Players

   It is often said that good things happen to good people, and Clinton Hart is a perfect example.

   To get to this point of his career, Hart traveled down an unconventional path. Now a starting NFL strong safety, Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith rewarded Hart for his persistence and perseverance by re-signing him to a new five-year deal in April 2008 that will keep him in San Diego through the 2012 season.

   In 2007, Hart made his debut as the team’s starting strong safety and turned in his finest season as a pro. He played a key role as the Chargers led the NFL in interceptions, takeaways and turnover ratio, and advanced to the AFC Championship Game. Hart finished the year tied for ninth in the NFL and was second on the squad with a career-high five interceptions, including one on the final play of a Nov. 11 game against Indianapolis that helped the Chargers clinch a victory over the defending Super Bowl Champion Colts. Hart backed up his interception totals with a career-best 109 tackles, which led the secondary and ranked third on the team. He also registered his first sack since 2003.

  Last season, Hart made his biggest play in the Bolts’ Nov. 9 game against Kansas City, breaking up a fourth-quarter two-point conversion attempt to preserve a 20-19 win. He battled hand, shoulder and neck injuries throughout the season that limited his movement on the field.

  While Hart is now a starter on defense, special teams is where he originally made his mark. In 2004, he tied for the team lead with 15 special teams tackles and in ’06, he led the team outright with 22.

  Interestingly, Hart never donned a helmet or shoulder pads in college. Instead, he was a standout on his school’s baseball team. At South Sumter High School in Bushnell, Florida, he played both football and baseball, but after graduating, Hart enrolled at Central Florida Community College to play baseball and stay close to his family.

  It seems Hart was always destined to play football. During college, he used to bring a football to baseball practice to warm up his arm. The coaches teased him that he was playing the wrong sport.

  In 2000, Hart had a tryout with the Tallahassee Thunder of AFL2 and made the team. Hart earned just $162 per week and had to endure bus rides of up to 20 hours. In 2001, he signed with the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL and had a breakout season that ended with AFL Rookie of the Year honors.

  Hart’s success in the Arena League landed him a contract offer from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2002. Once signed, he was allocated to NFL Europe where he played for the Rhein Fire and Amsterdam Admirals. Upon returning to the states, he went to training camp with the Eagles, but was released toward the end of camp. Philadelphia later signed him to their practice squad.

  Hart’s career took off in 2003 and teams began to take notice of his play. Still with the Eagles, he was called upon in midseason to replace injured Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins. Hart filled in admirably and the Eagles went 7-2 in the nine games that he started. After being waived by the Eagles the following season, he was immediately claimed off waivers by the Bolts.

  Clinton has not forgotten his roots in Florida. He hosts a youth football camp and donates time and resources to the Webster Sports Complex near his hometown of Bushnell, Fla. He has helped get equipment and shoes for the players at his alma mater, South Sumter HS. He also helped rebuild the roof on the church he and his family attended in Webster. And in 2006, he started the Clinton Hart Foundation to help at-risk children and fund an annual scholarship program. In San Diego, last December he joined forces with the nonprofit Bikes for Kids Foundation and helped give away bicycles to children in time for the holidays.

  Clinton has always enjoyed working with kids. He worked as a counselor and recreation specialist at the Marion Youth Development Center in Ocala, Fla. That is where he met his future wife, Kelli. In October of 2006 the Harts had their first child, a daughter named Lillian.

  Thanks to Kelli, Hart has an interesting collection of fictional characters that make their home in his locker at Chargers Park. The characters include Rocky, The Incredible Hulk, King Kong and The Fantastic Four’s Rockman. Each of the characters have special meaning to Hart, who just for good measure, also has personalized bobblehead dolls of Kelli and Lillian.

  Hart is an accomplished barber and has a barber’s license. In April 2008, he opened his own barber shop called The Brickhouse Salon in Ocala and sometime later this year, he and Kelli will open Lilli’s Flowers and Gifts, just across the street from the salon.

  TRANSACTION HISTORY: Signed with Philadelphia, Jan. 29, 2002…waived Aug. 24 and re-signed to Eagles’ practice squad, Nov. 19, 2002…re-signed with Philadelphia, Jan. 30, 2003 and waived Sept. 14, 2004…claimed by Chargers, Sept. 15, 2004…signed three-year contract, Feb. 2, 2006 and agreed to new five-year contract thru 2012, April 7, 2008.

  2008: Playing with cast on right hand, broke up two passes in end zone during 3Q drive in Wk 3 ESPN MNF win vs. NY Jets...broke up first along back line of end zone and nearly intercepted second on 4th-down at goal line…broke up two-point conversion att. with 23 seconds remaining to preserve 20-19 home win over KC Nov. 9…left Wk 12 game vs. Atlanta with shoulder injury...dressed but DNP Wk 13 vs. Oakland and INA Wk 14 at KC…started Wk 15 at TB and 1Q FR led to TD and 7-0 lead.

 2007: Sealed Nov. 11 NBC SNF win over defending SB Champion Indianapolis with INT on final play of game…career-high fourth INT in 1Q of Detroit game Dec. 16…also made great play to tackle Calvin Johnson on one-yard line on final play of 2Q after he caught 49-yard “Hail Mary”… upped career-high with fifth INT of season in Denver game Dec. 24 on ESPN MNF…also sacked Jay Cutler for 9-yard loss in 1Q for first sack since ’03…11 TT at Oakland Dec. 30 to go over 100 tackles for first time in career.

 2006: Career-high six tackles on ST Oct. 15 at SF…career-high two INTs in 27-20 win at Seattle Christmas Eve…also drew 3Q holding penalty vs. Seahawks’ Ben Joppru to negate 96-yard KOR for TD after Chargers had kicked FG for 10-0 lead.

 2005: Scored first-career TD for final points in 41-17 win over NE Oct. 2 after receiving pitch from Donnie Edwards following late 4Q INT...win ended Patriots’ NFL-record 21 game home winning streak…Chargers Alumni POW after 34-10 ESPN SNF win over Oakland Dec. 4…put game away with 70-yard INT return for TD in 4Q…was second INT TD of season, most since ’94 (Stanley Richard)…started Wk 14 at FS and Wks 15-16 at SS.

 2004: INT vs. Oakland Oct. 31… replaced injured Terrence Kiel at SS in Wild Card Playoffs vs. NY Jets.

 2003: Started Wks 2-9 and 11 for injured Pro Bowl FS Brian Dawkins…season-high 10 TT at NY Giants Oct. 19 and first-career sack at Atlanta Nov. 2.

 2002: Spent Wks 11-16 and playoffs on Philadelphia’s PS.

 2001: Played DB and WR for Tampa Bay Storm of AFL…recorded three INTs and 69 TTs…caught 24 passes for 242 yards and TD .

 2000: Played for Tallahassee Thunder of AFL2.

 COLLEGE: Played baseball from 1996-98 at Central Florida Community College.

 PERSONAL: Born in Dade City, Florida…all-state defensive back at South Sumter HS in Bushnell, Florida…lettered in basketball, baseball and track.