Cortland Finnegan

Cortland Finnegan, professional football cornerback for the Tennessee Titans is this year’s All Sports Association Professional Athlete of the Year. In 2009 Cortland led the Titans team, and tied for fifth in the AFC with five interceptions. He also led the team with 13 passes defensed, while posting 76 tackles. An elite cornerback recognized for his blazing speed and a feisty attitude, Cortland Finnegan has emerged as one of the team’s defensive leaders. The former seventh-round draft choice from Samford University was mentioned alongside the NFL’s top stars three years into his career, earning 2008 first-team All-Pro honors as well as his first trip to the Pro Bowl. After receiving a multi-year contract extension during the 2008 preseason, he justified the deal by leading the club with 20 passes defensed and finishing tied for sixth in the NFL with five interceptions.

Cortland is not only a leader on the field, but his off the field efforts truly set him apart. In 2009, he launched his own foundation, ARK 31 (Acts of Random Kindness), to help serve children with special needs and disabilities throughout the middle Tennessee area. USA Football, the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, and the NFL Players Association recently selected Cortland and 25 other NFL players to the inaugural USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team. This 26-man roster honors the NFL’s most fundamentally-sound players who also commit themselves to service in their communities.

In 2008 Finnegan was named a Titans Community All-Star due in large part to his involvement with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Special Olympics of Middle Tennessee. Another act of benevolence by Finnegan is his donation of game tickets to help the non-profits with which he has a relationship.

Cortland is a 2001 graduate from Milton High School, where he earned first-team All-State, All-Northwest Florida and 3A District Player of the Year as senior. He was the team captain and Most Valuable Player, posting 22 receptions for 403 yards with 11 rushing touchdowns on offense and recorded 115 tackles with five interceptions. Cortland was also the starting point guard all four years on the Milton basketball team.