Antoine Bethea is a retired American football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He was born on July 27, 1984, in Savannah, Georgia, and attended Howard University, where he played college football for the Howard Bison.
Bethea began his professional career in 2006 when he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a reliable player and became a starter in his rookie season. Bethea played for the Colts for eight seasons, during which he won Super Bowl XLI in 2007 and was named to the Pro Bowl twice in 2007 and 2009.
In 2014, Bethea signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent. He played for the 49ers for three seasons and was named team captain in his second year. Bethea was released by the 49ers in 2017 and signed with the Arizona Cardinals the same year. He played for the Cardinals for two seasons before announcing his retirement from the NFL in 2020.
Throughout his career, Bethea was known for his versatility and ability to play both strong and free safety positions. He was also known for his durability, having played in 199 out of 208 possible regular-season games during his career. Bethea finished his career with 1,356 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 24 interceptions, 78 passes defended, 12 forced fumbles, and 6 fumble recoveries.
Off the field, Bethea was active in philanthropy and community service. He founded the Safe Coverage Foundation in 2010, which provides educational and recreational opportunities for underprivileged youth. Bethea was also a member of the NFL Players Association's Executive Committee and served as a player representative for the Colts, 49ers, and Cardinals.
In conclusion, Antoine Bethea had a successful career in the NFL, playing for three different teams over 14 seasons. He was a reliable and versatile player who was known for his durability and leadership on and off the field. Bethea's contributions to the NFL and his community have left a lasting impact, and he will be remembered as one of the league's most respected players.
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