Antoine Bethea facts for kids
Bethea with the Giants in 2019
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| No. 41 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | July 27, 1984 Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 201 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Denbigh (Newport News, Virginia) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Howard (2002–2005) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 6 / Pick: 207 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Antoine Akeem Bethea (born July 27, 1984) is an American former football player. He played as a safety for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Bethea played college football for the Howard Bison. The Indianapolis Colts picked him in the 2006 NFL draft. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants. Antoine Bethea was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times. He won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts, beating the Chicago Bears.
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College Career Highlights
Antoine Bethea went to Howard University. He studied administration of justice there. He played for the Howard Bison football team. He started 31 of 37 games as a safety. In his first year, he played in five games. He made 13 tackles.
His second year was his best with 109 tackles. He had games with 13 or 14 tackles. He also got one sack, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He broke up six passes and blocked one kick.
In his third year, he had three interceptions. He also made two sacks and forced four fumbles. He broke up eight passes. He finished with 99 tackles. Bethea earned All-Mid-Eastern Conference honors. He was also named to the Black College All-American Team. He received these honors for three years in a row.
Bethea continued his success in his senior year. He made 88 tackles and broke up six passes. He also had a career-high four interceptions. This was his third year leading his team in tackles. His play earned him 1st-Team All-America honors.
As a three-year starter, Bethea made 309 tackles. He forced seven fumbles and recovered two. He also had 18 pass deflections and seven interceptions. He scored two touchdowns from recoveries.
Professional Football Journey
Many experts thought Bethea would be picked in the third or fourth round of the NFL draft. He was seen as one of the best safety players available.
Indianapolis Colts Years
The Indianapolis Colts chose Bethea in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He was the 21st safety picked that year.
Starting Strong in 2006
On July 30, 2006, the Colts signed Bethea to a four-year contract. He competed to be the starting free safety. Coach Tony Dungy named him the starter. He played alongside Bob Sanders.
He played his first professional game against the New York Giants. He made six tackles and broke up a pass. In Week 3, he had 12 tackles against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Week 9, he intercepted a pass from Tom Brady. Bethea started 14 games in his first year. He made 90 tackles and had one interception.
The Colts finished with a 12–4 record. Bethea played in his first playoff game on January 6, 2007. He intercepted a pass from Trent Green. The next week, he intercepted a pass from Steve McNair. The Colts then won the AFC Championship. They went on to Super Bowl XLI. On February 4, 2007, Bethea started in Super Bowl XLI. The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29–17.
2007 Season and Pro Bowl
Bethea remained the starting free safety. In Week 5, he had an interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 8, he made another interception. He finished the season with 65 tackles and four interceptions. The Colts had a 12–4 record. Bethea played in the AFC Divisional Round. He was later chosen for the 2008 Pro Bowl.
2008 Performance
Bethea continued as a starting safety. In Week 9, he made ten tackles against the New England Patriots. He finished the season with 101 tackles and two interceptions. He started all 16 games.
2009 and Another Super Bowl
Coach Tony Dungy retired in 2009. Jim Caldwell became the new coach. Bethea remained the starting strong safety. In Week 2, he intercepted a pass from Tarvaris Jackson. He finished the season with 95 tackles and four interceptions. He was voted to the 2010 Pro Bowl.
The Colts finished with a 14–2 record. Bethea intercepted a pass from Joe Flacco in the AFC Divisional Round. The Colts reached Super Bowl XLIV. On February 7, 2010, Bethea started in Super Bowl XLIV. The Colts lost to the New Orleans Saints.
2010 and 2011 Seasons
In 2010, the Colts signed Bethea to a new four-year contract. He continued as a starting safety. In Week 13, he had a season-high 15 tackles. He finished 2010 with 107 tackles and one interception.
In 2011, Bethea was still the starting free safety. He had a career-high 139 tackles. He also forced two fumbles. He started all 16 games.
2012 and 2013 Seasons
In 2012, Chuck Pagano became the new head coach. Bethea remained the starting free safety. He made his first solo sack in Week 10. He finished 2012 with 100 tackles and two sacks.
