Dane Belton

Originally a 4th-round (114th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2022.

TRANSACTIONS:

• Originally a 4th-round (114th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2022.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• In 2 seasons with the Giants, Belton has played in 32 regular-season games with 7 starts and played in 2 postseason games…Totals include 58 tackles (42 solo), 4 interceptions, 5 passes defensed, 3 fumble recoveries, 1.0 sack, and 4 tackles four loss, plus 5 special teams tackles (4 solo)…In the playoffs, he has 2 solo tackles.
• In 2023, Belton played in all 17 games with 2 starts…Tallied 29 tackles (19 solo), 2 interceptions, 2 passes defensed, 3 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and one fumble recovery on defense, and 4 special teams tackles (3 solo)…Recorded 2 tackles, intercepted 2 passes, and recovered one fumble vs. the Rams (12/31)...He was the first Giants defender with 2 picks and one fumble recovery in the same game since Stevie Brown at Dallas on Oct. 28, 2012…Belton was the first Giant with 2 interceptions in a game since Xavier McKinney had 2 vs. Las Vegas on Nov. 7, 2021…Posted 5 tackles (3 solo) in his first start of the season at Miami (10/8) and at Washington (11/19)…Had a career-high 6 solo tackles, including his first career sack, a 14-yarder of Jalen Hurts, vs. Philadelphia (1/7).
• As a rookie in 2022, played in 15 regular-season games with 5 starts and played in 2 postseason games… Missed the season opener at Tennessee (9/11) with a clavicle injury suffered in training camp…Inactive vs. Indianapolis (1/1)…Totaled 30 tackles (23 solo), one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, 2 interceptions (tied for the team lead), 3 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, as well as one tackle and one fumble recovery on special teams.
• Belton was one of 4 NFL rookies and the only first-year safety with multiple interceptions and fumble recoveries, joining Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson (3 and 2), Jacksonville's Devin Lloyd (3 and 2) and Seattle's Tariq Woolen (6 and 3).
• Started in his NFL debut vs. Carolina (9/18), totaling 4 solo tackles, plus one special teams stop…Recovered a fumble by running back Chuba Hubbard on the opening kickoff – his first ever NFL snap…Twice posted a season-high 6 tackles (5 solo) – vs. Baltimore (10/16) and at Philadelphia (1/8/)…Intercepted a Davis Mills pass in the end zone in the 4th quarter and added 4 tackles (2 solo) vs. Houston (11/13)…Picked off a Hurts pass in the end zone at Philadelphia (1/8).
• Recorded 2 tackles in the NFC Wild Card Game at Minnesota (1/15) and contributed on special teams in the divisional round at Philadelphia (1/21).

COLLEGE:

• In 3 seasons at Iowa, Belton played in 30 games with 26 starts…Tallied 112 tackles (68 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, 17 passes defensed and 5 interceptions (all in 2021)…In 2021, Belton started all 14 games…Selected first-team All-Big Ten…His 5 interceptions tied for the 2nd-highest total both nationally and in the Big Ten…Posted career-high totals of 46 tackles, including 29 solo…Academic All-Big Ten…First-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media and 2nd team by the AP…In 2020, started all 8 games in a season shortened by the pandemic…Recorded 33 tackles (19 solo), with 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 5 pass breakups and one forced fumble…In 2019, played in 8 games with 4 starts…Named Academic All-Big Ten…Recorded 33 tackles (20 solo), including 2 stops for loss…Saw his first action of career in 48-3 win vs. Middle Tennessee, recording 2 assisted tackles…Posted 6 tackles (3 solo) vs. Purdue…Made his first career start and had 5 tackles (3 solo) at Northwestern…Started at outside linebacker vs. USC in the Holiday Bowl win and tied his career best with 6 tackles (5 solo), including one for loss, as the defense allowed only 22 rushing yards.

PERSONAL:

• Health and human physiology major… Four-year football letterman as a defensive back, wide receiver, return specialist and punter at Jesuit High School in Tampa…Named 2nd-team all-state as a junior after earning honorable mention recognition as a sophomore…First-team all-county as a junior and 2nd team as a sophomore…Team captain as a junior and senior…Helped the Tigers reach the state playoffs 4 straight years, when they were 43-8, including 12-1 in Belton's final season…As a senior, recorded 67 tackles, 4 interceptions and 7 pass breakups, while scoring 4 touchdowns…In his junior season, collected 56 tackles, with 4 interceptions, 5 tackles for loss, 4 pass breakups and 3 touchdowns…As a sophomore, had 49 tackles, 3 interceptions and 4 pass breakups as a sophomore…Intercepted his first pass as a freshman…Also a 2-year track letterman…Set personal bests of 11.49 in the 100 meters, 23.57 in the 200 meters, 19'7 in the long jump and 37'8.5 in the triple jump…Parents are Deanna and Danny Belton.