DeAngelo Hall
Encyclopedia
DeAngelo Eugene Hall is an American football
cornerback
for the Washington Redskins
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
eighth overall in the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Virginia Tech
.
A three-time Pro Bowl
selection with the Falcons and Redskins, Hall also played a portion of one season for the Oakland Raiders
before being cut.
in Chesapeake, Virginia
, where he lettered
in high school football
, basketball and in track and field. At Deep Creek, he was a teammate of Carolina Panthers
' linebacker James Anderson (American football) and defensive end Darryl Tapp
. Hall, Tapp and Anderson also played together collegiately at Virginia Tech.
and had seven interceptions as a cornerback. He was chosen as the district offensive and defensive player of the year and was a first-team pick as a defensive back on the All-Tidewater team.
As a senior, Hall scored 30 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,300 yards while averaging ten yards per carry. He also intercepted nine passes, posted over 100 tackles and had 16 tackles for loss. During his senior season, Hall helped Deep Creek to the state AAA Division Six championship game.
After the season, Hall earned all-district player of the year honors and was named to the all-district team as a running back, defensive back
and return man
. He was also named Tidewater Player of the Year and the Norfolk Sports Club Player of the Year. The Associated Press
picked him as a first-team Group AAA defensive back, and he was ranked the No. 2 player in Virginia
by The Roanoke Times
.
on the track team and placed sixth at the junior nationals in the 60-meter dash
as a junior. He also placed third in the state AAA long jump
as a senior.
Hall majored in secondary education while at Virginia Tech.
, during which he had three tackles, two assists and his first college interception. Hall made his first career start against Temple University
, during which he played a season-high 78 total snaps, recording six solo tackles, five assists, two passes broken up and an interception. He had four tackles, including one for a 3-yard loss, during Virginia Tech's loss in the 2002 Gator Bowl
against Florida State University
.
Hall played in all 11 games, starting one, and recorded 24 solo stops, 18 assists, three pass breakups and three interceptions.
, he returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown, and then returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown. He recorded four tackles and a 51-yard punt return for a touchdown against Rutgers University
, which helped earn him the Big East Conference
Co-Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Hall had an assisted tackle and a pass broken up in Virginia Tech's victory in the 2002 San Francisco Bowl
against Air Force
. He was ranked seventh in the nation in punt returns, averaging 16.0 yards per return, and had a long of 71 yards and two touchdowns. He had 36 solo tackles and 19 assists, four interceptions, 12 passes broken up and a forced fumble.
During spring training, Hall posted the fastest forty time ever for a Tech football player with a timing of 4.15 in Virginia Tech's Rector Field House.
. During the game, he caught two passes for 41 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown, and had two solo tackles and an assist on defense. During the game against Syracuse University
, he scored three touchdowns, and set a Virginia Tech and Big East record with two punt returns for touchdowns, as well as a 24-yard touchdown run on offense. After the game, Hall earned Big East Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He had eight solo tackles and three assists against the University of Miami
, as well as a forced fumble, fumble recovery and 28-yard touchdown all on the same play to open Tech's scoring. This performance earned him Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors.
After the season, Hall was a second-team All-America
n selection, and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award
, given to the nation's top defensive back, as he ranked sixth on the team with a career-high 93 tackles.
with 8th overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft
. He finished his first season with 35 tackles and two interceptions. He also set the record for being the youngest player to return an interception for a touchdown (21 years, 44 days).
One of Hall's finest moments came when he was assigned to one of the NFL's premier wide receivers, Terrell Owens
of the Philadelphia Eagles
, on Monday Night Football
. Although Owens gained 112 receiving yards, Hall was able to stop Owens on many of the Eagles' third down attempts, and his tight coverage of Owens on the last Eagle possession of the game helped Atlanta clinch a 14-10 victory on September 12, 2005.
Hall performed well during the 2005-2006 season, especially in prime time games. In the four prime time games he has played, he has had three interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
During a Monday Night Football
game in 2005, after an interception, Hall held up a sign that read, "Aloha, see you in Hawaii", obviously making a case for a Pro Bowl
bid. In 2005, Hall was selected to the Pro Bowl
for the first time in his career. While at the 2005 Pro Bowl, Hall was the winner of the "NFL's Fastest Man Competition", a contest with the fastest players in the NFL.
