Player Roster

An 11-year veteran and 2-time Pro Bowler, Dre’ Bly has provided experi­ence and productivity in the 49ers secondary after joining the team in late May of 2009. Playing in all 16 games, including starts in the final six contests of the season, Bly finished 2nd on the team with 14 PDs to go along with 3 INTs, 2 FFs and 2 FRs in 2009. Since entering the NFL as a 2nd-round draft choice by the St. Louis Rams in 1999, Bly has generated impressive all-around statistics. His 43 career INTs since 1999 rank 4th among all active NFL players, while his 20 FFs are t-2nd among CBs during that time span. He is t-6th among all active players with 5 INTs returned for TDs, and has a total of 8 TDs scored on returns (5 INT, 2 FR, 1 PR).

TRANSACTIONS:
Originally a 2nd-round (41st pick overall) draft choice by StL in 1999… Signed by Det. as an unrestricted free agent on 3/1/03...Traded to Den. on 3/2/07...Waived by Den. on 2/17/09...Signed by SF on 5/21/09.

GOLDMINE:
•Dre’ has made himself a pillar in the community. In 2003, he established the Dre’ Bly Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to improve educa­tion through physical excellence. The organization helps to promote physical awareness by improving athletic facilities and promoting the importance of athletics in maintaining a healthy body and a healthy mind.
•Dre’ donated $150,000 to the University of North Carolina in 2004 and set up a football scholarship in his name. The son of two teachers, he wanted to give an opportunity to others to have a similar experience as he did at North Carolina.

AWARDS & HONORS:
1999: NFC Defensive Player of the Week (NFC-CG)
2003: NFC Pro Bowl (starter)
2004: NFC Pro Bowl (starter)

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
•Earned Pro Bowl honors in his first 2 seasons with Detroit and became the first Lions player since Jimmy Allen (1978-81) to lead or tie for the team’s season high in interceptions in four consecutive years (2003-06).
•His 43 career INTs since 1999 rank 4th among all active NFL players, while his 20 FFs are t-2nd among CBs during that time span.
•Ranks t-6th among all active players with 5 INTs returned for TDs, and owns a total of 8 TDs scored on returns (5 INT, 2 FR, 1 PR).
•Joined the 49ers after spending the previous 2 seasons with the Broncos, where he led the team in INTs each year.
•Went to Broncos in a trade from Detroit that sent him and a Lions’ 2007 6th-round choice to Denver in exchange for RB Tatum Bell, T George Foster and a Broncos’ 2007 5th-round pick.
•Spent his first 4 NFL seasons (1999-2002) with St. Louis, helping the club earn a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV as a rookie in 1999, as well as an ap­pearance in Super Bowl XXXVI in 2001.

2009 (San Francisco):
•Played in 16 games (6 starts) recording 35 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 FFs, 2 FRs and 14 PDs.
•Played nickelback at Arz. (9/13), leading the team with 3 PDs while limiting Arz. WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to just 90 yds. rec. combined.
•Registered an INT (QB Matt Ryan) vs. Atl. (10/11).
•Made his first start of the season vs. Jax. (11/29).
•Helped hold QB Kurt Warner to a season-low 178 passing yds. and a 44.9 QB Rating vs. Arz. (12/14), while not allowing the Cardinals to throw a TD pass for the first time during the season.
•Picked off QB Donovan McNabb at Phi. (12/20).
•Tallied an INT, 2 PDs, 1 FF and 1 FR vs. Det. (12/27).

2008 (Denver):
•Started all 16 games and totaled a team-high 2 INTs.
•Had 5 tackles, 1 FF and 1 PD at Cle. (11/6).
•Recorded 3 tackles and an INT at Atl. (11/16).
•Had 5 tackles and 2nd INT of season at NYJ (11/30).

2007 (Denver):
•Was one of three Broncos defenders to start all 16 games as he led the club with 5 INTs.
•Posted 1 INT vs. Oak. (9/16) as the Broncos held the Raiders to 53 passing yds.
•Had 3 tackles, 3 PDs and 1 INT on Sunday Night Football vs. Pit. (10/21).
•Recorded 9 tackles, 2 PDs and 1 INT at KC (11/11).

2006 (Detroit):
•Led the Lions with 21 PDs and tied for team lead with 3 INTs. Became first Lion since Jimmy Allen (1978-81) to have at least a share of the team lead in INTs in four consecutive seasons.
•Had 2 takeaways at NE (12/3) with an INT and a FR along with 5 tackles.
•Registered 1 INT, 1 FF and 3 PDs at GB (12/17).

2005 (Detroit):
•Led team with 6 INTs, despite only playing in 12 games (11 starts). Posted 4 INTs during a three-game streak before missing 4 games with a wrist injury.
•Had 6 tackles, 2 INTS, 4 PDs, 1 FF and 1 FR vs. Bal. (10/9).
•Made 5th INT of season late in regulation to force game into OT at GB (12/11).
•Recorded a career-high 13 tackles to go along with 1 INT, 3 PDs and a FF vs. Cin. (12/18).

