Former American footballer Asante Samuel served as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the fourth round (120th overall) 2003 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. In college, he played football at the University of Central Florida. Samuel won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and made the playoffs in eight of his first nine National Football League seasons.
Asante Samuel: 6 Things About LA Chargers Asante Samuel Jr.’s Father Who Also Played!
1. Born in Fort Lauderdale:
The former United States football player came into this world on January 6, 1981.
2. It all began with the New England Patriots:
Samuel was picked in the fourth round of the 2003 draft, with 120 overall picks by the New England Patriots. At the start of the 2004 season, the Patriots were Ty Law and cornerback Tyrone Poole. After the accident put him out of action, Samuel became the top bracket from the start with the Patriots Super Bowl XXXIX won by New England.
In 2006, the Patriots started the season with Hobbs Samuel and Ellis as cornerbacks. At the end of the season, Samuel intercepted a record 10 passes, leading the NFL on a par with Champ Bailey of the Denver Broncos. This was also the second-best performance in Patriots franchise history ( after Ron Hall in 1964). Samuel shot the Patriots franchise record for most interceptions in a game with three in Game of the Week against 12 Chicago Bears.
In the 2006 playoffs, Samuel intercepted two passes and returned them in droves, landing first in the first-round victory over the New York Jets and then in the AFC Finals against the Indianapolis Colts which extended the Patriots advantage 21 -3.
On January 165, 2007, the Patriots applied the franchise tag to Samuel as August 27, 2007, he signed a one-year contract for $7.79 million. Samuel finished the regular season in 2007 with six interceptions, a hitting touchdown, and a Pro Bowl call-up helping the Patriots reach Super Bowl XLII undefeated.
With the Patriots leading 14-10 with less than two minutes to go, Samuel screwed up what would be the game-winning interception. In the next play, he dropped a pass from Eli Manning. Later, Eli completed a pass to David Tyree and the game ended with the New York Giants winning instead of the Patriots if Samuel had caught Eli’s pass.
3. Winning the Superbowls with the Patriots:
He has won two Super Bowls with his former team the New England Patriots, as well as being elected to the Pro Bowl in both 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
4. Playing for the Philadelphia Eagles:
Samuel was one of the most coveted free agent deals in 2008. On March 1, 2008, he signed a six-year deal for $56 million with the Eagles. Upon signing, he said, “I want to just win and return back to the Super Bowl. Asante Samuel played his first regular season game against the Eagles on September 7, 2008, against the St. Louis Rams.
He finished the season with a touchdown, four interceptions and was called up to his second Pro Bowl. On January 4, 2009, Samuel returned an NFL-record 44-yard touchdown interception on the fourth return for playoff touchdowns. The following week, Samuel intercepted Eli Manning, returning him to the two-yard line of Giants territory. It marked his seventh interception in the playoffs, after the retirement of Rodney Harrison, which put him first among active players. Samuel and Harrison are currently tied for fifth in NFL history in career playoff interceptions.
December 20, 2009 against the San Francisco 49ers, Samuel began posting his eighth interception of the year surpassing the Troy Vincent record for a player under Andy Reid set up in 1999.
Concluding with nine interceptions, Samuel tied for second in Eagles history with Don Burroughs (1960) and Ed “Bibbles” Bawel (1955). At the end of the year, he was called up to his third Pro Bowl the following year for the quarter.
The 2011 season was the last with the Eagles where he scored three interceptions, 10 deflected passes, and a forced fumble.
5. Career with the Atlanta Falcons:
The Atlanta Falcons acquired Samuel from the Eagles on April 25, 2012, in exchange for a seventh-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft.
With a last-second win over Oakland Raiders, Atlanta went undefeated in six weeks with Samuel decisively intercepting a pass from Carson Palmer 2 minutes and 40 seconds from time and returning 79 yards for a touchdown.
In Week 10, the Falcons’ second interception of the season wasn’t enough to prevent the Saints’ first loss of the season at home. Samuel had one interception recorded in each of the last three races of the season, against the Giants, Lions, and Buccaneers. The latter was the 50th of his career. Atlanta finished with the best record in the conference and in the playoffs the Falcons knocked out the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round, but exited against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Finals.
In 2013, Atlanta dropped to a 4-12 record, with Samuel posting 30 tackles and one interception.
6. Retirement:
On February 5, 2014 Asante Samuel was a free agent as the Falcons released him from their contract. He has since retired from the NFL.