Poteat played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots and New York Jets.

Poteat, also received All-Big East honors as a senior and 3rd team All-American after posting 16.2 yards a punt return, finishing 1st in the conference and 7th nationally.

Poteat was the last Pittsburgh defensive back before Jets 2007 first-round pick Darrelle Revis to earn All-Big East honors in back-to-back seasons.

Poteat was released again by the Patriots on October 9, 2006, in order to clear a roster spot for Jabar Gaffney.

The move reunited him with Browns head coach Eric Mangini, for whom he had played in New England and New York.

In 2017, Poteat became the CB coach of the Toledo Rockets and helped lead them to become MAC Champions.

On February 11, Poteat became the cornerbacks coach at Wisconsin taking over the duties for Jim Leonhard and reuniting with Paul Chryst who he was under at Pittsburgh.