Donte Whitner
{{Short description|American football player (born 1985)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Donte Whitner
| image = Donte Whitner (14576183340).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Whitner with the Cleveland Browns in 2014
| current_team =
| number = 20, 31, 39
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|7|24|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 208
| high_school = Glenville (Cleveland)
| college = Ohio State (2003–2005)
| draftyear = 2006
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 8
| pastteams =
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2011}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2016}})
| status =
| highlights =
- 3× Pro Bowl (2012–2014)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2006)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2005)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 922
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 3.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 11
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 6
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 11
| statlabel6 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 2
| pfr = WhitDo20
}}
Donte Demetrius Whitner Sr.{{Cite web |title=Donte Whitner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitDo20.htm |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} (born July 24, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the eighth overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft. Whitner also played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and Washington Redskins.
Early life
Whitner was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He is the older brother of former Connecticut Huskies defensive end Lindsey Witten. He attended Glenville High School in Cleveland. After his senior high school football season he was invited to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game. He attended Ohio State, not finishing his degree, and then enrolled at San Jose State University several years into his NFL career.{{cite web | url=http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/01/25/donte-whitner-to-attend-san-jose-state/ | title=Donte Whitner to Attend San Jose State | first=Kevin | last=Lynch | date=January 25, 2012 | work=SFGate.com | access-date=January 8, 2023}}
When Whitner was six years old he was hit by an oncoming car after chasing a loose football down the street. He had up to 30 fractures in his legs from the impact and was told that he might not be able to walk again. The oncoming car suffered significant body damage. He spent three months in a full body cast but recovered.{{cite web | url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/other_nfl/view.bg?articleid=1397146&srvc=sports&position=recent | title=49ers' Donte Whitner lucky to be alive | first=Carl | last=Steward | work=The Oakland Tribune | date=January 19, 2012 | via=Boston Herald | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215004818/http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/other_nfl/view.bg?articleid=1397146 | archive-date=February 15, 2012 | access-date=January 8, 2023}}
College career
Whitner played for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2003 to 2005 as both a defensive back and safety. His junior year proved his most rewarding as he earned all-conference honors and helped the Buckeyes defeat Notre Dame during the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. During the 2005 season, Whitner recorded 73 tackles and 2 interceptions.{{cite web|url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/football-donte-whitner-honorary-captain-vs-purdue/ |title=Donte Whitner|date=October 11, 2008 |publisher=Ohio State Buckeyes.com|accessdate=2022-01-30}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 10 1/8
| weight = 204
| dash = 4.45
| ten split = 1.56
| twenty split = 2.61
| vertical = 40
| broad ft = 11
| broad in = 0
| bench = 18
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 30 5/8
| hand span = 7 7/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/donte-whitner/32005748-4972-0119-30f3-2404a7441e1c |title=Donte Whitner Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=December 17, 2024}}{{cite web |title=*Donte Whitner, DS #2 SS, Ohio State| url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=12437&DraftYear=2006 |access-date=September 5, 2018 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Buffalo Bills=
The Buffalo Bills selected Whitner in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2006 NFL draft. Whitner was the second safety drafted in 2006 and was selected one pick behind Texas safety Michael Huff.{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Whitner was the first player ever drafted with the NFL draft chime, despite being the eighth pick of the 2006 NFL draft. It is unknown why it was not played from the start of the 2006 NFL draft.
