From Como to the Super Bowl, Riq Woolen’s parents stood beside him every step of the way.
Tariq “Riq” Woolen made quite a name for himself as a cornerback with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL.
Woolen’s journey began in Fort Worth, and he graduated from Arlington Heights High School.
He then took his talents to the UTSA Roadrunners, where he made a pivotal switch from wide receiver to cornerback.
This change would ultimately define his professional career.
The Seattle Seahawks selected him in the fifth round (153rd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Woolen wasted no time making his mark in the NFL. At the 2022 NFL Combine, he ran a blazing 4.26-second 40-yard dash, tied for fourth-best in Combine history at the time.
He earned his first career start in the 2022 season opener against the Denver Broncos and went on to record six interceptions — tying for the most in the league that year.
He became the only rookie in over a decade to record four consecutive games with an interception and earned a Pro Bowl selection in his very first season.
He was also a finalist for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Woolen continued to anchor Seattle’s secondary in subsequent seasons, recording solid tackle numbers, pass deflections, and interceptions year after year.
In 2025, he hit the peak of his career. The Seahawks clinched Super Bowl LX, besting the New England Patriots 29–13.
Woolen played a key role in the championship win, recording four tackles. This performance solidified his reputation as one of the NFL’s elite cornerbacks.
Riq Woolen’s Parents Helped Shape His Path to NFL Success
Riq Woolen’s parents — father Jerome Woolen and mother Nola Davis — raised him in Fort Worth’s historic Como neighborhood, a working-class Black community with deep roots dating back over a century.
The family originally planted roots in Como after moving from Marshall in East Texas, and they remained through the neighborhood’s many changes over the decades.
Jerome has often spoken about how Como was built by domestic workers determined to create something lasting — his own mother among them.
Jerome Woolen is a longtime youth football coach who has dedicated himself to developing young athletes in the Como community.
He coached the Como/Purple and Gold Lions teams in Fort Worth, where he mentored not just Riq but also other local players who eventually reached the NFL, including defensive lineman Milton Williams of the Patriots.
Jerome also works at a community center near Arlington Heights High School, Riq’s alma mater.
He runs his program with a firm but nurturing hand — players must commit fully, and each one must name a college they plan to attend or find another team.
For Jerome, football is a pathway to bigger things, and education always takes priority alongside the sport.
Jerome has been quite vocal about the pride he feels watching Riq achieve greatness.
Following the Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX win in February 2026, Jerome was on the field, his family around him, and he called it “the ultimate stage,” a “truly a blessing.”
He emphasized that the victory wasn’t just a personal triumph; it was a win for their whole community.
Jerome sees Riq’s accomplishments as a counter to the negative stereotypes often associated with places like Como, viewing the neighborhood’s ongoing transformation as positive “progression” that the community has worked hard for.
Most touchingly, Jerome describes his son as still humble through it all — “a big kid having fun” — even after achieving NFL stardom.
Nola Davis, Riq’s mother, has been a fiercely supportive presence throughout his journey.
She’s marked each achievement with genuine enthusiasm and a sense of accomplishment.
When Riq snagged his Pro Bowl nod as a rookie in December 2022, he recalled his mother’s immediate reaction: she couldn’t wait to share the news over the phone.
At the Super Bowl LX celebration in 2026, Nola called the achievement a “dream come true” and said she was “just glad I was there to help him celebrate.”
Photos taken after the championship captured her in a custom jacket, a tribute to her son, the Super Bowl champion. It was a mother’s pride, displayed for the world.
The broader Como community has rallied around the Woolen family over the years.
Former Arlington Heights coach Phil Young praised how well Riq’s parents raised him, saying that Riq “worked hard and always showed up.”
Riq’s aunt, Brenetta Ashley, has highlighted the role of the community center in his development and called the family’s journey “ecstatic” and “blessed.”
Seniors in the neighborhood pray for Riq, and residents gathered at the community center during Super Bowl week to cheer him on.
Jerome and Nola raised Riq not just as an athlete but as a member of a community that remains central to who he is.
Riq Woolen’s Siblings Have Proudly Supported His Journey To the NFL
Riq Woolen, who possesses African American ethnicity, grew up alongside one brother and one sister in the Como neighborhood of Fort Worth.
His brother, Taaj Woolen — known online as BigTaaj — has publicly celebrated Riq’s journey from the very beginning.
When Riq finally stepped onto the NFL field in 2022, Taaj didn’t hold back on social media, sharing his pride with a post that read,
“Good luck to My Brother Tariq in his NFL Debut today. I know you are very excited and I am as well, you worked very hard to get to this…”
@tariqwoolen 😂😂😂Momma was finna crash out #birthday #happybirthday #mom #momsoftiktok #surprise #scared #blackmoms #funny #fighter #fypage #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Tariq Woolen
Taaj has continued to cheer for Riq throughout his NFL career, and fan communities have frequently mentioned him in discussions about the Seahawks’ cornerback.
Riq also has a younger sister, though the family has chosen to keep her identity private.
Biographical profiles and college rosters confirm her existence, but neither her name nor personal details have surfaced in any interviews, NFL profiles, or social media tied to the family.
Both Jerome and Nola grew up in the same Como environment that shaped Riq.
They played on the Como Lions’ Little League fields and drew fortitude from the strong bonds within their community.
The principles Jerome and Nola emphasized—discipline, diligence, dedication, and a sense of belonging—were evident in all three siblings.
