2012-GameRelease-Divisional

A physical presence in the defensive backfield,
Donte Whitner spent his first five NFL seasons as the
Buffalo Bills starting strong safety before joining the
49ers in 2011. Along with 91 tackles, he recorded a
career-high 3 forced fumbles, while tying a careerbest
2 interceptions. Whitner won the Garry Niver
Award during his first year in San Francisco, which
is given to the player who displays the most professionalism and
cooperation in dealing with media. Whitner was originally selected
8th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by Buffalo and went on to help the
Bills finish in the top 10 in pass defense in three of his five years (7th
in ‘06, 2nd in ‘09, 3rd in ‘10) with the team.
// 2012 AWARDS & HONORS
• 2012 NFC Pro Bowl (Starter)
// 2012 HIGHLIGHTS
• Selected to his 1st Pro Bowl, making the NFC roster as a starter.
• Recorded a FF at Min. (9/23) against RB Toby Gerhart in 4th qtr.
• Was part of defense that held NYJ (9/30) to 145 total yds. on offense
and just 45 yds. rushing in 34-0 road win. The defensive unit
recorded 3.0 sacks, 3 FRs and 1 TD.
• Whitner and the 49ers secondary held Buf. (10/7) to 115 yds. passing
in the 45-3 win.
• Was part of the defense that did not allow a TD in back-to-back
games vs. Sea. (10/18) and at Arz. (10/29), limiting Sea. to only 2 FGs.
and Arz. to 3 pts. It was part of a stretch where the 49ers defense
did not allow a TD in 4 of 5 games, a first in franchise history.
• Part of defense which held Arz. (10/29) to just 7 yds. rushing, tying
the fewest rushing yds. the 49ers have allowed in a single game in
franchise history [7 at NO (10/1/72)], and the lowest rushing output
allowed in the 2012 NFL season at that point, surpassing TB, who
held Car. to 10 rushing yds. (9/9/12).
• Helped limit Chi. (11/19) to 143 yds. of total offense (85 rushing; 58
passing). The 143 yds. of total offense allowed was the 2nd lowest
total in the NFL this season at that point, [Hou. allowed 117 yds. at
Jax. (9/16)] and fewest given up by the 49ers since 1/3/10 (109 yds.
at StL). The 58 passing yds. allowed by the 49ers defense are the
fewest given up since 1/3/10 (22 yds. at StL).
• Recorded his 1st INT of the season at NO (11/25), and 8th of his career,
returning it 42-yds. for a TD. It marked Whitner’s 2nd career
TD and 1st since 9/20/09 vs. TB (as a member of the Buffalo Bills).
• Tallied his 2nd FF of the season and 6th of his career, knocking the
ball loose from Patriots RB Stevan Ridley at NE (12/16). S Dashon
Goldson recovered the loose ball and returned the fumble 66 yds. It
led to RB Frank Gore scoring a TD on the ensuing play.
• In his 100th NFL game, Whitner recovered his 1st FR of the season vs.
Arz. (12/30), scooping up a fumble by WR Michael Floyd which DT Ray
McDonald forced. The takeaway led to a 26-yd. FG by K David Akers.
// GOLDMINE
• Watching Donte sprint from sideline to sideline on Sundays makes
it hard to believe there were doubts on whether he would be able
to walk again after suffering a near fatal accident as a youth. At the
age of 6, Donte was run over by a car after darting into the middle
of the street after a ball. For the next three months, Donte’s mother,
Deborah, carted her son around their Cleveland neighborhood in
a wagon. Donte, who suffered multiple fractures to both legs, was
forced to wear a body cast and doctors cautioned Deborah that her
son might not be able to walk normally again. Obviously, Donte has
since proved the doctors wrong.
• Upon his arrival to the 49ers in August, it didn’t take long for Donte
to reconnect with a familiar face. Both Donte and WR Ted Ginn Jr. attended
Glenville High School in Cleveland, playing for Ginn’s father,
Ted Ginn Sr. Donte graduated from high school alongside former
49ers QB Troy Smith, while Ted Jr. followed close behind a year later.
• When Buffalo drafted Donte in 2006, he was just 20 years old. He
had left for the NFL following his junior year in college, only after
graduating several months early from high school to attend Ohio
State.
WHITNER’S GAME-BY-GAME
2012
Date Opp W/L P/S Tot Sol Ast Sk Yds Int Yds PD FF FR Yds
Sep 9 at GB W 1/1 10 5 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Sep 16 Det W 1/1 4 3 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 23 at Min L 1/1 7 4 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Sep 30 at NYJ W 1/1 6 2 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 7 Buf W 1/1 3 3 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 14 NYG L 1/1 11 6 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 18 Sea W 1/1 4 2 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 29 at Arz W 1/1 9 7 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 11 StL T 1/1 12 8 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 19 Chi W 1/1 7 5 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 25 at NO W 1/1 10 5 5 0.0 0.0 1 42 1 0 0 0
Dec 2 at StL L 1/1 9 7 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dec 9 Mia W 1/1 6 3 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Dec 16 at NE W 1/1 8 7 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 1 0 0
Dec 23 at Sea L 1/1 6 4 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Dec 30 Arz W 1/1 7 3 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0
TOTALS 16/16 119 74 45 0.0 0.0 1 42 5 2 1 0