Whitner missed the beginning of training camp due to a contract holdout. On August 7, 2006, the Buffalo Bills signed Whitner to a five-year, $29 million contract that includes $13.51 million guaranteed.{{cite web |title=Spotrac.com: Donte Whitner contract |url=http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/washington-redskins/donte-whitner-1191/ |access-date=September 5, 2018 |website=Spotrac.com}}{{cite web |url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/buffalo-bills-donte-whitner-signs-five-year-deal/article_4a89392e-4533-5383-99ec-b05144f2b644.html |access-date=September 5, 2018 |work=Niagara Gazette |location=Niagara Falls, New York |title=BUFFALO BILLS: Donte Whitner signs five-year deal |date=August 5, 2006}}
In his first career game, he recorded his first interception against Tom Brady. The ruling on the field was a touchdown, but was later overruled when replay showed that Whitner had stepped out of bounds. He finished 2006 with 104 total tackles and one interception for 10 yards.{{Cite web |title=Donte Whitner 2006 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitDo20/gamelog/2006/ |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In 2009, Whitner recorded his first career touchdown on a 76-yard interception return from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Byron Leftwich in Week 2. His most productive game to date was in Week 12 of the 2010 season, where he recorded 18 total tackles against the Pittsburgh Steelers.{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201011280buf.htm |title=Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills - November 28th, 2010 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |access-date=December 7, 2017}}
=San Francisco 49ers=
File:Donte Whitner in 2013.jpg
On August 4, 2011, Whitner signed with the San Francisco 49ers. After previously announcing on Twitter that he would be going to the Cincinnati Bengals, he changed his mind and signed with San Francisco. He agreed to a three-year, $11.75 million deal with $4 million guaranteed. After his performance in his first year as a 49er, he was named to the USA Today All Joe Team.{{cite news |last=Weisman |first=Larry |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2009-01-20-all-joe-team_N.htm |title=Annual All-Joe team: Honoring those who won little acclaim |work=USA Today |date=January 22, 2009 |accessdate=2022-08-02}} During the 2011 playoffs, Whitner became famous for making vicious hits like against New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas as he was driving for a touchdown. The hit forced a fumble recovered by the 49ers and took Thomas out for the rest of the game.
At the end of the 2012 season, Whitner and the 49ers appeared in Super Bowl XLVII. In the game, he had eight combined tackles as the 49ers fell to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 34–31.{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201302030sfo.htm |title=Super Bowl XLVII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens - February 3rd, 2013 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |access-date=December 2, 2017}}
In 2013, in a game against the St. Louis Rams, Whitner was fined for a hit on receiver Chris Givens. In response to the fine, he indicated that he would be legally changing his last name from "Whitner" to "Hitner", dropping the "W" from his surname.{{cite web|last=Rosenthal|first=Gregg|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000254553/article/donte-whitner-says-hes-changing-name-to-hitner|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223159/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000254553/article/donte-whitner-says-hes-changing-name-to-hitner|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 4, 2013|title=Donte Whitner says he's changing last name to 'Hitner'|publisher=National Football League|date=October 2, 2013|access-date=October 2, 2013}} In an appearance on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" on November 27, 2013, Whitner indicated that his request was to be processed on November 19, but had to be withdrawn when he was unable to honor the judge's requirement that he appear in court. During the same interview, Whitner indicated that he would pursue his name change during the offseason.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/videos/san-francisco-49ers/0ap2000000289060/Whitner-We-feel-like-it-s-our-time|title=San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner: 'We feel like it's our time'|publisher=NFL Network|date=November 27, 2013|access-date=November 27, 2013}}
=Cleveland Browns=
Whitner signed a four-year deal worth $28 million with the Cleveland Browns on March 11, 2014.{{cite web | url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Karlos-Dansby-Donte-Whitner-lead-Cleveland-Browns-free-agent-crop/565c178c-855b-4545-81af-1d34b424683b | title=Karlos Dansby, Donte Whitner lead Cleveland Browns' free-agent crop | first=Vic | last=Carucci | date=March 12, 2014 | website=ClevelandBrowns.com | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317000151/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Karlos-Dansby-Donte-Whitner-lead-Cleveland-Browns-free-agent-crop/565c178c-855b-4545-81af-1d34b424683b | archive-date=March 17, 2014}} On April 2, 2016, Whitner was released by the team.{{cite web |title=Browns release DB Donte Whitner |date=April 2, 2016 |url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-release-DB-Donte-Whitner/fb2410b5-df6b-4902-8635-d43bb4c457cf |website=ClevelandBrowns.com |access-date=April 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407190709/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-release-DB-Donte-Whitner/fb2410b5-df6b-4902-8635-d43bb4c457cf |archive-date=April 7, 2016 |url-status=dead}} With his release, the Cleveland Browns cleared $3.95 million of cap space.{{cite web|url=http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/washington-redskins/donte-whitner-1191/|title=Donte Whitner}}
