Merton Hanks

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Merton Edward Hanks (born March 12, 1968 in Dallas, Texas) is a American former NFL safety. Hanks attended Lake Highlands High School, where he was a district track and field champion. He went on to the University of Iowa, where he earned a mention as an all-Big Ten cornerback. However, at the NFL scouting combine, his 40-yard dashes were extremely slow, and he was not drafted until the fifth round by the San Francisco 49ers.

Although not the fastest in the defensive secondary, Hanks was a natural at comprehending football knowledge. He was a 5-time All-Pro selection and became well-known for his interceptions and returns, as well as for what became known as the "Funky Chicken" dance. The dance was also known as "The Duck," "The Waddle," "The Rag Doll," and "The Rubberneck." Television viewers during the 1990s were also astounded by the safety's abnormally long neck. Several 49ers teammates were rumored to have measured from his clavicle (collar bone) to mandible (jaw) and found it to be an amazing 11 1/4 inches. He was a member of the 1994 San Francisco team that won Super Bowl XXIX. Hanks finished his career with the Seattle Seahawks, retiring in 1999. He is now a senior manager and assistant director of operations for the National Football League, and regularly goes on speaking tours.

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