Chris McAlister

Not to be confused with Chris McAlister (hurdler), Chris McAllister (American football), or Chris McAllister.

Christopher James McAlister (born June 14, 1977) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats, earning unanimous All-American honors. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft, and played for the Ravens for 10 seasons before playing his final season with the New Orleans Saints.

Chris McAlister

No. 28, 21, 29
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1977-06-14) June 14, 1977 (age 47) Pasadena, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:	Pasadena
College:	Mt. San Antonio (1995) Arizona (1996–1998)
NFL draft:	1999: 1st round, 10th pick
Career history
Baltimore Ravens (1999–2008) New Orleans Saints (2009)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XXXV) First-team All-Pro (2003) Second-team All-Pro (2004) 3× Pro Bowl (2003, 2004, 2006) Unanimous All-American (1998) 3× First-team All-Pac-10 (1996, 1997, 1998) Arizona Wildcats Jersey No. 11 retired
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 431 Forced fumbles: 2 Fumble recoveries: 6 Pass deflections: 137 Interceptions: 26 Defensive touchdowns: 7 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

McAlister was born in Pasadena, California, and attended Pasadena High School.^[1] As a high school football quarterback, he threw for 1,153 yards and rushed for 1,302 yards and also returned three punts and two interceptions for touchdowns. He won the conference player of the year and California's Most Valuable Player award in his senior year. McAlister also played basketball and, under Coach Bill Duwe, won the CIF championship in 1995. He also lettered in track. Pasadena High School retired his football jersey No. 9 in 2001.

College career

McAlister originally committed to UCLA, where his father James was a star running back in the 1972–73 seasons. McAllister went to Mt. San Antonio College before transferring to the University of Arizona and playing for the Arizona Wildcats football team from 1996 to 1998. He had an illustrious career at Arizona where he won unanimous All-America first-team honors and was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection for 3 straight seasons. He is only the 7th player in college football history (1st in Arizona history) to return a kickoff, punt and interception for touchdowns in the same season.^[2] His 18 interceptions at the end of his Arizona career ranked 3rd on the school's career-record chart behind Chuck Cecil and Jackie Wallace.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump
6 ft 1+1⁄8 in (1.86 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	30+1⁄4 in (0.77 m)	10 in (0.25 m)	4.53 s	1.58 s	2.66 s	4.08 s	6.90 s	38.0 in (0.97 m)	10 ft 1 in (3.07 m)
All values from 1999 NFL Combine[3][4]

Chris McAlister leaps to grap an interception while playing against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens selected Chris McAlister in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft, as the tenth overall pick.^[5]

McAlister had a solid rookie season in which he recorded 47 tackles (45 solo), 5 interceptions, and 16 passes deflected. He made his NFL debut at the St. Louis Rams on September 12, 1999. At season's end, he was named to College & Pro Football Newsweekly's 1999 All-Rookie Team. McAlister had another solid season in 2000 as the Ravens won the Super Bowl and he had a key interception in Super Bowl XXXV against the New York Giants. During the regular season, he also intercepted New York Jets and former Baltimore Ravens QB Vinny Testaverde and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown.

McAlister set an NFL record for the longest play when he returned a missed field goal 107 yards for a touchdown during Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos on September 30, 2002. This record was later broken by Nathan Vasher on a 108-yard field goal return, tied by Devin Hester and eventually broken again by Antonio Cromartie on a 109-yard field goal return in 2007.

McAlister earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2003. He had 43 tackles. McAlister also intercepted three passes for 93 yards. That included an 83-yard run for a score.

In 2004, McAlister signed a 7-year, $55 million contract.

McAlister (21) playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008.

McAlister had arguably the best season of his career in 2006. He had two touchdowns that year and made his third Pro Bowl. But his last two seasons in Baltimore were marked by injuries and inconsistent play. In 2008, in 5 starts before being put on Injured Reserve, he did however amass 16 tackles, 3 INTs and 1 fumble recovery, showing some of his old form.

Chris McAlister had his contract terminated by the Baltimore Ravens on February 16, 2009.^[6]

New Orleans Saints

On November 17, 2009, McAlister signed with the New Orleans Saints.^[7] In a December 6 game at the Washington Redskins, McAlister forced a fumble in overtime, which started the drive resulting in a game-winning field goal for New Orleans. However, he was released on December 8, just two months before the Saints would go on to win Super Bowl XLIV. McAlister finished 2009 with 4 tackles and the forced fumble.^[8]

NFL statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	Tackles				Fumbles		Interceptions
			Comb	Solo	Ast	Sack	FF	FR	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD
1999	BAL	16	47	45	2	0.0	0	0	5	28	5.6	21	0	21
2000	BAL	16	41	35	6	0.0	0	1	4	165	41.3	98	1	14
2001	BAL	16	71	63	8	0.0	0	0	1	0	0.0	0	0	10
2002	BAL	13	53	48	5	0.0	0	0	1	0	0.0	0	0	18
2003	BAL	15	43	33	10	0.0	0	0	3	93	31.0	83	1	14
2004	BAL	15	42	38	4	0.0	0	1	1	51	51.0	51	1	9
2005	BAL	14	48	46	2	0.0	1	0	1	0	0.0	0	0	13
2006	BAL	16	47	43	4	0.0	0	2	6	121	20.2	60	2	22
2007	BAL	8	19	17	2	0.0	0	0	1	0	0.0	0	0	9
2008	BAL	6	16	13	3	0.0	0	1	3	28	9.3	16	0	7
2009	NO	2	4	4	0	0.0	1	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0
Career[9]		137	431	385	46	0.0	2	6	26	486	18.7	98	5	137

Postseason

Year	Team	GP	Tackles				Fumbles		Interceptions
			Comb	Solo	Ast	Sack	FF	FR	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD
2000	BAL	4	16	13	3	0.0	0	0	1	4	4.0	4	0	7
2001	BAL	2	7	5	2	0.0	0	0	1	18	18.0	18	0	4
2003	BAL	1	3	2	1	0.0	0	0	1	0	0.0	0	0	2
2006	BAL	1	2	2	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
Career		8	28	22	6	0.0	0	0	3	22	7.3	18	0	14

Personal life

Chris McAlister's father, James McAlister, also played in the NFL for three seasons for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles during the 1970s. McAlister is divorced and has one daughter.^[10] McAlister was married for three months.