Countdown to kickoff is back! USC will kick off its 2026 football season on August 29 when the Trojans host San Jose State at the Coliseum. In this series, we will be counting down the days until the season opener by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number.
Today, we look at another USC Hall of Fame safety in Ronnie Lott.
Position: Safety
Years played at USC: 1977-1980
Career highlights: After playing a limited role as a true freshman in 1977, Lott became a starter on the Trojans’ 1978 national championship team. In both 1979 and 1980, he earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors. During his senior season, Lott led the country with eight interceptions and was named a Unanimous All-American.
Lott was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
After USC: The San Francisco 49ers selected Lott with the 8th overall pick in the 1981 NFL draft. He would play his first ten seasons in the league with San Francisco, before spending the final four years of his career with the Los Angeles Raiders and New York Jets. During his time in the NFL, Lott made 10 Pro Bowls, was named first-team All-Pro eight times, and won four Super Bowls.
Lott is considered to be one of the greatest safeties in NFL history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans safety Ronnie Lott
