Hank Poteat is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He was born on September 14, 1976, in Brooklyn, New York, and attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he played college football for the Panthers.
Poteat was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played for the Steelers for two seasons before being traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. He spent one season with the Buccaneers before being released and signing with the New England Patriots in 2003.
Poteat played a key role in the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXVIII victory over the Carolina Panthers, intercepting a pass from Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme in the fourth quarter. He played for the Patriots for three seasons before being released and signing with the New York Jets in 2006.
Poteat played for the Jets for two seasons before being released and signing with the New Orleans Saints in 2008. He played in only one game for the Saints before being released and signing with the Cleveland Browns later that year. He played for the Browns for one season before being released and retiring from the NFL in 2010.
Throughout his NFL career, Poteat played in 121 games, starting in 10 of them. He recorded 195 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 7 interceptions, and 2 touchdowns. He was known for his versatility, as he played both cornerback and safety positions.
After retiring from the NFL, Poteat became a high school football coach in Florida. He also founded the Hank Poteat Foundation, which provides academic and athletic support to underprivileged children in his hometown of Brooklyn.
In conclusion, Hank Poteat had a successful NFL career, playing for five different teams over nine seasons. He was a versatile player who made a significant impact on the field, particularly in the Patriots' Super Bowl victory in 2004. After retiring from football, he continued to make a positive impact on his community through his coaching and philanthropic efforts.
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