Ten things to know about new Giants safety Antoine Bethea:
1. Bethea (pronounced ANN-twahn buh-THAY) has been named to the Pro Bowl three times (2007, 2009, 2014) and was the Colts 2013 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. He joins a defensive backfield that includes Jabrill Peppers, who was part of recent trades that brought over guard Kevin Zeitler and two draft picks from the Browns, pending physical exams.
2. Entering his 14th NFL season, Bethea has appeared in 193 regular season games (184 starts) for the Colts (2006-13), 49ers (2014-16) and Cardinals (2017-18). He has also started 13 postseason contests, including two Super Bowls. He won Super Bowl XLI with Indianapolis.
3. After playing at Howard University, Bethea was originally drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round (207th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.
4. According to STATS LLC, Bethea is first among active players with 1,222 total tackles. He has recorded 100+ tackles in a season seven times, including last year in Arizona. He had 121 tackles in 2018, second-most in his career, to go along with a career-high 3.0 sacks while starting all 16 games for the ninth time
5. His 24 interceptions are tied with Glover Quin for fifth among active safeties, behind Reggie Nelson (38), Mike Adams (30), Eric Weddle (29), and Earl Thomas (28).
6. During his first season with Arizona in 2017, Bethea recorded a career-high five interceptions, posted his first career multi-interception performance (Week 16 vs. Giants) and had at least one pick in three consecutive games (Weeks 4-6) for the first time in his career. He became just the fourth Cardinals safety in the last decade to record at least five interceptions in a season, joining Tyrann Mathieu, Rashad Johnson and Adrian Wilson.
7. He reunites with Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher, who held the same post during Bethea's first year with the Cardinals. The defense ranked sixth in the NFL in both total yards and rushing. They also overlapped during the 2012 season in Indianapolis, where Bettcher worked as the outside linebackers coach. He also served as the special assistant to head coach Chuck Pagano and Bruce Arians, who spent 12 games as interim head coach while Pagano was receiving treatment for leukemia.
8. Bethea attended Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia. He was inducted into the Howard University Hall of Fame in 2016. As a child, Bethea spent two years in Germany, where his father Larry was stationed in the Army. He met his wife Samantha when they were freshman athletes at Howard University. He completed his degree in Administration of Justice in May of 2011.
9. Bethea has established himself as one of the NFL's leading philanthropists with his Safe Coverage Foundation, which was created in 2011. The 2013 Indianapolis Colts Water Payton Man of the Year honoree has made it a goal to help youth stay in school and receive a strong education. His foundation is committed to providing access and resources for students to achieve their dreams of a higher education while providing exposure opportunities, enrichment experiences and the tools needed to succeed. The Safe Coverage Foundation offers many different programs for kids, including annual youth football camps held in Virginia and Washington D.C., college tours, technology for students enrolled in higher education programs and offering tickets to games throughout the football season.
10. In 2017, Bethea was named the inaugural recipient of the Black College Football Pro Player of the Year award, which is presented by the NFLPA. The award is given annually to the most outstanding professional football player from a Historically Black College and University.
Photos from the career of veteran safety Antoine Bethea
Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith (11) is hit by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Antoine Bethea (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals defensive back Antoine Bethea (41) breaks up a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick (25) is hit by Arizona Cardinals free safety Antoine Bethea (41) as linebacker Gerald Hodges (51) pursues during the second half of NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinalsdefensive back Antoine Bethea (41) in coverage during a game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Oct. 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Gene Lower via AP)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett is hit by Arizona Cardinals free safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals free safety Antoine Bethea, right, tackles Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals defensive back Antoine Bethea (41) pleads for a safety during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 in Glendale, Ariz. (Greg Trott via AP)
Arizona Cardinals free safety Antoine Bethea (41) in coverage during a week 13 NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. Arizona won 20-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) recovers a fumble by Arizona Cardinals wide receiver J.J. Nelson (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) deflects a pass during a game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, September 7, 2014 in Dallas. The 49ers won the game 28 to 17. (AP Photo/Peter Read Miller)
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) runs against San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) of Team Carter is seen in action during the 2015 NFL Pro Bowl football game against Team Irvin at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, January 25, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham is tackled by San Francisco 49ers Antoine Bethea during the first half of the NFL Football Pro Bowl Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) is seen on stage during the Pro Bowl draft at the Arizona Biltmore on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Indianapolis Colts defensive back Antoine Bethea (41) intercepts a pass by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the first quarter of their football game Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006 in Foxborough, Mass. At rear is Indianapolis Colts defensive back Jason David. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Indianapolis Colts Antoine Bethea (41) celebrates after the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010, in Indianapolis. The Colts defeated the Jet 30-17 to advacne to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts' Antoine Bethea (41) runs back an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts safety Antoine Bethea, left, picks off a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Demetrius Williams, right, as Indianapolis Colts safety Tim Jennings, center, closes in during the fourth quarter of the NFL divisional football playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts safety Antoine Bethea (41) intercepts a ball from Randy Moss an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Indianapolis Colts safety Antoine Bethea (41) responds to a question during a news conference in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. The Colts will play the New York Jets in an AFC wild-card playoff game Saturday, Jan. 8. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts free safety Antoine Bethea, left, recovers a fumble under Cleveland Browns wide receiver Brian Robiskie in the third quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts safety Antoine Bethea returns a missed field goal against the Tennessee Titans in the second quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. The play was negated on a penalty (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts safety Antoine Bethea (41) speaks to the media during media day for NFL football Super Bowl XLIV Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, in Miami. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
Indianapolis Colts defensive back Antoine Bethea (41) fights for and eventually intercepts a pass by Cleveland Browns quarterback Ken Dorsey intended for Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards (17) late in the fourth quarter of an NFL game in Cleveland on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008. Also going for the ball are Colts' Freddy Keiaho (54) and Keiwan Ratliff (31). The Colts won 10-6. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