Hall is close friends with many elite receivers in the NFL, including the Patriots' Chad Ocho Cinco (born Chad Johnson). On an appearance on the NFL Network, Johnson and Hall made a wager on their upcoming 2006 matchup: should Johnson catch two touchdown passes, Hall would be obligated to wait tables at an Atlanta restaurant owned by Bengals tackle Willie Anderson. Should Johnson fail, he would be forced to shave the bleach-blonde mohawk he had grown over the off-season. After the game was over (which the Falcons won) it was accepted that Hall was the "winner," as Johnson only caught one touchdown pass. Johnson honorably held up his end of the bargain and shaved his mohawk.
In preseason 2007, Hall shaved "I own 85" into the back of his head in reference to his ongoing rivalry with Johnson. Johnson had the last laugh however, breezing past Hall on occasions and making five catches for more than 80 yards and a touchdown.
In the Falcons 2007 game against the New Orleans Saints
, Hall showed his support for fellow Falcon and former Hokie Michael Vick
by carrying a poster of Vick onto the field with him, and also wearing "MV7" written on the shade under his eyes. Earlier that day, Vick, who was also a Virginia Tech teammate of Hall's, was sentenced to 23 months in prison on dogfighting charges. Hall was fined $10,000 by the league for his actions.
for their second-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft
(traded to the Washington Redskins
) and fifth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
. The trade became official when he agreed on a seven-year, $70 million contract with $24.5 million guaranteed. On November 5, 2008, Hall was released by the Oakland Raiders after "he failed to adapt to the Raiders' man-to-man style of defense and was regularly beaten by opposition receivers during the opening half of the season." In total, Hall received $8 million—a $7 million signing bonus and $1 million in base salary—for playing eight games for Oakland.
on November 8, 2008. The team released cornerback
Leigh Torrence
to make room for Hall. In his first game with the Redskins, against the Dallas Cowboys, Hall intercepted a pass from Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo
. He finished his first year with the Redskins with 25 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass deflections in seven games (four starts).
An unrestricted free agent in the 2009 offseason, Hall agreed to a new six-year contract with the Redskins on February 27. The deal contained $23 million in guaranteed money and had a maximum value of $55 million.
On October 24, 2010, during a game against the Chicago Bears
, Hall recorded four interceptions, tying an NFL record. He returned one of the picks 92 yards for a touchdown. The Redskins won the turnover laden game (nine turnovers overall) 17-14.
Hall's jersey from this game was sent by request to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for display in the “Pro Football Today Gallery,” an area stocked with memories of recent history-making performances.
Hall was the 2011 Pro Bowl MVP due to his performance which included 6 tackles, an interception, and a fumble returned for a touchdown. After the game Hall stated he was a "ball hawk".
He has advocated for the passage of the FIT Kids Act, federal legislation that would require school districts to report on students' physical activity and to give youngsters health and nutritional information.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
eighth overall in the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
.
A three-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection with the Falcons and Redskins, Hall also played a portion of one season for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
before being cut.
Early years
Hall attended Deep Creek High SchoolDeep Creek High School
Deep Creek High School is a public secondary school in Chesapeake, Virginia. It is part of Chesapeake City Public Schools and is located on 2900 Margaret Booker Drive.-History:...
in Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
, where he lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
in high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, basketball and in track and field. At Deep Creek, he was a teammate of Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
' linebacker James Anderson (American football) and defensive end Darryl Tapp
Darryl Tapp
-Seattle Seahawks:Tapp was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Tapp was a special teamer and part of the Seahawks' DE rotation. He recorded 33 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, and one defensive touchdown...
. Hall, Tapp and Anderson also played together collegiately at Virginia Tech.
Football
As a junior at Deep Creek, Hall averaged 9.8 yards a carry as a running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and had seven interceptions as a cornerback. He was chosen as the district offensive and defensive player of the year and was a first-team pick as a defensive back on the All-Tidewater team.