=Washington Redskins=
On October 5, 2016, Whitner signed with the Washington Redskins.{{cite web|title=Redskins Sign Safeties Donte Whitner And Josh Evans|url=http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Redskins-Sign-Safeties-Donte-Whitner-And-Josh-Evans/7eac752e-5f51-4580-9651-01dc52f8d64c|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804052944/http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Redskins-Sign-Safeties-Donte-Whitner-And-Josh-Evans/7eac752e-5f51-4580-9651-01dc52f8d64c|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 4, 2017|author=Czarda, Stephen|website=Redskins.com|date=October 5, 2016}} After two games with the team, he became the starter at strong safety.{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/football-insider/wp/2016/10/25/redskins-defense-snap-counts-vs-the-lions-donte-whitner-starts-at-strong-safety/|title=Redskins' defense snap counts vs. the Lions: Donte Whitner starts at strong safety|first= Master|last=Tesfatsion|date=October 25, 2016|access-date=December 17, 2016}} He was placed on injured reserve on December 28 due to a quad injury.{{cite web |work=Redskins.com |url=http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Redskins-Sign-Josh-Evans-Place-Donte-Whitner-Sr-On-Injured-Reserve/a2944ffa-67e2-4636-97f0-788a0a553e7a |title=Redskins Sign Josh Evans, Place Donte Whitner Sr. On Injured Reserve |first=Stephen |last=Czarda |date=December 28, 2016 |access-date=December 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207030132/http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Redskins-Sign-Josh-Evans-Place-Donte-Whitner-Sr-On-Injured-Reserve/a2944ffa-67e2-4636-97f0-788a0a553e7a |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |url-status=dead}}
NFL career statistics
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="4"| Tackles ! colspan="3"| Fumbles ! colspan="6"| Interceptions | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD |
| 2006 | BUF
| 15 || 14 || 104 || 67 || 37 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 10 || 10 || 10 || 0 || 5 | |||||||||||||
| 2007 | BUF
| 15 || 15 || 89 || 68 || 21 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 29 || 29 || 29 || 0 || 1 | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | BUF
| 13 || 13|| 61 || 50 || 11 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 | |||||||||||||
| 2009 | BUF
| 10 || 8 || 57 || 42 || 15 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 104 || 52 || 76 || 1 || 5 | |||||||||||||
| 2010 | BUF
| 16 || 16 || 140 || 96 || 44 || 0.5 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 37 || 37 || 37 || 0 || 7 | |||||||||||||
| 2011 | SF
| 15 || 15 || 62 || 49 || 13 || 0.0 || 1 || 3 || 3 || 2 || 48 || 24 || 48 || 0 || 10 | |||||||||||||
| 2012 | SF
| 16 || 16 || 83 || 62 || 21 || 0.0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 42 || 42 || 42 || 1 || 5 | |||||||||||||
| 2013 | SF
| 16 || 16 || 73 || 58 || 15 || 0.0 || 2 || 1 || -5 || 2 || 7 || 4 || 7 || 0 || 12 | |||||||||||||
| 2014 | CLE
| 16 || 16 || 106 || 69 || 37 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 54 || 54 || 54 || 0 || 5 | |||||||||||||
| 2015 | CLE
| 14 || 14 || 81 || 58 || 23 || 1.5 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 | |||||||||||||
| 2016 | WAS
| 11 || 9 || 66 || 49 || 17 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitDo20.htm Career] || 157 || 152 || 922 || 668 || 254 || 3.0 || 12 || 6 || 0 || 11 || 331 || 30 || 76 || 2 || 55 |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category|Donte Whitner}}
- [http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/roster/Donte-Whitner/0919eb0f-fc7b-4972-b8f4-8c52d756f9b4 Cleveland Browns bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327180407/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/roster/Donte-Whitner/0919eb0f-fc7b-4972-b8f4-8c52d756f9b4 |date=March 27, 2014 }}
- [http://www.49ers.com/team/roster/Donte-Whitner/5b1013e7-19f7-4140-b241-1968f8a09a44 San Francisco 49ers bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122144144/http://www.49ers.com/team/roster/Donte-Whitner/5b1013e7-19f7-4140-b241-1968f8a09a44 |date=January 22, 2013 }}
{{Bills2006DraftPicks}}
{{BillsFirstPick}}
{{2006 NFL Draft}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitner, Donte}}
Category:Glenville High School alumni
Category:Players of American football from Cleveland
Category:American football safeties
Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:San Francisco 49ers players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:Unconferenced Pro Bowl players
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen