Merton Hanks
Encyclopedia
Merton Edward Hanks is a former safety in the National Football League
.
Hanks attended Lake Highlands High School
, where he was a district track and field
champion. He went on to the University of Iowa
, earning all-Big Ten
honors at cornerback
. However, at the NFL scouting combine, his 40-yard dashes were extremely slow, and he was not drafted
until the fifth round by the San Francisco 49ers
.
Despite his low selection, Hanks was selected for 4 Pro Bowl and 3 All-Pro teams. He was well-known for his interceptions and returns, as well as his unique "chicken dance" celebrations which were later emulated by basketball star Shaquille O'Neal
. He was a member of the 1994 San Francisco team that won Super Bowl XXIX
. Hanks finished his career with the Seattle Seahawks
, retiring in 1999. He is now a senior manager and assistant director of operations for the National Football League, and regularly goes on speaking tours.
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...
.
Hanks attended Lake Highlands High School
Lake Highlands High School
Lake Highlands High School is a secondary school serving grades 10-12 located in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas, Texas, United States, primarily serving the Lake Highlands community. The school is part of the Richardson Independent School District and is located centrally within Lake Highlands...
, where he was a district track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
champion. He went on to the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, earning all-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
honors at 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...
. However, at the NFL scouting combine, his 40-yard dashes were extremely slow, and he was not drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
until the fifth round by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
Despite his low selection, Hanks was selected for 4 Pro Bowl and 3 All-Pro teams. He was well-known for his interceptions and returns, as well as his unique "chicken dance" celebrations which were later emulated by basketball star Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
. He was a member of the 1994 San Francisco team that won Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX was an American football game played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1994 regular season...
. Hanks finished his career with the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, retiring in 1999. He is now a senior manager and assistant director of operations for the National Football League, and regularly goes on speaking tours.