Ronnie Lott

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lott played at the University of Southern California from 1977 to 1980. He helped USC split the national championship with Alabama in 1978. As a senior, he led the nation in interceptions (8) and return yards (166), earning unanimous All-American honors. He was selected 8th overall in the 1981 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. As a rookie, he recorded seven interceptions, helped the 49ers win Super Bowl XVI, and became only the second rookie in NFL history to return three interceptions for touchdowns. He switched to safety in 1985. In his 10 seasons with the 49ers, he helped them win eight division titles and four Super Bowls: XVI, XIX, XXIII, and XXIV (though he missed Super Bowl XXIII due to injury). He was a key member of three of those championship teams. He later played for the Los Angeles Raiders and New York Jets, and returned to the 49ers in 1995 but retired before the season began.

In Their Own Story

In his rookie season of 1981, Lott was the 49ers' starting left cornerback from the very beginning of training camp. He recorded seven interceptions, helped the team win Super Bowl XVI, and became only the second rookie in NFL history to return three interceptions for touchdowns. His play earned him second place for Rookie of the Year honors, behind only New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Lott switched to safety in 1985, a move that defined the rest of his career and led to him being named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team in 1994 and the 100th Anniversary Team in 2019.

Reader's Guide

During his 14 NFL seasons, Lott recorded 8.5 sacks and 63 interceptions, which he returned for 730 yards and five touchdowns. He recovered 17 fumbles, returned them for 43 yards, and gained 113 yards on kickoff returns. He played in 20 postseason games, recording nine interceptions, 89 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two touchdowns. He was named All-Pro eight times, All-NFC six times, and All-AFC once. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, his first year of eligibility, and was named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team in 1994 and the 100th Anniversary Team in 2019.

Did You Know?

• Lott had the tip of his left pinky finger amputated after the 1985 season when it was crushed while tackling Timmy Newsome.
• He led the NFL in interceptions in 1986 (10) and 1991 (8).
• Lott was a key part of three of the 49ers' four Super Bowl wins in the 1980s (XVI, XIX, and XXIV), but missed Super Bowl XXIII due to injury.
• He wrote an autobiography titled Total Impact in 1991 with Jill Lieber Steeg.