Antoine Delacour

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Antoine Delacour
Delacour making peace sign to camera
Delacour in August 2017
No. 37 – Retired
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1993-10-10)October 10, 1993 (aged 67)
Lafayette, Louisiana
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:186 lb (84 kg)
Username:37thchamber
Career information
High school:Acadiana High School
College:LSU
ISFL Draft:2016  / Round: 11 / Pick: 65
Career history
As player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NSFL statistics as of Week 17, 2025
Total tackles:730
Pass deflections:176
Interceptions:35
Forced fumbles:4
Sacks:3
Total touchdowns:11
Punt return yards:2,088
Kick return yards:1,536
Player stats at ISFL.net

Antoine Lucius Delacour (/ˌænˈtwɑːn dɛlæˌkʊər/; born October 10, 1993) is a retired American football cornerback who played his entire career with the Baltimore Hawks of the National Simulation Football League (NSFL). He played college football for Louisiana State University (LSU). Selected in the eleventh round of the inaugural NSFL Draft by the Baltimore Hawks, Delacour eventually became a club legend, and the first inductee to the Wing of Honor. In 2021 (S6), he won both the Defensive Back of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards, and is widely considered one of the best defensive backs in league history. Delacour became the first Baltimore Hawks player to be inducted to the NSFL Hall of Fame in 2026, missing out on unanimous selection by one vote.[2]

Early years

A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Delacour attended Acadiana High School, where he played wide receiver at first. He was convinced to convert to defensive back in his sophomore year by his coach, Phillipe Hugo, and operated as a two-way player for a while, before completely making the switch in his junior year. In his junior year – taking the majority of his snaps at free safety, where his natural speed and reflexes served him well – Delacour racked up six interceptions and 62 tackles. In his senior year, his game time was more divided between cornerback and safety, though he primarily stood out as a returner, picking up five touchdowns from kick and punt return duties.

Delacour also ran track and field for Acadiana's athletics team, clocking a personal best 100 m time of 10.86 seconds, and winning a state championship as a member of the 4 x 100m relay team. Rivals.com listed Delacour as a three-star football recruit in 2012.

While living in Lafayette, Delacour was raised predominantly by his grandparents. His biological mother was often out-of-state for work, while his father was absent. As a result, he grew close to his maternal grandmother, Lucille, who would later accompany him to the draft[3]. The influence of Lucille, a devout Christian, could be seen in Delacour's avoidance of alcohol and diligent study habits throughout his college career.

College career

Delacour accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Louisiana State University, where he played for coach Les Miles' LSU Tigers football team from 2012 to 2015.

As a true freshman in 2012, Delacour played in all 13 games with just one start, but made a significant impact quickly, filling in for the suspended Tyrann Mathieu. Delacour ended the season with five turnovers and 39 tackles.

The following season saw improvements in Delacour's game, most notable as he played a key role in holding the rival Florida Gators to just six points in October, as well as picking up a touchdown off a fumble return. By mid-season, Delacour's versatility – evidenced by his snap count in various roles – saw him named LSU's "Most Improved Player" by Fox Sports. He would end the season as a first string player in the Tigers' defence, with a stat line of 50 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble return touchdowns and two punt return touchdowns on the year.

Moving away from safety in his junior year saw Delacour rack up fewer tackles, but more interceptions and pass deflections over the next two years. He recorded his first interception return touchdown in the fourth week of his junior year and followed it up with a safety a week later. The year would end with 35 tackles, 5 interceptions, 13 passes defended, and a nomination for the Jim Thorpe Award for Delacour, though the award would eventually go to Gerod Holliman.

In his final year of college, Delacour maintained the same level of performance, picking up another five interceptions (two of which he returned for touchdowns), another 13 pass deflections and 28 tackles. Notably, he relinquished some punt return duties, which were arguably the most dynamic part of his game and the part that garnered him the most praise.

College career statistics

Delacour lined up primarily as a free safety during his first two years of college, proving to be a dangerous playmaker, before moving to permanent cornerback spot for his final two years. He left college with a career total of fifteen interceptions and forty-one passes defended over his four years, as well as thirteen touchdowns from punt, interception, and fumble returns.

