Merton Hanks
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Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| No. 36 | |||||||||||
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| Position | Safety | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | March 12, 1968 Dallas, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Listed weight | 181 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Lake Highlands (Dallas, Texas) | ||||||||||
| College | Iowa (1987–1990) | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1991: 5th round, 122nd overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Merton Edward Hanks (born March 12, 1968) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1990s, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers.[1] He was a five-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection with the 49ers, winning a Super Bowl (XXIX) with the team.
Hanks played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, earning All-American honors in 1990. He played eight seasons in the NFL with the 49ers and one with the Seattle Seahawks. He is currently a senior associate commissioner for the Pac-12.[2]
Hanks attended Lake Highlands High School, where he was a district track-and-field champion. He attended the University of Iowa, earning all-Big Ten honors at cornerback. However, at the NFL scouting combine, his 40-yard dash times were very slow, and he was not drafted until the fifth round by the San Francisco 49ers with the 122nd overall pick.[3]
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (1.87 m) | 177 lb (80 kg) | 32 in (0.81 m) | 9 in (0.23 m) | 4.77 s | 1.62 s | 2.72 s | 4.15 s | 36.0 in (0.91 m) |
Despite his low selection, Hanks was selected to four Pro Bowl and three All-Pro teams. He was well known for his interceptions and returns, as well as his unique "chicken dance" celebrations that were later emulated by basketball star Shaquille O'Neal.[4][5] 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.