Editing Randall Godfrey (section)

==Professional career==

===Dallas Cowboys===
Godfrey was selected by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in the second round of the [[1996 NFL draft]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=1996 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1996/draft.htm |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> after dropping because of his diminished production as a college senior. Although he was selected to play [[middle linebacker]], the level of skill and speed he demonstrated in [[training camp]], allowed the Cowboys to move him into different defensive positions.

He started the last six games of his rookie season at [[strongside linebacker]] replacing [[Broderick Thomas]]. The next year, he registered 149 tackles (second on the team), one sack and 2 passes defensed. In [[1998 NFL season|1998]], he finished with 115 tackles (fourth on the team), 3 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.

In [[1999 NFL season|1999]], he led the team with 143 tackles after being switched to his natural position at [[middle linebacker]], replacing [[Fred Strickland]] who was released.

In the 90's, the Cowboys organization felt they could find [[linebackers]] through the draft, without the need of paying a premium and adversely impacting the [[salary cap]], so they allowed talented and productive players like [[Ken Norton Jr.]], [[Darrin Smith]], [[Dixon Edwards]] and [[Robert Jones (linebacker)|Robert Jones]], to leave via free agency, instead of signing them into long-term contracts.

During the [[2000 NFL season|2000]] [[Free agent|free agency]] period, although Godfrey was firmly entrenched as the team starting [[middle linebacker]], the Cowboys chose not to match the offer he received from the [[Tennessee Titans]] and decided to let [[Dat Nguyen]] take over the position. He never missed a game in his four seasons in Dallas, recording 438 tackles, 5 quarterback sacks and 2 interceptions.

===Tennessee Titans===
In [[2000 NFL season|2000]], he set a career-high with 169 tackles and was named second-team [[All-Pro]]. He also registered 3 sacks, 6 passes defensed, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions.

Godfrey led the Titans in tackles each of his first two seasons with the team. Because of a right ankle injury he suffered in the season opener, he only played in 8 games (5 starts) during the [[2002 NFL season|2002 season]], finishing with 44 tackles and a sack.

Even though the Titans reworked his contract, with him agreeing to take less money, the team released him for salary cap reasons at the start of training camp in [[2003 NFL season|2003]].

===Seattle Seahawks===
Godfrey signed a one-year contract with the [[Seattle Seahawks]], where he started 14 games and had 59 tackles in [[2003 NFL season|2003]].

===San Diego Chargers===
The [[San Diego Chargers]] signed Godfrey to a three-year deal in [[2004 NFL season|2004]]. He was released after the [[2007 NFL draft]].<ref name="cut_1">{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2007 |title=Godfrey out as result of drafted LBs |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070430/news_1s30chnotes.html |publisher=[[The San Diego Union Tribune]]}}</ref>

===Washington Redskins===
On August 21, [[2007 NFL season|2007]], [[Washington Redskins]] coach [[Joe Gibbs]], seeking to rebuild an injury-riddled linebacking corps, talked Godfrey out of retirement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2007 |title=Gibbs the coach remains at the mercy of Gibbs the president |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=3004214 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=La Canfora |first=Jason |date=August 22, 2007 |title=Redskins Bring In Veteran Godfrey |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/21/AR2007082101890_pf.html}}</ref> He was not re-signed after the season and retired.

On October 28, [[2007 NFL season|2007]], Godfrey made critical remarks regarding [[New England Patriots]] head coach [[Bill Belichick]]. Following a game in which the Patriots defeated the Redskins 52–7, Godfrey accused Belichick of showing the Redskins "no respect" because the Patriots continued to call deep passing plays despite leading 38-0 entering the fourth quarter. Belichick defended his play calling, saying "When you're playing defense it's your job to stop them. It's not (the offense's) job to not score."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Curran |first=Tom |date=October 28, 2007 |title=Belichick gets under Godfrey's skin |publisher=NBCSports.com |url=http://www.nbcsports.com/portal/site/nbcsports/menuitem.6f806e473b4cb158fb00ec22493c2d04/?vgnextoid=03f04e2dff8e5110VgnVCM10000075c1d240RCRD&cpsextcurrchannel=1 |access-date=October 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030160456/http://www.nbcsports.com/portal/site/nbcsports/menuitem.6f806e473b4cb158fb00ec22493c2d04/?vgnextoid=03f04e2dff8e5110VgnVCM10000075c1d240RCRD&cpsextcurrchannel=1 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=October 30, 2007}}</ref>