Career statistics Tackles Sacks Interceptions Other Punt returns
Season Team Games Reg TFL Sack Int IntTD DefTD FFum FRec PD Sfty Ret Yds Avg TD
2012 LSU 13 31 8 3.5 2 0 0 5 3 6 0  
2013 LSU 13 42 8 2 3 0 2 6 5 9 0 27 421 15.6 2
2014 LSU 13 33 2 0 5 1 1 2 2 13 1 35 543 15.5 3
2015 LSU 13 27 0 0 5 2 1 1 0 13 0 18 201 11.2 1
Total 52 133 18 5.5 15 3 4 14 10 41 1 80 1165 14.6 6

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt Arm length Hand size 40‑yd dash 20‑ss 3‑cone Vert jump Broad BP Wonderlic
5 ft 11 in
(1.80 m) 		186 lb
(84 kg) 		34+5⁄8 in
(0.88 m) 		9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m) 		4.32 s 4.10 s 7.06 s 29.4 in
(0.75 m) 		11 ft 0.3 in
(3.36 m) 		7 reps 30
2016 NSFL Draft Combine
Special Edition Delacour 2021 (S6) DPotY Trading Card (Designed by Fire-Bred)

After missing the NSFL prospect games ahead of the inaugural draft, Delacour did not feature on any prominent mock draft boards. The scouting issues that plagued the NSFL Scouting Combine that year did not help his case, either. Without extensive information regarding his measurables, and questions regarding his size[4], Delacour was not a high profile target heading into the draft. Ultimately, the Baltimore Hawks selected Delacour with the 65th pick of the draft, signing him to a three-year contract worth $6m[5]. The Hawks would struggle that year, but Delacour would establish himself as the standout player in the secondary, being named in the top fifty NSFL players[6] at the end of the season.

2017 saw a coaching and management change in Baltimore, and with it, noticeable improvement in the team's play. Delacour would make the 2017 ISFL Pro Bowl (S2), as well as setting two NSFL records (longest kick return and most kick return yards in a season). His efforts would help the Hawks to Ultimus Bowl II, where they fell to the Arizona Outlaws. At the end of the season, Delacour was again named in the top fifty NSFL players of the year[7], this time ranking as the top cornerback.

The Hawks – and Delacour – continued their high-level play in 2018, and reached another Ultimus Bowl, where they would again fall short, losing to the Arizona Outlaws for the second consecutive year. That season, Delacour set personal best tallies for both interceptions and passes defended, while being nominated for the Defensive Back of the Year award. In addition, he set three franchise records, and one NSFL record; most punt return yards, most interceptions, and most interception return yards in a season for Baltimore, as well as the longest punt return touchdown in the NSFL. On top of all these records, Delacour was a unanimous 2018 ISFL Pro Bowl (S3) selection, and ranked fifteenth in the top fifty NSFL players of the year[8]; the highest rated cornerback, and highest rated player on the Hawks roster. Unsurprisingly, this all led to a contract extension worth $12m[9]. The revelations that would follow, regarding the Arizona Outlaws multi scandal led to some suggesting that the Hawks may well have won the Ultimus that season, though it is impossible to know for certain. Delacour himself would shrug off the speculation during interviews some years later while conceding that making back-to-back Ultimus Bowls was the greatest moment of his career[10].

A regression of sorts followed in 2019, as the Hawks failed to make the playoffs, and Delacour declined in every statistical category. He was still a unanimous 2019 ISFL Pro Bowl (S4) selection, however. In 2020, Delacour saw further regression, stats-wise, as Delacour's tackle count increased, owing to his allowing more completions. He would once again make the 2020 ISFL Pro Bowl (S5), but fell down the top fifty players list[11], to number twenty-seven; his lowest ranking since season one.

2021 was a return to form for Delacour, even though the Hawks did not make the playoffs. His performances saw him earn another extension to his contract in Baltimore[12], as well as unanimous selection to the 2021 ISFL Pro Bowl (S6) – a fifth consecutive appearance – and both the Defensive Back of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. The death of Gordon Gekko[13] in 2022 affected Delacour noticeably, as he became involved in a public spat with Mayran Jackson, and shortly after, effectively stopped engaging with fans on social media. He would still make the 2022 ISFL Pro Bowl (S7), but the Hawks would again fall short of the playoffs. 2023 did not see things improve significantly, as Delacour's elite speed and agility had noticeably begun to decline, but the Hawks were still keen to keep him on the roster, agreeing a three year extension to his contract and all-but-confirming that he would retire a Hawk[14]. After three straight wins to open the season, the Hawks slumped to seven losses from their next eight games. The Hawks would make the playoffs, but lost the 2023 NSFC Championship (S8) to the Wraiths, after blowing a twenty-one point lead.

