FSU football: 15 greatest NFL careers ever by former Seminoles
By Joey Loose
FSU football greatest NFL career No.15: Samari Rolle
Samari Rolle was a talented defensive back who also returned punts at Florida State, playing for the Seminoles in the late ’90s. He’s got football blood in his veins, as cousins Chad Johnson, Keyshawn Johnson, and Antrel Rolle all played in the NFL. His chance came as the Tennessee Oilers took him in the middle of the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft.
After gathering four interceptions in his second season in the pros, Rolle had his best NFL season in 2000. He finished among the league leaders with his 7 interceptions and was named First Team All-Pro. This was also the first and only Pro Bowl appearance of his career, helping the Titans to a 13-win season and a division title.
Rolle remained one of Tennessee’s starting cornerbacks for the next four seasons and had another fantastic year in 2003. He had six interceptions and the only fumble return touchdown of his career during what was his sixth season in the NFL.
In 2005, Rolle signed with the Baltimore Ravens and spent much of the next four seasons as one of their starting cornerbacks, with impressive play early in his tenure in Baltimore. His career would end after the 2008 season, gathering 31 interceptions in an 11-year career.
He was a major factor for the Titans’ defense, played in Super Bowl XXXIV against the Rams, and had a few interceptions in the postseason as well. Florida State has produced a fair amount of very talented defensive backs in recent years and Rolle was certainly among that number.