Bartell played safety and receiver for Renaissance High School in Detroit, Michigan, from 1996-1999. He also ran track and played basketball. He caught 23 passes for 385 yards with four touchdowns on offense and had 45 tackles and four interceptions on defense as a senior when he was named All-City, All-Metro and City Defensive Back of the Year.
College career
Bartell began his college football career at Central Michigan University but left the school in 2002 "distraught with the direction the program was going" and stated he went through five position coaches in 2½ years at the school and he felt he wasn't getting any better. He transferred to Howard University where he started in 38 out of 45 games and was an administration of criminal justice major. Bartell was a Second-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as a senior.
Professional career
St. Louis Rams
Bartell was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the second round in the 2005 NFL Draft. On July 29, 2005, Bartell agreed to a 4-year $3.04 million contract with the Rams. In his rookie season he played in ten games making seven starts and recorded 34 tackles. In the 2006 season he made 25 tackles and three interceptions. His first career interception came at the Oakland Raiders on December 17, 2006. The 2007 season was a career best in terms of tackles made as he ended the campaign with 67, along with one sack and two interceptions. In 2007 Bartell started the first four games in place of right cornerback Fakhir Brown who was on the NFL suspended list. Bartell ended the season starting six games for the injured left cornerback Tye Hill and in between he started two games as the Rams nickleback when the team opened in a five defensive back alignment. In 2008 Bartell again began the season starting at right corner back for Fakhir Brown, who had a broken collar bone and was released and then re-signed. After Brown returned, starting left cornerback Tye Hill was again hurt and placed on injured reserve. Bartell stepped in and started the final 11 games as the left corner. For the season he played in 16 games, starting 14 and made 56 tackles, one sack, three interceptions, 20 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovered. Bartell became a free agent following the 2008 season, but was re-signed by the Rams to a four-year, $28 million contract, including $13.6 million in guarantees on March 2, 2009. Bartell fractured his neck during the Rams' 2011 season opener vs the Philadelphia Eagles and missed the rest of the season on injured reserve. He was released by the Rams on March 12, 2012.
Oakland Raiders
Bartell signed with the Oakland Raiders on March 16, 2012. He was released on December 10, 2012.
