Cortland Finnegan turned a seventh-round draft selection into a starting job at cornerback and an All-Pro season. His longest stretch came with Tennessee, followed by regular-season appearances for St. Louis, Miami and Carolina. His later stop with New Orleans was a roster move. Interest in Cortland Finnegan net worth often centers on the deal that took him from Tennessee to St. Louis in 2012.
Cortland Finnegan Net Worth and NFL Contract History
Finnegan’s private assets and debts are undisclosed. His contract history tracks a rise from a late-round rookie deal to an extension with the Titans and a five-year agreement with the Rams. He spent two playing seasons in St. Louis, then signed with Miami. After a brief retirement in 2015, he returned to the field with Carolina.
| Agreement year | Club | What followed |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Tennessee Titans | Rookie contract after the seventh-round pick |
| 2008 | Tennessee Titans | Extension during his six seasons in Tennessee |
| 2012 | St. Louis Rams | Five-year agreement followed by two seasons with the club |
| 2014 | Miami Dolphins | Two-year agreement and one regular season in Miami |
| 2015 | Carolina Panthers | Return to playing during the Panthers’ Super Bowl run |
| 2016 | New Orleans Saints | Offseason signing after his last regular-season appearances |
The Rams example helps put a headline contract figure in context. Its stated term was five years, and his actual time playing for St. Louis covered 2012 and 2013. The term, guarantees, bonuses and cash payments each tell part of the story. A salary-cap charge measures how the team accounts for the deal. An estimate of Cortland Finnegan net worth would need separate evidence about the money he kept and the assets he acquired.
Cortland Finnegan’s Early Life
Cortland Temujin Finnegan was born on February 2, 1984, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is 42 as of November 9, 2026. His parents are Robert Grant and Linda Finnegan. His family history includes his sisters Lela and Felicia. Felicia died before Cortland was born.
Finnegan attended Milton High School in Florida and contributed on offense and defense. His high school record includes 22 catches for 403 yards, three rushing touchdowns and 65 tackles. He earned second-team all-state recognition as a high school player. He then played college football for the Samford Bulldogs in Homewood, Alabama. The chance to play defense and return kicks at Samford helped him build a profile that Tennessee eventually took a chance on in the seventh round.
Cortland Finnegan’s NFL Career
Tennessee chose him 215th overall in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played for the Titans from 2006 through 2011. His years in the AFC South overlapped with Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew, whose Jaguars were one of Tennessee’s division rivals.
Finnegan played for the St. Louis Rams in 2012 and 2013 and for Miami in 2014. He returned to football with the Panthers in 2015 and played during their run to Super Bowl 50. Carolina lost that game to Denver. New Orleans signed him in 2016 after his final regular-season games had come with Carolina.
He was listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 190 pounds during his playing career. His jersey numbers included 31, 24, 26 and 21. His position called for close coverage on receivers and tackling after the catch, which is why both his pass-defense and tackle totals help describe his career.
Cortland Finnegan’s NFL Stats
| Games | 133 |
|---|---|
| Combined tackles | 663 |
| Sacks | 7 |
| Forced fumbles | 5 |
| Passes defended | 87 |
| Interceptions | 18 |
| Interception return yards and touchdowns | 426 yards and four touchdowns |
| Total defensive touchdowns | 6, including four interception returns |
| Career Approximate Value | 60 in Pro Football Reference’s career summary |
The 426 yards came from returning interceptions. Four of his six defensive touchdowns came on those returns. His tackle total also captures the work he did when a receiver caught the ball or a runner reached the secondary.
@CortFinnegan the man behind the mask and the reputation http://t.co/BOGa0lhBUY pic.twitter.com/asLrtSH4Qb
— Tom Holmgren (@the_phinish) July 3, 2014
Awards
Finnegan earned first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection for the 2008 season in Tennessee. Pro Football Focus also included him in its own first-team All-Pro selections for 2011. The 2008 honors marked the high point of his rise from a seventh-round rookie to one of the league’s recognized cornerbacks.
Cortland Finnegan’s Wife and Child
Finnegan married Lacey Owens in 2010. Their daughter is Kelsey. The marriage came during his years with the Titans, before his later moves to St. Louis, Miami and Carolina.
