Background and career
Ronald Mandel Lott (born May 8, 1959) is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. Lott played college football for the USC Trojans, and was honored as a consensus All-American. He was drafted in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Lott was also a member of the Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets, and Kansas City Chiefs. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2023, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest of all time at the safety position in NFL history.
Ronald Mandel Lott was born on May 8, 1959, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He attended Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California, where he played football, baseball, basketball, and wrestled.
Lott played at the University of Southern California from 1977 to 1980. After lettering in limited time as a freshman in 1977, Lott made the Trojans' starting lineup in 1978 and recorded three interceptions, assisting the team to a 12–1 record and splitting the national championship with Alabama in 1978. The 1979 season saw more success for USC. Lott recorded three interceptions again as a key member of an elite secondary that included future NFL players Jeff Fisher, Dennis Smith, and Joey Browner. Along with an offense that included all American quarterback Paul McDonald, Heisman winner Charles White, future Heisman winner Marcus Allen, and four future NFL first round picks in the offensive line, he helped USC finish with an 11–0–1 record and a #2 ranking in both polls. As a senior, Lott led the nation in interceptions (8) and return yards (166), earning himself unanimous All-American honors as the team went 8–2–1 with a final ranking of #11 while the team served a one-year NCAA probation. Lott played in six games for the 1979–80 USC basketball team under coach Stan Morrison. In 1999, Sports Illustrated included Lott on its All-Century Team for college football.
Lott was selected in the first round (8th overall) of the 1981 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Standing at 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighing 203 pounds (92 kg), the level of skill demonstrated by Lott was instantly recognized, and from the very beginning of training camp, he had the job as the 49ers' starting left cornerback. As a rookie in 1981, Lott recorded seven interceptions, helped the 49ers win Super Bowl XVI, and also became only the second rookie in NFL history to return three interceptions for touchdowns. His outstanding play resulted in Lott finishing second for rookie of the year honors, behind New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Lott switched to the safety position in 1985. He had the tip of his left pinky finger amputated after the 1985 season when it was crushed while tackling running back Timmy Newsome, and a bone graft surgery would not have allowed Lott to start the 1986 season. While he told doctors to amputate the tip of his pinky, Lott regretted having the procedure done, saying years later that he should have just had an operation to fix his finger. An injury sidelined Lott for the season's last two games in 1986, but he still led the league with a career-best 10 interceptions, while recording 77 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two quarterback sacks. In his 10 seasons with the 49ers, Lott helped them win eight division titles and four Super Bowls: XVI (1981 season), XIX (1984), XXIII (1988), and XXIV (1989). He is one of five players involved in all four 49ers Super Bowl wins in the 1980s. The other four are quarterback Joe Montana, linebacker Keena Turner, cornerback Eric Wright, and wide receiver Mike Wilson.
After his career with San Francisco, Lott signed with the Los Angeles Raiders as a free agent in 1991. That season, he led the league in interceptions (8) for a second time.
Lott signed with the New York Jets in 1993.