As a senior, Hall scored 30 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,300 yards while averaging ten yards per carry. He also intercepted nine passes, posted over 100 tackles and had 16 tackles for loss. During his senior season, Hall helped Deep Creek to the state AAA Division Six championship game.
After the season, Hall earned all-district player of the year honors and was named to the all-district team as a running back, defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and return man
Return specialist
A Return Specialist is a player on American football or Canadian football special teams who specializes in returning punts and kickoff returns. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most play other positions as well. The special teams counterpart of a return specialist is a...
. He was also named Tidewater Player of the Year and the Norfolk Sports Club Player of the Year. The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
picked him as a first-team Group AAA defensive back, and he was ranked the No. 2 player in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
by The Roanoke Times
The Roanoke Times
The Roanoke Times is the primary newspaper in Southwestern Virginia and is based in Roanoke, Virginia, United States. It is published by Landmark Media Enterprises...
.
Track and field
Hall was a sprinterSprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
on the track team and placed sixth at the junior nationals in the 60-meter dash
60 metres
60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes...
as a junior. He also placed third in the state AAA long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
as a senior.
College career
Hall recorded 190 tackles, 20 passes defensed, eight interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and seven receptions for 86 yards with one touchdown in his three-year career at Virginia Tech. He returned 56 punts for 839 yards and five touchdowns. His 839 yards rank third on the Big East Conference career-record chart while his five returns for touchdowns rank second in conference history. Hall is one of the few players in college football history to score touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams during their collegiate career.Hall majored in secondary education while at Virginia Tech.
Freshman
Hall started strong in college, and turned in the fastest 40-yard dash among the freshmen at 4.37 in preseason strength and conditioning testing and also bench pressed 300 pounds. His first collegiate action was in the season-opener against the University of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, during which he had three tackles, two assists and his first college interception. Hall made his first career start against Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, during which he played a season-high 78 total snaps, recording six solo tackles, five assists, two passes broken up and an interception. He had four tackles, including one for a 3-yard loss, during Virginia Tech's loss in the 2002 Gator Bowl
2002 Gator Bowl
The 2002 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the and the Florida State Seminoles at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on January 1, 2002...
against Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
.
Hall played in all 11 games, starting one, and recorded 24 solo stops, 18 assists, three pass breakups and three interceptions.
Sophomore
Hall started ten games at cornerback and also returned punts as a sophomore. In the first game of the season against Arkansas State UniversityArkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
, he returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown, and then returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown. He recorded four tackles and a 51-yard punt return for a touchdown against Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, which helped earn him the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
Co-Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Hall had an assisted tackle and a pass broken up in Virginia Tech's victory in the 2002 San Francisco Bowl
2002 San Francisco Bowl
The 2002 San Francisco Bowl was the inaugural edition of the post-season college football bowl game between the and the at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, California on December 31, 2002...
against Air Force
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
. He was ranked seventh in the nation in punt returns, averaging 16.0 yards per return, and had a long of 71 yards and two touchdowns. He had 36 solo tackles and 19 assists, four interceptions, 12 passes broken up and a forced fumble.
During spring training, Hall posted the fastest forty time ever for a Tech football player with a timing of 4.15 in Virginia Tech's Rector Field House.
Junior
As a junior, Hall became the first Tech player in nearly six years to play both ways in a game when he saw ten plays on offense and 28 on defense against the University of Central FloridaUniversity of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
. During the game, he caught two passes for 41 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown, and had two solo tackles and an assist on defense. During the game against Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, he scored three touchdowns, and set a Virginia Tech and Big East record with two punt returns for touchdowns, as well as a 24-yard touchdown run on offense. After the game, Hall earned Big East Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He had eight solo tackles and three assists against the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, as well as a forced fumble, fumble recovery and 28-yard touchdown all on the same play to open Tech's scoring. This performance earned him Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors.
After the season, Hall was a second-team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n selection, and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award
Jim Thorpe Award
The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986...
, given to the nation's top defensive back, as he ranked sixth on the team with a career-high 93 tackles.
Atlanta Falcons
Hall was drafted by the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
with 8th overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He finished his first season with 35 tackles and two interceptions. He also set the record for being the youngest player to return an interception for a touchdown (21 years, 44 days).
