New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle has been smashing records since attending South Dale High School in Homestead, Florida, where his football stats sent him to the University of Miami, where he majored in Sports Administration. Rolle immediately excelled at Miami, where he was one of four freshmen to letter. He was the second cornerback drafted in the 2005 NFL Draft, when the Arizona Cardinals picked him.
Although Rolle couldn’t play in most of the 2005 season because of a knee injury, he quickly proved himself by scoring his first interception against the Washington Redskins on his return. His talent-affirming return game was only foreshadowing for interceptions to come. In 2007, Rolle intercepted three passes from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, Carson Palmer, returning two of them for touchdowns, earning the title of NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Rolle is the fifth player in team history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in one game, making him the 24th player in NFL history to do the same. In March 2010, the New York Giants signed Rolle to a five-year, $37 million contract, putting Rolle on the list of highest paid safeties in the NFL.
Last season, Rolle led the Giants in combined tackles with 96, and picked off two passes, and topped off the season when he and his fellow Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 21-17, in Super Bowl XLVI. The Giants were one of only two teams to ever advance to the Super Bowl with fewer than ten victories (joining the 1979 Los Angeles Rams), making their victory all the more astonishing. Vallen Agulair, Rolle’s longtime girlfriend, was able to attend and support her man’s victory by wearing a Bella Artistry custom #26 jersey.
The next NFL season starts in September, and the Giants will begin training next week, although voluntary workouts and practices have been in session for months. The Giants defied the odds in 2011, getting to the Super Bowl and defeating the Patriots. Odds are raised for the team in 2012, since all eyes will be on them.
Given his training and history of overcoming the odds, Rolle will surely have another great year with the G-Men.
Emily Estep contributed to this report.
Leah J. Miller made her name as a personal designer and custom outfitter to MLB, NBA and NFL families with the launch of Bella Artistry. Known affectionately throughout the professional sports industries as “The Diamond Duchess”, she has been custom tailoring and embellishing the official jerseys and wardrobes of ballers’ significant others and children with Swarovski crystals since 1999. Her designs have been featured in the 2008, 2009, and 2010 HBO Hard Knocks football training camp special as well as the Washington Post, and the Diamond Duchess will make her debut as a Costume Designer this Fall for the ABC-TV drama Ghostbreakers. You can learn more about Bella Artistry and see many of Leah’s creations by clicking here.
