#42 Clinton Hart | FS

It is often said that good things happen to good people. Clinton Hart is a perfect example of that. To get to this point of his career, Hart traveled down an unconventional path. Now on the cusp of becoming one of the NFL’s premier safeties, 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.

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

2007: Tied for ninth in NFL with career-high five interceptions…making his debut as the team’s new starting strong safety, Hart’s nine tackles ranked third on defense and fumble recovery early in fourth quarter led to offensive touchdown eight plays later that gave Bolts 14-3 lead over Chicago…collected first interception of season off pass tipped by Randy Moss in Week 2 game at New England…interception and 20-yard return came at 10-yard line with 18 seconds left in first half…helped stop potential scoring drive with Patriots already leading 24-0…intercepted pass in fourth quarter of Sept. 30 game vs. Kansas City…tied Stephen Cooper and Matt Wilhelm for team high with 12 stops Oct. 28 vs. Houston…tackle for loss among eight stops Nov. 4 at Minnesota…sealed Nov. 11 NBC Sunday Night Football win over defending Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts with interception on final play of game…finished night with 12 tackles, including one for two-yard tackle for loss on late fourth-quarter Indy drive that ended with missed 29-yard field goal as Bolts held on for 23-21 win…tallied fourth quarter tackle for loss (-5 yards) Nov. 18 at Jacksonville…Bolts scored on ensuing possession to cut deficit in half to 24-17….recorded career-high fourth interception in first quarter of Detroit game Dec. 16…Bolts tacked on touchdown three plays later to take 17-0 lead in game…also led squad with two passes defensed…made great tackle on final play of first half to keep Calvin Johnson out of end zone after he had caught 49-yard “Hail Mary” at one-yard line…big game against Denver Dec. 24 on ESPN Monday Night Football with interception and second sack of career…sacked Jay Cutler for nine-yard loss in first quarter…was first sack since 2003 with Philadelphia…then in third quarter, intercepted Cutler pass that had been tipped by Drayton Florence at one-yard line after Broncos had driven deep into Chargers territory…tallied 11 stops at Oakland Dec. 30, going over 100 tackles for first time in career…effort included one-yard tackle for loss in first quarter.

2006: Played Weeks 1-16 and playoff game vs. N.E. on defense and special teams...collected two special teams stops in season opener at Oakland...started Week 3 at Baltimore at strong safety, collecting six tackles...delivered big-time performance in Oct. 8 Sunday Night Football game against Pittsburgh, leading team with three tackles on special teams...also collected tackle for loss when he and Matt Wilhelm combined to stop Bryant McFadden for two-yard loss on fake punt attempt in second quarter...racked up career-high six tackles on special teams to go along with four stops on defense Oct. 15 at San Francisco...put Chargers in position to potentially drive for late game-winning score in fourth quarter of Oct. 22 game at Kansas City with third-down pass defensed against Tony Gonzalez to force punt...second on squad with two special teams tackles Oct. 29 vs. Rams...turned in several big plays in Nov. 5 game against Cleveland...broke up second-quarter pass intended for Braylon Edwards and Donnie Edwards came away with interception on play...also had forced fumble in game and tied for team high with two passes defensed...tied for team high with two special teams tackles Nov. 12 at Cincinnati...intercepted pass and recovered fumble at Buffalo Dec. 3...recovered fumble on last play of first half and intercepted JP Losman in fourth quarter with Chargers leading 24-14...recorded career-high two interceptions in Chargers’ 27-20 win at Seattle on Christmas Eve...both picks occurred in San Diego territory, and he tied Donnie Edwards for team lead with season-high three passes defensed...had first pick in first quarter at Chargers’ 23-yard line on pass that was tipped by Edwards and he had second late in second quarter on ball that he made diving catch on at Bolts’ six-yard line...also had hand in another HUGE play in third quarter, drawing holding penalty against Seattle’s Ben Joppru to negate 96-yard kickoff return for touchdown by Nate Burleson after Chargers had kicked field goal to take 10-0 lead.

2005: Saw action as reserve safety Weeks 1-2…helped set up final points of game in 45-23 win over New York Giants Sept. 25 by recovering fumble in fourth quarter on third-and-one play against New York’s David Tyree at Chargers’ 10-yard line…fumble was caused by Donnie Edwards and resulted in Nate Kaeding 44-yard field goal on ensuing possession…scored touchdown against New England Oct. 2 after Donnie Edwards intercepted pass in fourth quarter and pitched it to Clinton…play came late with under one minute remaining in fourth quarter and provided final points in 41-17 win over Patriots that ended New England’s NFL-record 21 game home winning streak…was first-career touchdown…also had two special teams tackles in game…led squad with three tackles on special teams in Oct. 10 Monday Night Football game against Pittsburgh…broke up two passes in Oct. 23 game at Philadelphia…broke up fourth quarter pass from Chargers’ nine-yard line to preserve 28-13 lead in 28-20 win over Kansas City Oct. 30…started Week 9 at strong safety for injured Terrence Kiel…Chargers Alumni Player of Week after starting ESPN Sunday Night Football 34-10 win over Oakland Dec. 4 for injured Terrence Kiel and helping account for 14 points…late in first quarter of 3-3 game, tackled LaMont Jordan and jarred ball loose on hit…it was recovered by Randall Godfrey at Raiders’ 34-yard line and seven plays later, Drew Brees threw six-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates to give Bolts 10-3 lead…midway through fourth quarter with Bolts leading 27-10, intercepted pass intended for tight end Courtney Anderson and returned it 70 yards for touchdown and final points of game…was second interception return for touchdown of season, most since Stanley Richard had two during 1994 Super Bowl season…recovered Ronnie Brown fumble at San Diego one-yard line in fourth quarter to help keep Chargers within six points against Miami Dec. 11…started at free safety in Dec. 18 game at Indianapolis for injured Bhawoh Jue (knee)…started Weeks 15-16 at strong safety for injured Kiel.

2004: Tied Hanik Milligan for team lead with 15 special teams tackles…inactive Week 2 vs. New York Jets…led squad with two special teams stops at Atlanta Oct. 17…intercepted pass off Kerry Collins late in second quarter against Oakland Oct. 31…pick led to 23-yard touchdown catch by Tim Dwight four plays later that gave San Diego 28-7 halftime lead over their arch rivals…also tied team high with two stops on special teams against Raiders…collected three stops, including one for loss, and tied for team high with two special teams tackles against New Orleans Nov. 7…tied for team high with two stops on special teams at Oakland Nov. 21…tied for team high with two special teams tackles against Denver Dec. 5…led team with two stops on special teams at Cleveland Dec. 19…filled in for injured Terrence Kiel at strong safety in Wild Card Playoff game vs. New York…left game briefly with ankle sprain but returned to action…finished contest with six tackles.

2003: Started Weeks 2-9 and 11 for injured Pro Bowl free safety Brian Dawkins…first-career start versus New England Sept. 14…logged career-high 10 tackles at New York Giants Oct. 19…chalked up first-career sack at Atlanta Nov. 2.

2002: Spent final six weeks of regular season and three weeks of postseason on Philadelphia’s practice squad…allocated to Rhein Fire of NFL Europe and later traded to Amsterdam Admirals.

2001: Defensive back and wide receiver for Tampa Bay Storm of Arena Football League…recorded three interceptions and 69 tackles on defense…caught 24 passes for 242 yards and touchdown on offense.

2000: Played for Tallahassee Thunder of AFL2.

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

PERSONAL: Born July 20, 1977 in Dade City, Florida…all-state defensive back at South Sumter High School in Bushnell, Florida…also lettered in basketball, baseball and track.