In 2013, Bethea became the starting strong safety. He intercepted a pass in Week 1. In Week 14, he had a career-high 17 tackles. He finished his last season with the Colts with 110 tackles.
San Francisco 49ers Time
In 2014, Bethea became a free agent. The San Francisco 49ers signed him to a four-year contract.
2014 and Pro Bowl Selection
Coach Jim Harbaugh named Bethea the starting strong safety. In Week 10, he intercepted a pass from Drew Brees. In Week 16, he intercepted a pass from Philip Rivers. He returned it 49 yards for his first career touchdown! He was chosen as an alternate for the 2015 Pro Bowl. He finished 2014 with 86 tackles and four interceptions. He was later selected to play in the 2015 Pro Bowl.
2015 and 2016 Seasons
In 2015, Bethea continued as a starting safety. In Week 5, he had ten tackles. He suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 7. This injury ended his season early. He played in seven games.
In 2016, Chip Kelly became the new head coach. Bethea remained a starting safety. In Week 2, he intercepted a pass from Cam Newton. In Week 4, he had 12 tackles. He started all 16 games in 2016. He finished with 110 tackles and one interception. The 49ers released him in March 2017.
Arizona Cardinals Time
2017 and 2018 Seasons
On March 9, 2017, the Arizona Cardinals signed Bethea. He played as a backup free safety at first. In Week 6, he intercepted a pass from Jameis Winston. This was his third game in a row with an interception. In Week 16, he intercepted two passes from Eli Manning. He tore his pectoral muscle in Week 16 and was placed on injured reserve. He finished 2017 with 57 tackles and a career-high five interceptions.
In 2018, Steve Wilks became the new head coach. Bethea was named the starting free safety. He started all 16 games. He led the team with 120 tackles. He also had a career-high three sacks. The Cardinals released him in March 2019.
New York Giants Time
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On March 14, 2019, Bethea signed with the New York Giants. In Week 8, he forced a fumble and recovered it. In Week 9, he intercepted a pass from Dak Prescott. He also recovered another fumble.
On March 18, 2020, the Giants did not keep him. On January 7, 2021, Antoine Bethea announced his retirement. He played 14 seasons in the NFL.
NFL Career Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FF | FR | ||
| 2006 | IND | 14 | 14 | 90 | 66 | 24 | 0.0 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 38.0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | IND | 13 | 13 | 64 | 46 | 18 | 0.0 | 8 | 4 | 47 | 11.8 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | IND | 16 | 16 | 101 | 74 | 27 | 0.0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | IND | 16 | 16 | 95 | 70 | 25 | 0.0 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 4.8 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 | IND | 16 | 16 | 106 | 77 | 29 | 0.5 | 5 | 1 | 31 | 31.0 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | IND | 16 | 16 | 139 | 80 | 59 | 0.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 | IND | 16 | 16 | 100 | 75 | 25 | 2.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | IND | 16 | 16 | 110 | 80 | 30 | 1.0 | 6 | 2 | 48 | 24.0 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | SF | 16 | 16 | 86 | 72 | 14 | 1.0 | 10 | 4 | 71 | 17.8 | 49 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | SF | 7 | 7 | 44 | 32 | 12 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | SF | 16 | 16 | 110 | 95 | 15 | 0.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2017 | ARI | 15 | 6 | 57 | 47 | 10 | 1.0 | 9 | 5 | 51 | 10.2 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | ARI | 16 | 16 | 121 | 100 | 21 | 3.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | NYG | 16 | 16 | 110 | 81 | 29 | 0.0 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 209 | 200 | 1,333 | 995 | 338 | 9.5 | 81 | 25 | 312 | 12.5 | 49 | 1 | 9 | 7 | |
Personal Life
On July 30, 2013, Antoine Bethea and his longtime college girlfriend, Samantha Romantini, had a baby girl named Siani. They got married on June 28, 2014. They later had two sons, born in 2016 and 2019.
He went to Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia. He played football for three years there. He also played basketball and earned honors in his senior year.
