Samari Rolle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Samari Rolle

Rolle with the Tennessee Titans in 2000
No. 21, 22
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1976-08-10) August 10, 1976 (age 49) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school:	Miami Beach Senior (Miami Beach, Florida)
College:	Florida State
NFL Draft:	1998 / Round: 2 / Pick: 46
Career history
Tennessee Oilers / Titans (1998) Baltimore Ravens (2005)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Pro (2000) Pro Bowl (2000) First-team All-ACC (1997)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 435 Sacks: 9.5 Forced fumbles: 4 Fumble recoveries: 8 Interceptions: 31 Defensive touchdowns: 2
Player stats at PFR

Samari Toure Rolle (born August 10, 1976) is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). Samari played college football for the Florida State Seminoles. The Tennessee Oilers picked him in the second round of the 1998 NFL draft.

Rolle also played for the Baltimore Ravens. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl in 2000.

Early Life and High School Football

Samari Rolle grew up in Miami Beach, Florida. He went to Miami Beach Senior High School. There, he was named the Super Prep Dixie Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a "Dream Team" selection by Blue Chip Illustrated.

In his senior year, Samari was amazing on both offense and defense. He made 62 tackles and caught six interceptions as a defender. As a quarterback, he threw for 1,217 yards and eight touchdowns. He also ran for 402 yards and scored three touchdowns by returning punts. He played alongside Duane Starks, who also became a professional player.

College Football Career

Samari Rolle played College football at Florida State University. During his four years, he played in 38 games and started 24 of them. He made 12 interceptions and 111 tackles.

In his final year, he was named First-Team All-ACC. He was also a Third-Team All-America player by Football News. Four of his 12 career interceptions came against their big rival, the Miami Hurricanes.

Professional Football Career

Playing for the Tennessee Oilers/Titans

The Tennessee Oilers chose Samari Rolle in the second round of the 1998 NFL draft. He was the 46th player picked overall. In his first year, he played in 15 games and made 30 tackles. The next year, he had 69 tackles, three sacks, and four interceptions.

In 1999, he set a team record by making three interceptions in one game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That same year, the Titans reached Super Bowl XXXIV. Samari Rolle started in the Super Bowl, but his team lost to the St. Louis Rams. He was chosen for the 2000 Pro Bowl after having a great season with seven interceptions. One of these interceptions he returned for a touchdown.

In 2001, he made 56 tackles and three interceptions. The next season, he started every game and finished with 48 tackles and two interceptions. In 2003, he played in only 13 games because he dislocated his elbow. Still, he finished that season with 31 tackles and six interceptions. He left the Tennessee team after the 2004 season. He finished his time there with 28 tackles.

Playing for the Baltimore Ravens

Samari Rolle joined the Baltimore Ravens on March 7, 2005. His first year with the Ravens was good. He made 41 tackles, forced two fumbles, caught one interception, and broke up 11 passes. In 2006, he had some tough games early on. However, he played much better in the second half of the season. He finished with 52 tackles and three interceptions.

In 2007, Samari missed five games due to an illness. On November 21, 2007, Rolle shared that he was dealing with epilepsy. He said it was likely due to the many hits he took during his football career. He played in only six games that season. He finished with 22 tackles and one interception. He also won the "Ed Block Courage Award" for his bravery.

In 2008, Rolle started ten regular season games and had three interceptions. However, injuries continued to affect his playing time. He missed six games because of shoulder and neck problems. He also missed the AFC championship playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a groin injury. He did get an interception in one of the other two playoff games. This was in a 13–10 win against his old team, Tennessee.

The Ravens released Rolle on March 18, 2009. But they re-signed him on April 6. He was released again on April 13, 2010.

NFL Career Statistics

Personal Life and Retirement

Samari Rolle wore the number #22 as a way to honor his high school teammate, Duane Starks. Starks also played as a cornerback for the Ravens.

In June 2007, Samari Rolle was in South Africa. He was on a small plane returning from a safari. The back door of the plane flew off during the flight. Samari was with his wife, Danisha, and other NFL players and their wives. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt, and the plane landed safely.

Samari's first name, "Samari," means strength. He has family roots from the Bahamas and Cuba. In 2002, Samari and his wife, Danisha, started the Samari Rolle Foundation. They held a bowling tournament to raise money, with his Titans teammates joining in. Samari and Danisha have two daughters, Samara (20 years old) and Amari (14 years old). They also have a son, Jamir (15 years old).

On May 7, 2010, Samari Rolle announced he was retiring from the NFL. He played for 12 seasons. Neck injuries were the main reason he decided to stop playing.

Today, Samari Rolle is an assistant football coach. He coaches at Atlantic Community High School in Delray Beach, Florida.