Andre Weathers
Encyclopedia
Andre Le'Melle Weathers (born August 6, 1976) is a former American football
player. He played college football
at the University of Michigan
from 1995 to 1998 and was a member of the 1997 team
that won the national championship. He later played professional football for the New York Giants
in 2000 and 2001, but his career was cut short by a knee injury.
, and earned a scholarship to play defensive back
at the University of Michigan
. Weathers was a defensive back for the Wolverines for four years from 1995 to 1998. He played on Michigan's 1997 national championship team
and had a 43-yard interception run-back for the winning touchdown in a 20-14 victory over Ohio State. Weathers also had a key sack of Ryan Leaf
in Michigan's victory over Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl
. With the media attention focused on his teammate Charles Woodson
, Weathers was sometimes referred to by the press in 1997 as Michigan's "other cornerback." Because of Woodson's abilities, opponents regularly "threw at Weathers, not wanting to test Woodson." Weathers noted, "I like a challenge, but when you're expecting every ball to come at you, well, sometimes you want a little break." In 1998, following Woodson's departure, Weathers was the leader of a Michigan secondary that remained one of the best in college football.
During his four-year career at Michigan, Weathers had 84 tackles and 5 interceptions.
in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft
(205th overall pick) He signed with the Giants in July 1999. During the Giants' 1999 training camp, Weathers was nicknamed "Nonchalant" for his somewhat carefree attitude. Weathers made the final cut and played in the Giants' season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. In that game, his first in the NFL, Weathers intercepted a pass off Trent Dilfer
and returned it for the winning touchdown as the Giants defeated Buccaneers, 17-13.
After the Tampa Bay game, Weathers was the subject of a feature stories in The New York Times
and the New York Daily News
. Weathers described his thoughts as he intercepted Dilfer's pass, "I know he couldn't see me, because I couldn't even see him. I didn't actually see the ball until it was right on top of me. My eyes got big, and I didn't have time to think about it. I thought only about holding onto the ball and going in. The end zone was there, and when I didn't see anybody in front of me I knew it was a touchdown." The Daily News reported, "Only a week ago, rookie Andre Weathers was sweating out the final cuts, and if not for the injuries to Jason Sehorn
and Conrad Hamilton
that created a need for cornerbacks, who knows? But there he was yesterday, making perhaps the biggest play of the 17-13 win over the Bucs as he returned an interception eight yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter." Veteran cornerback Phillippi Sparks
said of Weathers, "That kid can be special if he works at it. He reminds me of myself. He's a little lackadaisical in practice because he knows he has skills. If he works at it, he can be a great player, and I won't let him do anything else."
Weathers appeared in 9 games for the Giants during the 1999 NFL season
. However, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a November 1999 game against the Indianapolis Colts
. Weathers underwent knee surgery in November 1999.
Weathers returned to the Giants at the end of October 2000. At the time of his return, Weathers noted, "It's going to be exciting and nervous at the same time. I'm anxious to get out there and see what I can do." The New York Daily News reported, "Weathers doesn't pretend that the knee is as sound as it had been. Most doctors agree that it takes about two years after major knee surgery for a 100% recovery." In his first game back, he immediately sustained a tear in the anterior cruciate knee ligaments to end his season. At the time, the New York Post noted: "This is especially cruel news for Weathers, who last Sunday made his debut this season. A rookie in 1999, Weathers showed plenty of promise before tearing his left ACL in the ninth game of the season. The Giants were cautious in bringing Weathers back, but he reinjured the same knee in the 24-7 victory over the Eagles, will again need surgery and faces another year-long rehab." Weathers attempted a comeback with the Giants in 2001, but did not make the team. He was released by the Giants in August 2001.
. He worked as a high school football coach at Flint Central High School
and with the Genesee County Patriots semi-pro team.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1995 to 1998 and was a member of the 1997 team
1997 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its third year under head coach Lloyd Carr, Michigan compiled a perfect 12–0 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, defeated Washington State in the 1998...
that won the national championship. He later played professional football for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2000 and 2001, but his career was cut short by a knee injury.
University of Michigan
Weathers was a standout wide receiver and defensive back at Flint Central High SchoolFlint Central High School
Flint Central High School was one of the Flint Community Schools, located in Flint, Michigan, USA. Flint Central was the city's oldest school. Its first building was built in 1875, and the school moved into the present building in 1923. It was called Flint High School until Flint Northern High...
