BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Former Samford star Cortland Finnegan is returning to the National Football League after signing a free-agent contract with the New Orleans Saints Friday.
 
Finnegan has played parts of 10 seasons in the NFL since being drafted in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. He was an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection with the Titans in 2008.
 
In addition to his time with the Titans, Finnegan also played for the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins before retiring after the 2014 season. He came out of retirement late last season to join the Carolina Panthers, helping them to an appearance in the Super Bowl.
 
For his career, Finnegan has a combined 663 tackles, including 542 solo stops. He has intercepted 18 passes, returning four for touchdowns. Finnegan has also tallied 7.0 sacks and forced five fumbles in his NFL career.
 
Finnegan played at Samford from 2002 to 2005. While playing for the Bulldogs, he was a three-time All-American, and he was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2003.
 
This season, Finnegan is one of six former Samford players on current NFL rosters. Jaquiski Tartt is on the roster of the San Francisco 49ers, Nick Williams plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, Corey White plays for the Buffalo Bills, James Bradberry is with the Carolina Panthers and Michael Pierce is currently on the Baltimore Ravens' roster.