Background and career
Tracy O'Neil Porter (born August 11, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft. Porter is best known for being a crucial player during the Saints’ 2009 season, in which he intercepted Brett Favre in the NFC Championship Game and then won Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts, sealing the game by famously intercepting Peyton Manning and returning it for a touchdown. Porter also played for the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, and Chicago Bears.
Porter attended Port Allen High School, where he played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and cornerback. He earned first team All-District 3A honors in his first year of organized football as a junior and second-team as a senior after recording 93 tackles, 11 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and 14 pass breakups. He also returned two punts and two kickoffs each for touchdowns, averaging 47.0 yards per kick return and 28.0 per punt return. In addition to football, Porter was also a starter at point guard for the basketball team and a sprinter on the track & field, where he posted a personal-best time of 10.4 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
Porter played college football at Indiana University Bloomington for the Hoosiers from 2004 to 2007. During his senior year, he earned All-Big Ten Conference first-team. He finished his career second in Hoosiers history with 16 career interceptions and first in interception yards with 413. He also became the first player in school history to return a punt, interception and fumble for touchdowns in his career. He finished his career with 212 tackles and 16 interceptions.
Porter attended the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and completed all of the combine and positional drills. He impressed scouts with his 40-yard dash and tied for tenth among all players at the combine. He also had the fourth best time in the short shuttle and 60-yard shuttle. On March 5, 2008, Porter participated at Indiana's pro day and chose to run the 40-yard dash (4.38s), 20-yard dash (2.51s), and 10-yard dash (1.46s). At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Porter was projected to a third-round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He ranked as the 12th best cornerback prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com.
The New Orleans Saints selected Porter in the second round (40th overall) of the 2008 NFL draft. He was the seventh cornerback selected in 2008. On June 25, 2008, the Saints signed Porter to a four–year, $4.20 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $1.24 million. He entered training camp as a possible candidate to begin the season as a starting cornerback in place of Mike McKenzie, as he was still recovering from suffering torn ligaments in 2007. His competition included Randall Gay, Aaron Glenn, and Jason David. Head coach Sean Payton named him a starting cornerback to begin the season and started him alongside Randall Gay. On September 7, 2008, Porter made his professional regular season debut and earned his first career start in the New Orleans Saints' home-opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and recorded three combined tackles (two solo) and made two pass deflections as they won 24–20. The following week, he set a season-high with nine combined tackles (eight solo) during a 24–29 loss at the Washington Redskins in Week 2. On September 28, 2008, Porter made three solo tackles, one pass deflection, made his first career interception, and also had his first career sack on J. T. O'Sullivan for an eight–yard loss during a 31–17 win against the San Francisco 49ers. His first career interception was on a pass thrown by J. T. O'Sullivan to wide receiver Arnaz Battle and was returned for 24–yards in the fourth quarter. In Week 5, Porter made three solo tackles and tied his season-high of two pass deflections before exiting in the fourth quarter of a 27–30 loss to the Minnesota Vikings due to an injury he suffered to his wrist on Monday Night Football. His injury occurred when quarterback Gus Frerotte threw a desperation heave to the endzone to wide receiver Bernard Berrian for a 33–yard touchdown to tie the game. While coming down into the endzone, Berrian collided with fellow wide receiver Aundrae Allison, Saints' safety Josh Bullocks, and Porter as well. On October 7, 2008, head coach Sean Payton announced that the Saints have placed Porter on season-ending injured reserve after he underwent surgery for a dislocated wrist. He finished his rookie season in 2008 with only 25 combined tackles (20 solo), five pass deflections, one sack, and one interception in five games and five starts.
On January 15, 2009, the New Orleans Saints announced their decision to hire Gregg Williams as their defensive coordinator after they fired Gary Gibbs following the 2008 NFL season. Throughout training camp, Porter competed against Randall Gay, Jabari Greer, and 2009 first-round pick (14th overall) Malcolm Jenkins to earn a starting role at cornerback. Head coach Sean Payton named him the No. 1 starting cornerback to begin the season, alongside Jabari Greer. On October 25, 2009, Porter set a season-high with nine combined tackles (six solo), made three pass deflections, and had the first-pick six of his career to secure a 46–34 victory at the Miami Dolphins. With the Saints leading 40–34 late in the fourth quarter, Porter intercepted a pass by quarterback Chad Henne to wide receiver Greg Camarillo on fourth and long and returned it for a 54–yard touchdown with 1:53 remaining. The following week, he recorded six solo tackles, made a pass deflection, and helped secure a 35–27 victory by intercepting a pass by Matt Ryan to tight end Tony Gonzalez in the fourth quarter in Week 8. In Week 10, Porter recorded two solo tackles before he exited during the third quarter of a 28–23 victory at the St. Louis Rams after he injured his leg when Usama Young's leg whipped into his as he attempted to make a tackle. He subsequently remained inactive for the next four games (Weeks 11–14) due to an injury he sustained to his MCL that would not require surgery. In Week 16, Porter made six solo tackles, one pass deflection, and set a career-high with his fourth interception of the season on a pass attempt by Josh Freeman to wide receiver Antonio Bryant as the Saints lost in overtime 17–20 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished the season with a total of 58 combined tackles (49 solo), 12 pass deflections, four interceptions, and a touchdown in 12 games and 11 starts. The New Orleans Saints finished the 2009 NFL season in first place in the NFC South with a 13–3 record to earn a first-round bye. On January 16, 2010, Porter started in his first career playoff appearance and recorded five solo tackles and made one pass deflection as the Saints defeated the Arizona Cardinals 45–14 in the Divisional Round. On January 24, 2010, Porter started in the NFC Championship Game and made five solo tackles, one pass deflection, forced a fumble, and sent the game into overtime by making a crucial interception on a pass attempt by Brett Favre to wide receiver Sidney Rice with only 18 seconds remaining tied with the Minnesota Vikings at 28–28 . The Saints defeated the Vikings in overtime 31–28 to advance to the Super Bowl. On February 7, 2010, Porter started in Super Bowl XLIV and made eight solo tackles, one pass break-up, and had a pick-six as the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31–17. With 3:24 remaining in the game, Porter anticipated a play and jumped a route while covering Reggie Wayne to intercept the pass of Peyton Manning and successfully returned it 74–yards for a touchdown to seal the victory for the Saints. In post-game interviews, Porter attributed his play to film study in preparation for the Colts. "I'd seen it over and over – third down," Porter said. "That was a big route for them to convert on. Through the numerous amounts of film study that we've done all week in preparing for the Super Bowl... it all happened just like I was watching it on film. I made the break on it, and here comes the end zone."
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