Prior to the start of the 2024 (S9) season, Delacour discussed the possibility of retirement with the Baltimore front office but ensured he would play on for at least one more year. The Hawks would achieve a franchise-best regular season record of 11-3, and captured the 2024 NSFC Championship (S9) with a 40-34 win over the Colorado Yeti. Facing the Second Line in Ultimus Bowl IX, Delacour suffered his third loss on the big stage, as Baltimore fell 37-24 to New Orleans. Shortly after the defeat, Delacour announced he would play just one more year before retiring[15].

During 2025 (S10), the Baltimore Hawks announced that they would make Delacour the first inductee to the franchise Wing of Honor[16], complete with celebrations, prior to kickoff of their week twelve game against the San Jose Sabercats. In his final professional game, Delacour was part of the Baltimore Hawks squad that won the franchise's first Ultimus Trophy, beating the Second Line in Ultimus Bowl X.

Professional career statistics

Career statistics Tackles Sacks Interceptions Other Kick Returns Punt Returns
Season Team Games Reg TFL Total Sack Int IntTD DefTD FFum FRec PD Safety Ret Yds Avg KR TD Ret Yds Avg PR TD
2016 (S1) BAL 14 77 0 77 1 1 0 0 2 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017 (S2) BAL 14 65 0 65 1 5 2 0 2 1 13 0 38 823 21.7 1 0 0 0 0
2018 (S3) BAL 14 67 0 67 0 6 1 0 0 0 24 0 8 194 24.2 0 45 429 9.5 1
2019 (S4) BAL 14 69 0 69 1 2 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 35 290 8.3 1
2020 (S5) BAL 14 74 0 74 0 1 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 30 236 7.9 0
2021 (S6) BAL 14 83 0 83 0 5 2 0 0 0 26 0 0 0 0 0 24 184 7.7 0
2022 (S7) BAL 14 88 0 88 0 5 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 29 343 11.8 1
2023 (S8) BAL 14 80 1 81 0 6 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 31 333 10.7 1
2024 (S9) BAL 14 63 0 63 0 4 1 0 0 0 30 0 20 519 26 0 35 273 7.8 0
2025 (S10) BAL 14 63 0 63 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 140 729 1 730 3 35 6 0 4 3 176 0 66 1536 23.3 1 229 2088 9.1 4

Coaching career

In 2036 (S21), Delacour accepted an unpaid consultant role with the Hawks, working under his former coach Winston Zeddemore[17]. Ahead of the 2037 (S22) season, he accepted an assistant coach role, working with the team's cornerbacks. He left this post at the start of the 2040 ISFL season to team up with old friend Lennox Garnett on his "Rock River Rumble" camps.

Personal life

Delacour married his childhood sweetheart, Jasmine Carter, in 2015. They have two daughters, Sophia (b. 2015) and Elaine (b. 2017), and a son, Raphael (b. 2018). Sophia is a professional soccer player in France, having spent the early years of her professional career with Club Key West, of the Grassroots Soccer League. Raphael currently plays in the DSFL, with Norfolk Seawolves.

Via his grandmother, Lucille, Antoine is of Wakandan descent[18], confirmed thanks to a DNA ancestry test. His great-grandfather is acclaimed Jamaican musician Clinton Balinfainte. On his father's side, he is of French descent. His cousin, Maurice Picard[19], played in the Simulation Hockey League, for the Los Angeles Panthers.

Outside football

With the assistance of his wife Jasmine, and his uncle, Delacour set up a small business in his hometown of Lafayette with the aim of helping people get into computer science[20], by offering opportunities and training for young people. The company works with small business owners to give young people hands-on experience and training while providing access to qualifications. The success of the scheme led to the establishment of another, similar business being established in Baltimore. Both would later be converted to non-profit organisations.

In 2021, Delacour acquired sizeable stakes in Third Eye Gaming and 187 Pictures[21], on the advice of his financial consultant, Trevor Richards. Since then, he has taken a hands-on approach, participating in management decisions and contributing to the development of new projects. He had a starring role in 187-produced cult movie Outlaw Killer VII alongside his cousin Maurice Picard, and former Baltimore Hawks teammate Turk Turkleton.

