Sammy Knight is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. He was born on September 10, 1975, in Pasadena, California, and attended San Fernando High School in Los Angeles. Knight played college football at the University of Southern California (USC) from 1993 to 1996, where he was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection.
Knight was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints in 1997 and played for the team for five seasons. He quickly established himself as a reliable and hard-hitting safety, earning a reputation as one of the best tacklers in the league. In 2001, he was named to the Pro Bowl and was also a first-team All-Pro selection.
After his stint with the Saints, Knight played for the Miami Dolphins for two seasons before joining the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005. He played for the Chiefs for two seasons and then spent one season with the Jacksonville Jaguars before finishing his career with the New York Giants in 2008.
Throughout his career, Knight was known for his toughness, durability, and leadership on and off the field. He was a team captain for several of the teams he played for and was respected by his coaches and teammates for his work ethic and dedication to the game.
In total, Knight played in 178 NFL games, starting in 164 of them. He recorded 1,172 tackles, 42 interceptions, 12 sacks, and 16 forced fumbles. He also scored four touchdowns, including one on a 90-yard interception return.
After retiring from football, Knight went on to pursue a career in coaching. He served as a defensive backs coach for the University of San Diego and the University of Arizona before joining the Miami Dolphins as a defensive assistant in 2016. In 2018, he was promoted to defensive backs coach for the Dolphins, a position he held until 2020.
Overall, Sammy Knight had a successful career in the NFL, earning numerous accolades and establishing himself as one of the best safeties of his era. His toughness, leadership, and work ethic made him a valuable asset to every team he played for, and his impact on the game will not be forgotten.
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