, and earned a scholarship to play defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Weathers was a defensive back for the Wolverines for four years from 1995 to 1998. He played on Michigan's 1997 national championship team
1997 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its third year under head coach Lloyd Carr, Michigan compiled a perfect 12–0 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, defeated Washington State in the 1998...
and had a 43-yard interception run-back for the winning touchdown in a 20-14 victory over Ohio State. Weathers also had a key sack of Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf
Ryan David Leaf is a former American football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons...
in Michigan's victory over Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl
1998 Rose Bowl
The 1998 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1998 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. It was the 84th Rose Bowl Game. The game featured Michigan beating Washington State by a score of 21–16. The ending of the game is controversial...
. With the media attention focused on his teammate Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson
Charles C. Woodson is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines. In 1997, Woodson led the Wolverines to a national championship...
, Weathers was sometimes referred to by the press in 1997 as Michigan's "other cornerback." Because of Woodson's abilities, opponents regularly "threw at Weathers, not wanting to test Woodson." Weathers noted, "I like a challenge, but when you're expecting every ball to come at you, well, sometimes you want a little break." In 1998, following Woodson's departure, Weathers was the leader of a Michigan secondary that remained one of the best in college football.
During his four-year career at Michigan, Weathers had 84 tackles and 5 interceptions.
New York Giants
In April 1999, Weathers was selected by the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
(205th overall pick) He signed with the Giants in July 1999. During the Giants' 1999 training camp, Weathers was nicknamed "Nonchalant" for his somewhat carefree attitude. Weathers made the final cut and played in the Giants' season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. In that game, his first in the NFL, Weathers intercepted a pass off Trent Dilfer
Trent Dilfer
Trent Farris Dilfer is a former football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sixth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football...
and returned it for the winning touchdown as the Giants defeated Buccaneers, 17-13.
After the Tampa Bay game, Weathers was the subject of a feature stories in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
. Weathers described his thoughts as he intercepted Dilfer's pass, "I know he couldn't see me, because I couldn't even see him. I didn't actually see the ball until it was right on top of me. My eyes got big, and I didn't have time to think about it. I thought only about holding onto the ball and going in. The end zone was there, and when I didn't see anybody in front of me I knew it was a touchdown." The Daily News reported, "Only a week ago, rookie Andre Weathers was sweating out the final cuts, and if not for the injuries to Jason Sehorn
Jason Sehorn
Jason Heath Sehorn is a former professional American football defensive back in the National Football League.-Early years:Sehorn was born in Sacramento, California...
and Conrad Hamilton
Conrad Hamilton
Conrad F. Hamilton is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons....
that created a need for cornerbacks, who knows? But there he was yesterday, making perhaps the biggest play of the 17-13 win over the Bucs as he returned an interception eight yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter." Veteran cornerback Phillippi Sparks
Phillippi Sparks
Phillippi Dwain Sparks is a former American football player in the National Football League.Sparks graduated from Maryvale High School in Phoenix, Arizona in 1987. He then attended and played football for...
said of Weathers, "That kid can be special if he works at it. He reminds me of myself. He's a little lackadaisical in practice because he knows he has skills. If he works at it, he can be a great player, and I won't let him do anything else."
Weathers appeared in 9 games for the Giants during the 1999 NFL season
1999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
. However, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a November 1999 game against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. Weathers underwent knee surgery in November 1999.
Weathers returned to the Giants at the end of October 2000. At the time of his return, Weathers noted, "It's going to be exciting and nervous at the same time. I'm anxious to get out there and see what I can do." The New York Daily News reported, "Weathers doesn't pretend that the knee is as sound as it had been. Most doctors agree that it takes about two years after major knee surgery for a 100% recovery." In his first game back, he immediately sustained a tear in the anterior cruciate knee ligaments to end his season. At the time, the New York Post noted: "This is especially cruel news for Weathers, who last Sunday made his debut this season. A rookie in 1999, Weathers showed plenty of promise before tearing his left ACL in the ninth game of the season. The Giants were cautious in bringing Weathers back, but he reinjured the same knee in the 24-7 victory over the Eagles, will again need surgery and faces another year-long rehab." Weathers attempted a comeback with the Giants in 2001, but did not make the team. He was released by the Giants in August 2001.
Later years
After retiring from football, Weathers returned to his hometown, Flint, MichiganFlint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. He worked as a high school football coach at Flint Central High School
Flint Central High School
Flint Central High School was one of the Flint Community Schools, located in Flint, Michigan, USA. Flint Central was the city's oldest school. Its first building was built in 1875, and the school moved into the present building in 1923. It was called Flint High School until Flint Northern High...
and with the Genesee County Patriots semi-pro team.