Ronnie Lott

Ronald Mandel Lott was born on May 8, 1959, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He attended Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California. While in high school, Lott played football, baseball, basketball, and wrestled.^[4][5]

Lott played for USC from 1977 to 1980. After lettering in limited time as a freshman in 1977, Lott made the starting lineup in 1978 and recorded three interceptions, assisting the team to a 12–1 record and splitting the national championship with Alabama in 1978. The 1979 season saw more success for USC. Lott recorded three interceptions again as a key member of an elite secondary that included future NFL players Jeff Fisher, Dennis Smith, and Joey Browner. Along with an offense that included all American quarterback Paul McDonald, Heisman winner Charles White, future Heisman winner Marcus Allen, and four future NFL first round picks in the offensive line, he helped USC finish with a 11–0–1 record and a #2 ranking in both polls. As a senior, Lott led the nation in interceptions (8) and return yards (166),^[6] earning himself unanimous All-American honors as the team went 8–2–1 with a final ranking of #11 while the team served a one-year NCAA probation.^[7]

Lott even played in six games for the 1979–80 USC basketball team under coach Stan Morrison.^[8]

In 1999, Sports Illustrated included Lott on its All-Century Team for college football.^[9]

In his 14 NFL seasons, Lott recorded 8.5 sacks and 63 interceptions, which he returned for 730 yards and five touchdowns. Lott recovered 17 fumbles, returned them for 43 yards, and gained 113 yards on kickoff returns. Lott also played in 20 postseason games, recording nine interceptions, 89 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two touchdowns. He was named All-Pro eight times, All-NFC six times, and All-AFC once. Lott had an uncanny awareness of how a play was developing, which allowed him to break up passes and earn a reputation as one of the hardest and most efficient open-field tacklers in the history of the league.

Lott turned to broadcasting following his retirement, serving as an analyst on Fox NFL Sunday in 1996 and 1997, and working on the network's game coverage in 1998. He is currently^[when?] on a show called PAC-12 Playbook on the Pac-12 Network, an American sports-oriented digital cable and satellite television network. He also serves on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service.^[19]

Lott was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His father served a career in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Senior master sergeant.^[20] Lott now lives in Cupertino, California, with his wife, Karen, and three children: Hailey, Isaiah, and Chloe. Hailey is married to Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams. USA Today praised Lott as "one of the most successful athletes at making the transition to business." Along with former teammates Harris Barton and Joe Montana, Lott was a managing partner and a founder of HRJ Capital. Lott owns Toyota and Hyundai car dealerships. He advises professional athletes who are making a transition to the business world. Lott is also the father of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Ryan Nece.

In 1991, Lott, along with Jill Lieber Steeg, wrote an autobiography, Total Impact.^[21] Lott inspired the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which is given annually by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. The trophy was first awarded in 2004.^[22] Lott was the guest of honor at a CYO fundraiser at Sharon Heights Country Club in Menlo Park, CA in May 2012 where he discussed the importance of helping the community. He credits the late Coach Ben Parks as a central figure in the development of his vigorous philanthropic work. On February 17, 2015, Lott was appointed to the Board of Directors of GSV Capital Corporation, now known as SuRo Capital Corp., a publicly traded investment fund.^[23]

• Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
• The Lott Trophy