In 2025, Delacour began negotiations with Wu Tang Financial (WTF) – through whom he employs the services of Richards – to launch a specialist player agency under the WTF umbrella, entitled Wu Tang Sports Management (WTSM). The WTSM roster has, in the past, included some big names from multiple sports and leagues. The most notable signing among them being ISFL defensive back and first overall draft pick Lennox Garnett. Another high profile signing to WTSM – basketballer and international movie star Babatunde Warrington – would later introduce Delacour to Tobias Akinbobo, and have a hand in facilitating a merger between 187 Pictures and Fantastic Egusi Media, resulting in Flying Thunder Studios. WTSM suspended operations indefinitely in 2038.

Delacour has also been known to dabble in hip-hop, putting out a mixtape under the alias "Flying Thunder" in 2017. Featured on the mixtape was his most popular track, "Gibson's Story", chronicling the downfall of his former Baltimore Hawks teammate Carmel Gibson, in the wake of the latter's substance abuse problems[22]. A second mixtape was rumoured in 2019, featuring some of his Hawks teammates, though it was not released.

Since retirement, Delacour has been active in several Baltimore Hawks fan groups, often serving as a liaison with the team. He also made a contribution to an anthology of Hawks fan poetry, with a piece titled "The Hawk".[23]

Achievements and Records

Awards

Team
Individual

NSFL records

  • 2017; Broke NSFL record for longest kick return (101 yards)
  • 2017; Set new NSFL record for most kick return yards in a season (823 yards)
  • 2018; Set new NSFL record for longest punt return touchdown (88 yards)
  • 2021; Became first player to record 100 passes defended
  • 2021; Equalled NSFL record for most passes defended in a season (26)
  • 2024; Broke NSFL record for most passes defended in a season (30)
  • Interceptions: 2nd most all-time (35)[lower-alpha 1]
  • Passes defended: 3rd most all-time (176)[lower-alpha 1]

Baltimore Hawks franchise records

  • 2018; Set BAL franchise record for most punt return yards in a season (429 yards)
  • 2018; Set BAL franchise record for most interceptions in a season (6)
  • 2018; Broke BAL franchise record for most passes defended in a season (24)
  • 2018; Set BAL franchise record for most interception return yards in a season (94 yards)
  • 2021; Broke BAL franchise record for most passes defended in a season (26)
  • 2021; Broke BAL franchise record for most interception return yards in a season (101 yards)
  • 2022; Broke BAL franchise record for most punt return yards in a game (95 yards)
  • 2023; Broke BAL franchise record for most punt return yards in a game (104 yards)
  • 2024; Broke BAL franchise record for most passes defended in a season (30)
  • Retired as All-time franchise interceptions leader (35)
  • Retired as All-time franchise passes defended leader (176)

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ranking is accurate at time of retirement

References

  1. ↑ "NFL Aspirations". NSFL.net. September 22, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ "S12 Hall of Fame Official Ballot". NSFL.net. January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Draft Party". NSFL.net. May 22, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Antoine Delacour pre-draft presser". NSFL.net. May 30, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Baltimore Hawks Contracts". Baltimore Hawks Season 1 Contracts. National Simulation Football League. June 2, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Top 50 Players of Today". Top 50 NSFL players. NSFL.net. July 10, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Top 50 Players of Today". Top 50 NSFL players. NSFL.net. August 31, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  8. ↑ "NSFLN: Our Top 50 Players". Top 50 NSFL players. NSFLN Network. November 29, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Baltimore Hawks extensions". NSFL.net. September 3, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Teammates". NSFL.net. February 27, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  11. ↑ "NSFL Top 50 Players of Today". Top 50 NSFL players. National Simulation Football League. February 18, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Hawks extensions". Baltimore Hawks contract extensions. National Simulation Football League. February 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  13. ↑ "A Dark, Dark day in Baltimore". Baltimore Hawks. May 3, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Hawks sign 3 stars". Baltimore Hawks contract extensions. National Simulation Football League. May 29, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Time to geaux". Antoine Delacour retirement announcement. 37AD. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Hawks Announce Week 12 as Delacour Day". Baltimore Hawks announcement. NSFL.net. September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  17. ↑ "A Chat with an NSFL HoFer turned Assistant Coach". NSFL.net. May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  18. ↑ "_37AD on Twitter". Twitter. February 27, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  19. ↑ "_37AD on Twitter". Twitter. April 21, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Paying the Bills". NSFL.net. October 21, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Diversify your investments". NSFL.net. December 20, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Gibson's Story". datpiff.com. August 22, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  23. ↑ ""The Hawk"". Soaring High Magazine. April 15, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
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