Carnell Lake is a former American football player who played as a safety and cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was born on July 15, 1967, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college football.
Lake was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft and played for the team for ten seasons. He was known for his versatility and played both safety and cornerback positions during his career. Lake was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and was named to the NFL All-Pro team three times.
In 1995, Lake was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Year after recording six interceptions, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. He was a key member of the Steelers' defense during the 1990s, which was known for its physicality and toughness.
After leaving the Steelers in 1999, Lake signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he played for two seasons before retiring from the NFL in 2001. He finished his career with 25 interceptions, 16 sacks, and 10 forced fumbles.
After retiring from football, Lake became a coach and worked as an assistant coach for several NFL teams. He was the defensive backs coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2011 to 2017 and helped the team win two Super Bowl championships during that time.
In 2018, Lake was hired as the defensive backs coach for the UCLA Bruins, where he had played college football. He held that position for two seasons before being hired as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions in 2020.
Overall, Carnell Lake had a successful football career as a versatile and hard-hitting defensive player. He was a key member of the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense during the 1990s and went on to have a successful coaching career after retiring from the NFL.
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