Donte Whitner facts for kids
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Whitner with the Cleveland Browns in 2014
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | July 24, 1985 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 208 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Glenville (Cleveland) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Ohio State (2003–2005) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||
Donte Demetrius Whitner Sr. (born July 24, 1985) is a former American football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL). Donte played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was picked by the Buffalo Bills in the 2006 NFL draft. Whitner also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and Washington Redskins.
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Early Life and Challenges
Donte Whitner was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He is the older brother of Lindsey Witten, who also played football. Donte went to Glenville High School in Cleveland. After high school, he was invited to play in a special game for top players.
When Donte was six, he had a serious accident. He was hit by a car while chasing a football. Doctors thought he might not walk again because his legs had many broken bones. But Donte worked hard and recovered. He spent three months in a full body cast.
College Football Career
Donte played football for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2003 to 2005. He played as a defensive back and safety. His best year was 2005. He earned special awards and helped his team beat Notre Dame in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. In 2005, Donte made 73 tackles and caught 2 interceptions.
Playing in the NFL
Buffalo Bills Years
The Buffalo Bills chose Donte Whitner as the eighth player in the 2006 NFL draft. He was the second safety picked that year. Donte signed a five-year contract with the Bills.
In his first game, he caught his first interception against Tom Brady. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. He finished his first year with 104 tackles. In 2009, Donte scored his first touchdown. He ran 76 yards after intercepting a pass from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Byron Leftwich.
San Francisco 49ers Years
In 2011, Donte Whitner joined the San Francisco 49ers. He signed a three-year deal with the team. During the 2011 playoffs, Donte became known for making strong hits. One famous hit caused a fumble against the New Orleans Saints. A fumble is when a player drops the ball. The 49ers recovered the ball, and the hit took the other player out of the game.
At the end of the 2012 season, Donte and the 49ers played in Super Bowl XLVII. They lost a close game to the Baltimore Ravens. In 2013, Donte was fined for a hit during a game. He joked about changing his last name to "Hitner" because of his hard hits. He even tried to legally change it, but it didn't happen.
Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins
In 2014, Donte signed a four-year deal with the Cleveland Browns. He played for them for two seasons. In 2016, the Browns released him from the team. This means they let him go.
Later in 2016, Donte signed with the Washington Redskins. After playing two games, he became the starting strong safety. However, his season ended early. He was placed on injured reserve in December due to a leg injury.
Donte Whitner's Career Stats
Donte Whitner had a successful NFL career. He played in 157 games, starting 152 of them. He made a total of 922 tackles. He also had 11 interceptions and scored 2 defensive touchdowns. He forced 11 fumbles and recovered 6 fumbles.
