Antoine Bethea
Antoine Akeem Bethea is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 14 seasons in the National Football League. He played college football for the Howard Bison and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL draft. Bethea also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants. He was selected for the Pro Bowl three times and won Super Bowl XLI as a member of the Colts, beating the Chicago Bears.
College career
Bethea attended Howard University, where he majored in administration of justice, and played for the Howard Bison football team. He started 31 of 37 games at safety. His freshman year, he saw action in five games as a backup in the secondary collecting 13 total tackles. He would have a career-best 109 total tackles his sophomore year while seeing action as a starter in 10 of 11 games that year. That year, he had three games where he tallied 13 tackles and another game against Bethune-Cookman where he made 14 tackles. He ended that year also adding one sack, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, six pass deflections and a blocked kick.He would record three interceptions his junior year, along with two sacks, four forced fumbles and eight pass deflections in 11 starts. Ending the year with 99 total tackles and two sacks, Bethea would earn All-Mid-Eastern Conference honors and selection to the American Urban Radio Network Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College All-American Team joining the likes of NFL greats such as former Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans quarterback and NFL MVP Steve McNair and NFL tight end, Shannon Sharpe. He would earn these honors three years in a row.
Bethea would continue his success in his senior season, collecting 88 tackles, six passes defensed and a career-high four interceptions in 10 games. This would mark the third straight year he would lead his team in tackles. His senior season performance would earn him 1st-Team All-America honors from the NFL Draft Report.
As a three-year starter at Howard, Bethea made 309 stops that included 187 solo tackles and twelve for a loss, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 18 passes defensed and seven interceptions. He also returned two recoveries for a touchdown: one coming on a blocked kick and the other on a fumble recovery, both returned 26 yards.
Professional career
Bethea was projected to be a third or fourth round pick by the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the sixth best free safety prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com and was ranked the 17th best safety in the draft by ESPN Scouts Inc.Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts selected Bethea in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL draft. Bethea was the 21st safety drafted in 2006.2006
On July 30, 2006, the Indianapolis Colts signed Bethea to a four-year, $1.67 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $79,420.Throughout training camp, Bethea competed to be the starting free safety against Mike Doss and Matt Giordano. Head coach Tony Dungy named Bethea the starting free safety to begin the regular season, alongside strong safety Bob Sanders.
He made his professional regular season debut and first career start in the Indianapolis Colts' season-opener at the New York Giants and recorded six combined tackles and a pass deflection in their 26–21 victory. In Week 3, he collected a season-high 12 combined tackles and broke up a pass in the Colts' 21–14 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On November 5, 2006, Bethea recorded nine combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by Tom Brady during a 27–20 victory at the New England Patriots in Week 9. He was inactive during the Colts' Week 13 loss at the Tennessee Titans due to an injury. The following week, he aggravated his shoulder injury and subsequently missed the Colts' Week 15 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Indianapolis Colts' safeties sustained numerous injuries throughout the regular season, including strong safety Bob Sanders, who sustained a knee injury and was limited to four games. Veteran Mike Doss tore his ACL in Week 7 and missed the last nine games after being placed on injured reserve. Bethea started the first ten games and began developing a reputation for delivering big hits over the middle. His performance placed him in line as a possible rookie of the year candidate. He finished his rookie season with 90 combined tackles, four pass deflections, and an interception in 14 games and 14 starts.
The Indianapolis Colts finished first in the AFC South with a 12–4 record. On January 6, 2007, Bethea started in his first career playoff game and recorded three solo tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by quarterback Trent Green in the Colts' 23–8 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wildcard Game. The following week, he collected six combined tackles, broke up a pass, and intercepted a pass attempt by Steve McNair during a 15–6 win at the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round. The Indianapolis Colts went on to defeat the New England Patriots 38–34 in the AFC Championship to reach Super Bowl XLI. On February 4, 2007, Bethea started in Super Bowl XLI and made four combined tackles as they defeated the Chicago Bears 29–17.
2007
Bethea entered training camp slated as the starting free safety. Defensive coordinator Ron Meeks retained Bethea and Bob Sanders as the starting safeties to begin the regular season.On September 30, 2007, Bethea collected seven solo tackles during a 38–20 victory against the Denver Broncos in Week 4. The following week, he collected a season-high seven combined tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception in the Colts' 33–14 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5. In Week 8, Bethea made a season-high three pass deflections, five combined tackles, and an interception during a 31–7 victory against the Carolina Panthers. Bethea missed the last three games of the regular season due to a knee injury. He finished his second season with 65 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, and four interceptions in 13 games and 13 starts. The Indianapolis Colts finished atop their division with a 12–4 record. On January 13, 2008, Bethea started in the AFC Divisional Round and recorded seven combined tackles during a 28–24 loss to the San Diego Chargers. On January 28, 2008, it was reported that Bethea would be playing in the 2008 Pro Bowl. He was originally chosen as a second alternate and was needed after injuries to safeties Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders.
2008
Bethea and Sanders remained the starting safeties to begin the regular season. On November 2, 2008, Bethea recorded a season-high ten solo tackles during an 18–15 victory against the New England Patriots in Week 9. The following week, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles in the Colts' 24–20 win at the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10. He finished the season with 101 combined tackles, four pass deflections, and two interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts.2009
On January 12, 2009, head coach Tony Dungy retired ending Bethea's three-year tenure under him. Assistant head coach Jim Caldwell retained Bethea as the starting strong safety, along with free safety Bob Sanders.On September 21, 2009, Bethea collected a season-high eight solo tackles, a pass deflection, and an intercepted a pass by Tarvaris Jackson during a 27–23 victory at the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. In Week 7, he tied his season-high of eight solo tackles as the Colts' routed the St. Louis Rams 42–6. On November 8, 2009, Bethea collected a season-high nine combined tackles during a 20–17 win against the Houston Texans in Week 9. He finished the season with 95 combined tackles, five pass deflections, and four interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts. On December 29, 2009, it was announced that Bethea was voted to the 2010 Pro Bowl, marking the second selection of his career.
The Indianapolis Colts finished first in the AFC South with a 14–2 record, clinching a first round bye and home-field advantage. On January 16, 2010, Bethea recorded three combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by Joe Flacco during a 20–3 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round. The Colts went on to defeat the New York Jets 30–17 in the AFC Championship to reach Super Bowl XLIV. On February 7, 2010, Bethea started in Super Bowl XLIV and made four solo tackles during a 31–17 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
2010
On March 3, 2010, the Indianapolis Colts placed a first round, $2.51 million tender on Bethea. He held out of organized team activities and declined to sign their restricted free agent tender. On July 11, 2010, the Indianapolis Colts signed Bethea to a four-year, $27 million contract that includes an $8 million signing bonus.Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer retained Bethea and Sanders the starting safety duo to begin the 2010 regular season. Bethea started in the Indianapolis Colts season-opener at the Houston Texans and collected a 13 combined tackles and a pass deflection in their 34–24 loss. On November 28, 2010, Bethea made six combined tackles and was credited with half a sack on Philip Rivers in the Colts' 36–14 loss to the San Diego Chargers in Week 12. The following week, he recorded a season-high 15 combined tackles during a 38–35 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13. He finished with 107 combined tackles, five pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble, and half a sack in 16 games and 16 starts.