Chris Hope
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Career Summary
Chris Hope was an NFL safety who played 11 seasons with Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Atlanta.
He appeared in 163 regular-season games with 113 starts, recording 601 total tackles, 20 interceptions, 48 passes defensed, four sacks, and one defensive touchdown.
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Early Life
Hope was from Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Florida State's 2001 spring roster lists Rock Hill as his hometown and identifies Rock Hill High School.
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High School
Hope attended Rock Hill High School in South Carolina.
Florida State listed the school on its senior safety's 2001 roster profile.
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College Career
At Florida State, Hope became a two-time first-team Academic All-American and an All-ACC safety.
As a junior in 2000, he started all 12 games, recorded 83 tackles, five tackles for loss, eight pass deflections, and two interceptions, and was named second-team All-ACC. Florida State also identifies Hope as a four-year Seminole from 1998 through 2001.
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Path to the NFL
Pittsburgh selected Hope in the third round, 94th overall, of the 2002 NFL Draft.
The Steelers' all-time draft record lists Hope as a third-round safety from Florida State.
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NFL Career
Hope began with Pittsburgh, spent six seasons with Tennessee, and finished with Atlanta in 2012.
NFL statistics list 14 games as a rookie, two full seasons as a Steelers starter in 2004 and 2005, and four consecutive 16-game seasons for Tennessee from 2008 through 2010. Florida State's pro record confirms the franchise sequence.
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Career Accomplishments
Hope's most productive NFL season came in his first year with Tennessee, when he recorded five interceptions and a defensive touchdown.
In 2006, he posted 107 total tackles, 15 passes defensed, and five interceptions. He followed with four interceptions in 2008 and three in 2009.
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Playing Style
Hope blended coverage production with substantial tackle volume from the safety position.
He described football knowledge and overall athletic ability as his best attributes in a 2001 Florida State feature. His NFL record shows 48 passes defensed alongside 601 total tackles.
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Legacy
Hope's legacy includes a long NFL career and exceptional academic recognition at Florida State.
Florida State's Academic All-American records list him as a first-team selection in 2000 and 2001, while his NFL career spanned 163 games across three franchises.
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Sources for this section
19721, 00-0021219, 1980-09-29, Chris Hope, Christopher, Hope
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