well, with the Breakers averaging 30,557 per game, but the USFL opted to move their schedule from the spring to the fall in 1986, and with the Saints in town, the franchise elected to move to Portland for the 1985 season.

All summer long, we’re looking back at former players for the New Orleans Breakers.

Today, defensive back/kick returner Woodrow Wilson:

Born in Hampton, Virginia, Wilson went on to play his college football at North Carolina St.,  from 1977-79. With the Wolfpack, Wilson twice earned All-ACC honors, and was also an All-American selection in 1979.

Wilson is currently tied with Lloyd Harrison for third all-time at North Carolina St. with 12 career interceptions.

A tenth round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1980 NFL Draft, Wilson decided to go north of the border and played the 1980 and 1981 season in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Wilson then moved on to the USFL, with the Boston Breakers in 1983, where he returned 15 punts for 122 yards, and 15 kickoff returns for 336 yards, while intercepting four passes.

When the Breakers moved to New Orleans in 1984, so did Wilson, where he returned 25 punts for 151 yards, and ten kickoffs for 158 yards.

A knee injury put an end to Wilson's career, after totaling seven career interceptions in the CFL and USFL, combined.

Below, watch Wilson, wearing number 20, and the Boston Breakers, take on the Los Angeles Express, from week 10 of the 1983 USFL season, back on Saturday, May 7, 1983: