Chris Maragos Chris Maragos ( born January 6 , 1987 ) is an American football safety for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2010 . He has also played for the Seattle Seahawks . He played college football at Western Michigan before transferring to Wisconsin . High school career . Maragos was a football and track star for three years at Park High School in Racine , Wisconsin . During his junior year in 2003 , Maragos started at wide receiver for Park ' s varsity team . After securing a playoff berth , Park was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by eventual state championship runner - up Arrowhead . During the off - season , Park ' s longtime head coach retired , leading to a changing of the guard in the football program . Citing philosophical differences with the new regime , Maragos transferred to Racine ' s Horlick High School , which featured a pass - happy spread offense and emerging quarterback talent Justin Kammler . Maragos ' s first game as a Horlick Rebel was a road contest against his former school in August 2004 . The rivalry game quickly became a lopsided affair , as Maragos dominated his former team with nine catches , 115 yards receiving , and a touchdown en route to a 29 - 6 victory . According to Rebels coach George Machado , Maragos was heaped with verbal abuse during the game but " he maintained himself with class . " Maragos continued his torrid stretch in the first four games of his senior season , recording 27 catches for 359 yards and two touchdowns . During this time , Machado called Maragos " one of the best [ football players ] to play here " and " a gentleman , [ and ] a good student , [ who ] comes from a strong family . He is a very strong positive influence on this football team . " His statistics and the Rebels ' offensive production dipped when Kammler was sidelined with an injury . But Maragos made a statement with his talent , being named Horlick Player of the Year and first - team All - Racine County , All - Southeast Conference , and All - Region . As he weighed his collegiate options , Maragos eventually chose to attend Western Michigan , a school already home to future NFL Pro Bowl receiver Greg Jennings . College career . Maragos redshirted at Western Michigan in 2005 , where he played as a wide receiver . Upon arrival at the school , the first player to introduce himself to Maragos was senior wide receiver Greg Jennings . Jennings became somewhat of a mentor to Maragos , teaching him the intricacies of excelling as a collegiate wide receiver and giving him rides to church on Sundays . Maragos was inspired by the star player ' s dedication to his craft , saying " he would always be first in the meetings , front row , pen out , ready to learn , ready to do things . " After starting eight games at wide receiver for Western Michigan during the 2006 season , Maragos transferred to Wisconsin and sat out a year ( due to NCAA transfer rules ) before resuming play in 2008 . During this time , Maragos was converted to defense , where he became a standout free safety . In two years with the Badgers he recorded five interceptions and 94 tackles . Maragos had six passes defensed in his 2009 senior season , including one that helped end a comeback attempt by Northern Illinois and secure a 28 - 20 Badger victory . He was also Wisconsin ' s placekicking holder for extra points and field goals . During a 2009 road game against Ohio State , he scored a touchdown at that position on a fake field goal attempt . Professional career . Maragos was undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft . He signed with the San Francisco 49ers on April 26 , 2010 . San Francisco 49ers . Maragos entered 2010 training camp for a 49ers club trying to build on a promising 2009 campaign . On August 22 , Maragos appeared in a nationally - televised game against the Minnesota Vikings on NBC ' s " Sunday Night Football . " The program achieved the highest ratings for a Week Two preseason game in seven years , as it featured the heavily - publicized return of Brett Favre for a 20th and final NFL season . Despite a training camp performance that garnered favorable reviews from local beat reporters , Maragos was released by the 49ers on September 3 . On September 5 , Maragos was added to the 49ers ' practice squad , where he spent the first part of the 2010 season . On October 18 , Maragos was added to the 49ers ' active roster for a game in Charlotte against the Carolina Panthers , though he did not play in the contest . The following week , on October 28 , Maragos and the team flew across the world to London for a game against the Denver Broncos . Upon arrival , Maragos was informed that he had been released from the 49ers . The rare timing of the release gained widespread attention when ESPN reporter Adam Schefter tweeted about the oddity . Fortunately , Maragos was signed to the practice squad and able to remain with the team in London , instead of being forced to fly back home immediately . He again joined the San Francisco active roster on November 30 , and made his NFL playing debut at Lambeau Field on December 5 , facing the team from his home state , the Green Bay Packers . During that game he recorded his first NFL career tackle against the eventual Super Bowl XLV champions . After the 2010 season , the 49ers fired head coach Mike Singletary and replaced him with Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh . The coaching shakeup led to an influx of new safeties , which resulted in greater competition for a roster spot . Consequently , Maragos saw his tenure with the 49ers come to end as he was released on September 3 , 2011 . Seattle Seahawks . Maragos was signed to the Seattle Seahawks ' practice squad on September 22 , 2011 . Seattle was rebuilding its roster , and head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider were impressed with Maragos ' s apparent work ethic and character . The Seahawks promoted him to the active roster on October 22 , a spot he has maintained on the team since . After a rough start to the 2011 season , Seattle finished the year with a 7 - 9 record . In 2012 , the Seahawks became a legitimate Super Bowl contender , going 11 - 5 and winning a road playoff game against the Washington Redskins . During his stint with the Seahawks , Maragos has routinely been awarded the team honor for " Special Teams Player of the Week . " On April 11 , 2013 Maragos signed a one - year contract with the Seahawks for $ 1 . 32 million . After reaching the agreement , Maragos expressed gratitude to the franchise . “ It ’ s phenomenal . Just to be in a position like this is humbling and I ’ m truly fortunate to be a part of such a great organization . To continue my career as a Seahawk , I couldn ’ t be any happier . ” On September 6th , 2013 Margos accepted a pay cut to $ 855 , 000 to remain a Seahawk . In 2013 , the Seahawks secured the top playoff seed in the NFC with a conference - best 13 - 3 record . After a bye week , Seattle defeated the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs . The Seahawks then beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game to advance to Super Bowl XLVIII . On February 2 , 2014 , Maragos and the Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 43 - 8 in the second - most lopsided Super Bowl in history . It was the most - watched program in the history of American television . Philadelphia Eagles . On March 12 , 2014 , Maragos signed a 3 - year , $ 4 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles . Personal life . Maragos is a Christian . He has spoken about his faith in God , saying , " He ' s the Alpha , He ' s the Omega . He ' s the beginning and end of everything . To understand where we ' ve reached [ as pro football players ] , which is in the world ' s view quote - unquote ' the pinnacle , ' you really see how empty that is . Having Jesus in my life , you really see how important that is because you see that He is everything . To take Jesus , who is perfect , and to be so humble as to come to earth as a mere man and to live the life that He lived despite knowing my sin , to go on the cross and to die for my sin and our sin and everyone ' s sin – to me , that ' s everything . That ' s joy , that ' s peace , that ' s love to think that He and His perfection would do that despite knowing really the depths of who I am . " Chris ' s brother Troy is the Pastor of Student Ministries at the Niles campus of Harvest Bible Chapel .