One of Hall's finest moments came when he was assigned to one of the NFL's premier wide receivers, Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
of the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
. Although Owens gained 112 receiving yards, Hall was able to stop Owens on many of the Eagles' third down attempts, and his tight coverage of Owens on the last Eagle possession of the game helped Atlanta clinch a 14-10 victory on September 12, 2005.
Hall performed well during the 2005-2006 season, especially in prime time games. In the four prime time games he has played, he has had three interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
During a Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game in 2005, after an interception, Hall held up a sign that read, "Aloha, see you in Hawaii", obviously making a case for a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
bid. In 2005, Hall was selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
for the first time in his career. While at the 2005 Pro Bowl, Hall was the winner of the "NFL's Fastest Man Competition", a contest with the fastest players in the NFL.
Hall is close friends with many elite receivers in the NFL, including the Patriots' Chad Ocho Cinco (born Chad Johnson). On an appearance on the NFL Network, Johnson and Hall made a wager on their upcoming 2006 matchup: should Johnson catch two touchdown passes, Hall would be obligated to wait tables at an Atlanta restaurant owned by Bengals tackle Willie Anderson. Should Johnson fail, he would be forced to shave the bleach-blonde mohawk he had grown over the off-season. After the game was over (which the Falcons won) it was accepted that Hall was the "winner," as Johnson only caught one touchdown pass. Johnson honorably held up his end of the bargain and shaved his mohawk.
In preseason 2007, Hall shaved "I own 85" into the back of his head in reference to his ongoing rivalry with Johnson. Johnson had the last laugh however, breezing past Hall on occasions and making five catches for more than 80 yards and a touchdown.
In the Falcons 2007 game against the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, Hall showed his support for fellow Falcon and former Hokie Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
by carrying a poster of Vick onto the field with him, and also wearing "MV7" written on the shade under his eyes. Earlier that day, Vick, who was also a Virginia Tech teammate of Hall's, was sentenced to 23 months in prison on dogfighting charges. Hall was fined $10,000 by the league for his actions.
Oakland Raiders
On March 20, 2008, Hall was traded to the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for their second-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
(traded to the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
) and fifth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. The trade became official when he agreed on a seven-year, $70 million contract with $24.5 million guaranteed. On November 5, 2008, Hall was released by the Oakland Raiders after "he failed to adapt to the Raiders' man-to-man style of defense and was regularly beaten by opposition receivers during the opening half of the season." In total, Hall received $8 million—a $7 million signing bonus and $1 million in base salary—for playing eight games for Oakland.
Washington Redskins
Hall signed a one-year contract with the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
on November 8, 2008. The team released cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Leigh Torrence
Leigh Torrence
Leigh Torrence is an American football cornerback for the New Orleans Saints. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
to make room for Hall. In his first game with the Redskins, against the Dallas Cowboys, Hall intercepted a pass from Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo
Tony Romo
Antonio Ramiro "Tony" Romo is a professional American football quarterback in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. Romo's career passer rating - at 95.8 - ranks third-best all time. Tony Romo didn't play in the regular season in 2003, 2004, or 2005...
. He finished his first year with the Redskins with 25 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass deflections in seven games (four starts).
An unrestricted free agent in the 2009 offseason, Hall agreed to a new six-year contract with the Redskins on February 27. The deal contained $23 million in guaranteed money and had a maximum value of $55 million.
On October 24, 2010, during a game against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Hall recorded four interceptions, tying an NFL record. He returned one of the picks 92 yards for a touchdown. The Redskins won the turnover laden game (nine turnovers overall) 17-14.
Hall's jersey from this game was sent by request to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for display in the “Pro Football Today Gallery,” an area stocked with memories of recent history-making performances.
Hall was the 2011 Pro Bowl MVP due to his performance which included 6 tackles, an interception, and a fumble returned for a touchdown. After the game Hall stated he was a "ball hawk".
Personal
Hall, while a gifted athlete, is "nearly as well known for his outspoken demeanor." He "has been nicknamed MeAngelo for his selfish style of play."He has advocated for the passage of the FIT Kids Act, federal legislation that would require school districts to report on students' physical activity and to give youngsters health and nutritional information.