Samari Rolle facts for kids
Rolle with the Tennessee Titans in 2000
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| No. 21, 22 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | August 10, 1976 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| 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. He was chosen by the Tennessee Oilers in the 1998 NFL draft.
Rolle also played for the Baltimore Ravens. He was picked for the Pro Bowl in 2000, which is a special game for the best players.
Contents
Early Life: A High School Star
Samari Rolle went to Miami Beach Senior High School in Miami Beach, Florida. He was a top player there. He was even named the "Super Prep Dixie Defensive Player of the Year."
In his final year of high school, Samari was amazing. He made 62 tackles and caught six interceptions while playing defense. He also played quarterback, throwing for over 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns. He ran for over 400 yards and scored three touchdowns by returning punts. He played with Duane Starks, who also became a professional football player.
College Career: Playing for Florida State
Samari Rolle played college football at Florida State University. He played in 38 games and started 24 of them. During his four years, he made 12 interceptions and 111 tackles.
In his last year, he was named First-Team All-ACC. This means he was one of the best players in his college league. Four of his 12 career interceptions came against their big rival, the Miami Hurricanes.
Professional Career: From Oilers to Ravens
Samari Rolle was picked by the Tennessee Oilers in the second round of the 1998 NFL draft. He was the 46th player chosen overall.
Tennessee Oilers/Titans: Early Years and a Super Bowl
In his first year (1998), Samari played in 15 games and made 30 tackles. The next year, he had 69 tackles, three sacks, and four interceptions. He even caught three interceptions in one game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which is a team record!
In 1999, the Oilers became the Tennessee Titans. Samari Rolle and the Titans made it to Super Bowl XXXIV. They played against the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams but lost a very close game.
In 2000, Samari had a fantastic season with seven interceptions. He even returned one of them for a touchdown. Because of his great play, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl. He continued to play well for the Titans until 2004. He was released by the team because of rules about how much money teams can spend on players.
Baltimore Ravens: New Team, New Challenges
Samari Rolle joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2005. In his first year with the Ravens, he had 41 tackles and one interception. In 2006, he made 52 tackles and three interceptions.
In 2007, Samari missed several games due to an illness. He later shared that he was being treated for epilepsy. He explained that this condition was likely caused by the many hard hits he took during his football career. Even with his illness, he played in six games and received the "Ed Block Courage Award" for his bravery.
In 2008, Samari continued to deal with injuries, including shoulder and neck problems. He still started ten games and caught three interceptions. He even got an interception in a playoff game against his old team, the Tennessee Titans. Samari Rolle was released by the Ravens in 2009 and again in 2010.
Personal Life
Samari Rolle wore the number 22 on his jersey to honor his high school teammate, Duane Starks. Starks also played as a cornerback for the Ravens.
In 2007, Samari was on a small plane in South Africa with his wife and other NFL players. The plane's door flew off, but luckily, no one was seriously hurt. The plane landed safely.
Samari's first name, "Samari," means strength. His family comes from the Bahamas and Cuba. He is married to Danisha, and they have two daughters, Samara and Amari, and a son, Jamir.
On May 7, 2010, Samari Rolle announced he was retiring from the NFL. He played for 12 seasons. He said that 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.
Images for kids
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Rolle with the Tennessee Titans in 2000
