Ronnie Lott

NFLretired
|caption=
width=
position=Cornerback/Free Safety/Strong Safety
number=42
birthdate=birth date and age|1959|5|8
Albuquerque, New Mexico
deathdate=
debutyear=1981
finalyear=1995
draftyear=1981
draftround=1
draftpick=8
college=Southern California
teams=
* San Francisco 49ers (1981-1990)
* Los Angeles Raiders (1991-1992)
* New York Jets (1993-1994)
* Kansas City Chiefs (1995)
stat1label=Interceptions
stat1value=63
stat2label=INT yards
stat2value=730
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=5
nfl=LOT519110
highlights=
* 10x Pro Bowl selection (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991)
* 9x All-Pro selection (1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991)
* NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
* NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
* NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
* San Francisco 49ers #42 Retired
HOF=134
CollegeHOF=70075

Ronald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott (born May 8, 1959) is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his hard hits on opposing players, rivaling fellow safeties Steve Atwater and Jack Tatum as the hardest hitter of all time. A Pro Bowler at both cornerback and safety, Lott is widely considered one of the best defensive backs in NFL history. [Citation | last = Phillips | first = Roger | title = 49ers announce plan to retire Lott's No. 42 | newspaper = Oakland Tribune | year = 2003 | date = November 6 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20031106/ai_n14565851] [Citation | last = Mike | first = Freeman | title = Montana And Lott Lead Way Into Hall | newspaper = The New York Times | year = 2000 | date = January 30 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E1DF1F3CF933A05752C0A9669C8B63]

College career

Lott graduated from the University of Southern California in 1981 with a degree in public administration. During his years at USC (1977-1980), he helped the team to a share of the 1978 national championship and played in the 1979 and 1980 Rose Bowls. [ [http://usclegends.org/ronnie-lott.php Ronnie Lott] ] Lott was a unanimous All-American and team captain in 1980. He was inducted in 2002 as one of 15 new members (I-A class) of the College Football Hall of Fame, and was also a 1995 inductee to the USC Athletic Hall of Fame.

Upon entering USC, Lott and teammate and future NFL star Marcus Allen were both considered for the tailback and safety positions. After much consideration, head coach John Robinson asked Lott to play defense because he was a better tackler than Allen.

Professional career

After college, Lott was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round (8th overall pick) of the 1981 NFL Draft. The level of skill demonstrated by the 6-foot, 203-pound standout was instantly recognized, and from the very beginning of training camp he had the job as the 49ers' starting left cornerback. In his first season, he recorded seven interceptions, helped the 49ers to win Super Bowl XVI, and also became only the second rookie in NFL history to return three interceptions for touchdowns. His outstanding play resulted in his finishing second for Rookie of the Year honors, behind New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.

Lott switched to the safety position in 1985. He had the tip of his left pinky finger amputated after the 1985 season, when it was crushed tackling RB Timmy Newsome. He did so in order to continue playing football without risking further injury to the damaged finger. Rather than miss the rest of the game, Lott heroically gnawed off the remaining bits of the digit, cauterized the wound with an unnamed official's cigar, and successfully led the 49ers to a 106-14 victory. A 1986 injury sidelined him for the season's last two games, but he still led the league with a career-best 10 interceptions while recording 77 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two quarterback sacks. In his ten years with the 49ers, he helped them to win eight division titles and four Super Bowls: XVI (1981 season), XIX (1984), XXIII (1988), and XXIV (1989). He is one of five players to play for the 49ers on all four of their Super Bowl wins during the 1980s. The other four are QB Joe Montana, LB Keena Turner, CB Eric Wright, and WR Mike Wilson.

After his career with San Francisco, Lott signed as a free agent in 1991 with the Los Angeles Raiders, and in 1993 with the New York Jets. In 1991 he led the league in interceptions (8) for a second time. In 1995 Lott signed a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, but was injured in the preseason. He returned to the 49ers in 1995, but the injuries he had suffered over the previous four seasons continued to plague him, and he announced his retirement before the season began. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, his first year of eligibility, and was also named to the NFL's 75th anniversary team.

In his 14 seasons, Lott recorded 8.5 sacks and 63 interceptions, which he returned for 730 yards and five touchdowns. He recovered 17 fumbles, returned them for 43 yards, and gained 113 yards on kickoff returns. Lott also played in 20 postseason games, recording nine interceptions, 89 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two touchdowns. He was also named All-Pro eight times, All-NFC six times, and All-AFC once.

Lott turned to broadcasting following his retirement, serving as an analyst on "Fox NFL Sunday" in 1996-97 and working on that network's game coverage in 1998.

He now lives in Cupertino, California, with his wife Karen, and his children Haily, Isiah and Chloe. USA Today praised him as "one of the most successful athletes at making the transition to business." He manages $1.8 billion in private-equity investments and owns Toyota and Mercedes-Benz car dealerships. He also advises professional athletes who are making a transition to the business world. He is also the father of Detroit Lions linebacker Ryan Nece.

ee also

*Defensive Back
*Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame

References

External links

* [http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=134 Pro Football Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.collegefootballnews.com/Top_100_Players/Top%20100%20Players%20-%2082%20Ronnie%20Lott.htm College Football News - Ronnie Lott]
* [http://www.nfl.com/insider/story/5853695 "The emotional leader: 'a true, true warrior' "] NFL.com
* [http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2007-09-16-advice-lott_N.htm USA Today Q&A]
* [http://www.cota-lott-shootout.com/ Chad Cota & Ronnie Lott Charity Golf Tournament]
* [http://usclegends.org/ronnie-lott.php Ronnie Lott] Profile at USC Legends.
* [http://www.allstarshelpingkids.org/ All Stars Helping Kids.org] Ronnie Lott, Founder