Cortland Temujin Finnegan was born on February 2, 1984, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He grew up in Milton, Florida, where he attended Milton High School. During his high school years, Finnegan played American football and quickly established himself as a standout defensive player. In 2002, he earned All-State second-team honors and recorded 65 tackles, highlighting his early skill in defense.
Finnegan attended Samford University, where he played college football for the Samford Bulldogs. He consistently impressed with his athleticism and defensive abilities. He started every game during both his junior and senior years, primarily at the position of free safety.
In his junior year, he tallied 86 tackles and scored one touchdown, earning the title of Defensive Player of the Year in the Ohio Valley Conference. His outstanding performance led to his inclusion in the All-American First Team, as noted in NFL draft reports. Finnegan also turned heads with a strong showing during Samford's Pro Day, underscoring his speed and agility.
Despite concerns from NFL scouts about his height and tackling technique, Finnegan was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft, making him the first Samford player drafted into the NFL since Gary Fleming. Contrary to Sports Illustrated’s prediction that he would go undrafted, Finnegan's talent secured his professional career.
Finnegan played for the Titans from 2006 to 2011. As a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games and started two of them. His contributions grew over time, and in 2008, he was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He earned his lone Pro Bowl selection in 2009, marking a career highlight. In 2010, the Titans honored him as their Community Man of the Year in recognition of his charitable work. However, that same year, he was also fined three times for on-field misconduct.
| Net Worth 2021: | 20 million |
