Andre’ Sam Bio
Andre’ Sam (born February 9, 1999) is an American professional football safety for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 194 pounds, Sam plays a physical style uncommon for his frame. Known for his resilience, he has overcome significant personal challenges to build a professional career that already includes a Super Bowl championship.
Sam played college football for the McNeese Cowboys, Marshall Thundering Herd, and LSU Tigers across seven seasons. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and made his league debut late in his rookie year. His journey from a small Louisiana high school to a championship roster stands as one of the more determined paths in recent NFL history.
Early Life and Background
Andre’ Sam was born on February 9, 1999, and grew up in Iowa, Louisiana. He has lived with a speech disorder that causes him to stutter, an obstacle he has addressed publicly throughout his athletic career. Sam was raised by his mother after his father and grandfather died when he was six years old.
Growing up, Sam trained in football with his older brother, Aaron, who went on to play college football for the McNeese Cowboys. Sam attended Iowa High School, where he played football as an all-state wide receiver and kick returner. He also participated in track and field, winning a district long jump title and a district championship in two relay events. During his senior year, however, his brother Aaron was killed in a shooting, and Sam briefly considered quitting the sport.
Sam chose to continue playing and finished his senior season with 775 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns, helping Iowa reach the state playoff quarterfinals. Because of his 150-pound frame and his status as a small-school prospect, he received no college scholarship offers and instead walked on to the nearby McNeese Cowboys.
Path to Professional Football
Sam began his college career at McNeese in 2017, redshirting as a true freshman before transitioning to safety. He wore jersey number 21, previously worn by his brother, during the 2018 season but appeared in only three games before suffering a torn labrum. By 2019, he had become a regular contributor, and across his McNeese tenure he played in 33 games, posting 179 tackles, 19 passes defended, and five interceptions.
Following the 2021 season, Sam graduated from McNeese but used extra eligibility from the COVID-19 pandemic and a medical redshirt to continue his career. He transferred to the Marshall Thundering Herd for the 2022 season, recording 53 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and seven pass breakups on his way to honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference recognition. He then committed to the LSU Tigers for the 2023 season, his seventh and final college year, after receiving a medical waiver from the NCAA. With LSU, he finished with 85 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions, earning the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
Andre’ Sam Career
Early Career (2017–2021, McNeese)
Sam’s developmental years came at McNeese, where he grew from a lightly recruited walk-on into a first-team All-Southland Conference defender. He learned the safety position after arriving as a small wide receiver prospect and gradually earned a larger role. By the spring 2021 season, he led the team with 52 tackles and three interceptions, then repeated as a first-team All-SLC selection in fall 2021 with 70 tackles and seven pass breakups.
His time at McNeese also required perseverance off the field. According to local reporting, Sam played through three head coaching changes and dealt with a pair of hurricanes that wiped out nearly all of the Cowboys’ facilities. Those experiences built the toughness that defined his later career.
Marshall and LSU Breakthrough (2022–2023)
After graduating, Sam joined the Marshall Thundering Herd for the 2022 season and quickly became a key piece of the defense. His 53 tackles and seven pass breakups earned him honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference honors and validated his decision to seek a higher level of competition. The move also showcased his ability to adapt to a new conference and a new scheme in a single season.
In 2023, Sam transferred to the LSU Tigers for his seventh and final year of college eligibility. He delivered one of his strongest seasons, recording 85 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions while earning LSU’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Across his time at McNeese, Marshall, and LSU, he played in 68 games, 61 as a starter, amassing 317 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and nine interceptions. He was invited to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine following the season.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2024–Present)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Sam signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. He became the first alumnus of Iowa High School to sign with an NFL team, and the school later retired his number 16 in recognition. The Eagles waived him on August 26, 2024, then re-signed him to the practice squad two days later.
Sam was elevated to the active roster for the team’s Week 14 game against the Carolina Panthers, making his NFL debut in that contest. He won a Super Bowl championship when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 in Super Bowl LIX. On February 14, 2025, Sam signed a reserve/future contract with Philadelphia, only to be waived again on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts before re-signing with the practice squad the next day. He signed another reserve/futures contract on January 14, 2026.
Playing Style and Strengths
Sam is a compact, physical safety whose game is built on toughness, instincts, and ball production. He excels in run support and has shown a consistent ability to break on routes, as evidenced by his career totals of 19 passes defended and nine interceptions. His experience across multiple college programs, including a season at LSU, has prepared him for the complexity of NFL defensive schemes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sam’s most significant milestone came in Super Bowl LIX, where he earned a championship ring as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. He also became the first NFL signee from Iowa High School and had his number retired by the school in 2024. His professional debut in Week 14 of the 2024 season capped a long path that began as an overlooked walk-on in southwest Louisiana.
Andre’ Sam Career Wins
Andre’ Sam’s verified championship success is anchored by the Super Bowl LIX title he won as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles following the 2024 NFL season. He is also a two-time first-team All-Southland Conference selection and an honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference honoree. His LSU Defensive Player of the Year award rounds out the most documented individual honors of his career.
Collegiate and Professional Highlights
At the collegiate level, Sam earned first-team All-SLC recognition in both the spring 2021 and fall 2021 seasons at McNeese. He added honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2022 at Marshall before capping his college career with LSU’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023. His professional pinnacle came when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 in Super Bowl LIX, earning him a championship ring in just his first NFL season.
Other Performances
Sam was also a district long jump champion and a district champion in two relay events during his high school track and field career at Iowa. His 775 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns as a senior helped lead Iowa to the state playoff quarterfinals, foreshadowing the production he would later deliver on defense.
Andre’ Sam Family
Family Background and Lineage
Andre’ Sam was raised primarily by his mother after his father and grandfather died when he was six years old. He shares a close football connection with his late older brother, Aaron, who played college football for the McNeese Cowboys and helped train Andre’ during his youth. Sam has honored that bond by wearing his brother’s number 21 during the 2018 season and by carrying his memory throughout his career.
Personal Life
Sam lives with a speech disorder that causes him to stutter, an experience he has spoken about publicly. He has channeled personal loss and adversity into motivation, a mindset he has credited with sustaining him through injuries, coaching changes, and roster moves. Beyond his public athletic profile, additional personal details are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
Andre’ Sam entered the 2025 league year with a reserve/future contract signed in February 2025. He participated in the Eagles’ offseason program and training camp as he competed for a roster spot at safety. On August 26, 2025, he was waived as part of final roster cuts, then re-signed to the practice squad the following day to remain within the organization.
Sam’s role during the 2025 regular season centered on practice squad development and readiness for elevation when injuries or game plans required additional depth. He continued to add strength and refine his technique under the Eagles’ defensive staff, building on his special teams foundation from his rookie year. His experience in the Eagles’ system, including the championship 2024 campaign, positioned him as a trusted depth option.
Looking ahead, Sam signed a reserve/futures contract on January 14, 2026, signaling that the Eagles viewed him as part of their long-term plans. His path back to the active roster will likely depend on continued development, special teams contribution, and opportunities created by injuries or roster turnover. The combination of his Super Bowl experience and his history of perseverance suggests he will remain in the mix for a larger role.