Chris Hope Christopher Pierre Hope ( born September 29 , 1980 ) is an American football safety for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft . He played college football at Florida State . High school career . Chris Hope was a USA Today All - USA first - team and Parade All - American selection as a senior at Rock Hill High School . During his High School Career Chris Hope recorded 114 tackles and three interceptions as a defensive back while rushing for 1319 yards and 20 touchdowns as a running back . He totaled 464 tackles , 10 interceptions and four fumble recoveries during his four - year varsity career and established a school record as he started 55 - straight games during his star - studded prep career . Ranked as No . 1 defensive back prospect in the nation by Prep Star and rated No . 3 defensive back and No . 50 overall prospect in America by National Recruiting Advisor , he was a member of Atlanta Journal - Constitution Super Southern 1000 . Selected to Orlando Sentinel All - Southern team . Rated as No . 1 defensive back recruit nationally by Tampa Tribune and ranked as sixth - best recruit nationally by St . Petersburg Times . Recorded 114 tackles and three interceptions as defensive back while rushing for 1 , 319 yards and 20 touchdowns as running back . College career . In 1998 , freshman year at Florida State University , Chris Hope played in every game at free safety , recording 34 tackles , with a pair of pass deflections , a fumble recovery , and a forced fumble . In 1999 , Sophomore year , Chris played in every game , starting the final six contests at free safety recording 41 tackles , with two stops for losses of 4 yards , and a forced fumble . He also tied for the team lead with four interceptions for 17 yards in returns . In 2000 , Junior year , Chris Hope started all year at free safety . He was fourth on the team with 83 tackles , including five stops for losses of 10 yards , intercepted two passes and deflected eight others , recovered and caused a fumble . In 2001 , Senior year , Chris Hope started every game at free safety . He recorded 76 tackles with nine pass deflections and three interceptions . Professional career . Chris Hope was drafted in the third round number 94th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2002 season . He started out the 2002 season on special teams and became a strong special teams player . In an October 27 game against the Baltimore Ravens he caused a fumble on a second quarter kickoff that led to a touchdown . He got to play his first extensive game on November 24 , 2002 , against Cincinnati due to injuries in the Steelers secondary picking up three tackles and one special teams tackle . The 2003 season was not much different from his first . Chris Hope played mainly special teams . In an October 26 , 2003 , game against St . Louis he delivered a crushing block to free Antwaan Randle El to return a punt 84 yards . In 2004 Chris Hope became the starting free safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers . Chris Hope would pick up 58 tackles forcing one fumble , four pass deflections , and intercept one pass with a return of 41 yards . In 2005 Chris Hope would once again start as Free Safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers . He had 69 tackles forcing one fumble , and he picked off 3 passes with a total of 60 return yards . Chris Hope was one of the many who helped the Pittsburgh Steelers reach and win Super Bowl XL . Shortly thereafter , Hope signed a six - year contract with the Tennessee Titans . In his first year , he led the team with five interceptions and 128 tackles . In a 2007 game against Cincinnati , Hope suffered a spinal cord injury that ended his season . He underwent surgery in the offseason and has been a full participant at the Titans minicamp . On June 29 , 2012 Hope signed with the Atlanta Falcons .