All for Tennessee
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Top 10 NFL careers of Tennessee football DBs

By Caleb Calhoun

11 Sep 1994: Defensive back Terry McDaniel of the Los Angeles Raiders returns an intereception for a touchdown during a game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Seahawks won the game, 38-9.
11 Sep 1994: Defensive back Terry McDaniel of the Los Angeles Raiders returns an intereception for a touchdown during a game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Seahawks won the game, 38-9. /
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Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images /

Years in NFL: 12. Deon Grant. 4. player. Pick Analysis. 839. 1997-1999. Scouting Report

Teams played for:

  • Carolina Panthers; 2000-2003
  • Jacksonville Jaguars; 2004-2006
  • Seattle Seahawks; 2007-2009
  • New York Giants; 2010-2011

Everybody remembers what Deon Grant did for Tennessee football. A member of that elite 1997 recruiting class, Grant became the starter at safety in 1998 and had a key interception in the Vols’ win over the Florida Gators, one of five on the year as he helped them win the national title. He followed that up with an All-American campaign in 1999 in which he had nine picks.

With that production, Grant was able to leave early for the NFL Draft. He was taken by the Carolina Panthers in the second round in 2000, but he suffered a season-ending injury that year. The next year, Grant emerged immediately as the starting free safety, and he played in that role for four years, helping them reach the Super Bowl in 2003, only to lose to the New England Patriots.

Grant then joined the Jacksonville Jaguars for three years and had another playoff appearance before joining the Seattle Seahawks for three years. He closed out his career with the New York Giants, and he started nine games in 2011, including three of their four playoff games as they won their second Super Bowl over the Pats with Eli Manning as quarterback.

So after a career that lasted over a decade, Grant was able to close things out with a Super Bowl. He appeared in 176 games throughout his pro run, starting in 161 of them. Another ball-hawking safety, Grant had 30 interceptions, and he broke up 110 passes. So while he was never a Pro Bowler, he had a deep run as a reliable starter.

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