2004 (Detroit):
•Earned 2nd consecutive trip to Pro Bowl as he led Detroit with 4 INTs and 26 PDs in 13 starts.
•Sustained knee injury in 1st qtr. at Chi. (9/12).
•Recorded 2 games with 2 INTs, including his performance at Dal. (10/31) when he compiled 85 yds. on returns, one of which he returned 55 yds. for a TD.
•Notched his second multiple-INT game of the season at Arz. (12/5) as part of his 7 PDs.

2003 (Detroit):
•Earned Pro Bowl recognition after finishing 7th in NFL in INTs (6) and leading all defensive backs with 5 FFs. Joined StL S Aeneas Williams as one of two players in the league to return a fumble and an INT for a TD.
•Returned INT 48 yds. for a TD vs. Arz. (9/7).
•Found end zone again when he recovered RB Troy Hambrick’s fumble and returned it 67 yds. for a score vs. Dal. (10/19).
•Recorded 5 tackles, 1 FF and 1 FR at Min. (11/23). Stripped RB Moe Williams, scooped the ball and returned it 44 yds. before tossing a lateral to S Corey Harris, who ran the remaining 35 yds. for a score.
•On Thanksgiving Day vs. GB (11/27), earned FOX’s Galloping Gobbler Award after recording 2 INTs of QB Brett Favre, forcing 1 fumble and posting 3 PDs.
•Had a career-high 2 FFs, including one that LB Boss Bailey returned 62 yds. for a TD at Car. (12/21).

2002 (St. Louis):
•Posted a career-high 79 tackles.
•Led secondary with 10 tackles to go along with 1 INT and 1 PD vs. Dal. (9/29).
•Tallied 8 tackles and scored his first career punt return TD vs. Arz. (12/15).
•Returned a fumble 20 yds. for a TD in 4th qtr. vs. SF (12/30).

2001 (St. Louis):
•Helped St. Louis reach the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, as he placed 6th in the conference with 6 INTs, two of which he returned for TDs.
•First scoring return of the season was at Det. (10/8) when he returned a QB Ty Detmer INT 93 yds. for a score.
•Returned INT 56 yds. for a TD at Atl. (12/2).
•Collected a fumbled FG snap at Car. (12/23) and returned it 15 yds. before pitching it to CB Dexter McCleon, who ran 29 yds. for a TD.
•Had 3 tackles in the NFC Championship Game vs. Phi. (1/27) after making 4 tackles and breaking up 3 passes in an NFC Divisional Game vs. GB (1/20).
•In Super Bowl XXXVI against NE (2/3), recorded 3 tackles and 1 PD.

2000 (St. Louis):
•Recorded first INT of season vs. SF (9/17).
•Totaled 4 tackles, first career sack and an INT at Atl. (9/24).
•Intercepted a pass and had 3 tackles at NO (12/24) to help Rams clinch a playoff berth.

1999 (St. Louis):
•Tallied first NFL INT when he stepped in front of QB Jeff Garcia’s pass in the 4th qtr. vs. SF (10/10).
•Scored his first career TD when he scampered 53 yds. for a score in the 4th qtr. after intercepting a pass at Car. (12/5).
•Recorded 3 tackles and 1 INT vs. TB (1/23) in the NFC Championship Game. His performance earned him the NFL Defensive Player of the Week Award.
•Made 1 tackle in a win vs. Ten. (1/30) in Super Bowl XXXIV.

COLLEGE:
•Became the first player in the history of the University of North Carolina and the ACC to earn consensus first-team All-America accolades three times. Also was the first collegiate player in any conference to do so since Herschel Walker (1980-82). Made 102 tackles and posted an ACC-record 20 INTs during his collegiate career. Became the first freshman to earn consensus first-team All-America honors in ACC history and joined Tony Dorsett, Her­schel Walker, Bjorn Merten and Marshall Faulk as the only players in college football annals to earn All-America status as freshmen. Recognized as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s best defensive back) and was the ACC Rookie of the Year as a freshman, setting a conference record with 11 INTs for the Tar Heels. Was one of three finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award (nation’s best defensive player) as a sophomore.

PERSONAL:
•Attended Western Branch (Chesapeake, VA) HS, where he was an All-Tide­water, all-city, all-Eastern region, all-state and all-district selection as a senior.
•Finished prep career with 36 TDs and 16 INTs as a three-year starter.
•Holds annual camps and fundraising events, such as the Dre’ Bly Celebrity Golf Classic.
•Played centerfield for the Tar Heels’ baseball team.
•Born Donald Andre Bly (5/22/77) in Chesapeake, VA. Married to Kristyn, the couple has three sons-Trey, Jordan and Aaron- and a daughter-Peyton.