Sam Cosmi Bio
Samuel Cosmi is an American professional football guard for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and listed at 309 pounds, Cosmi plays offensive line and has been a full-time starter at right guard since the 2023 season. Drafted by Washington in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, he signed a major four-year contract extension in 2024 that keeps him with the franchise through 2028.
A graduate of Atascocita High School in Harris County, Texas, and the University of Texas at Austin, Cosmi developed into one of the Big 12 Conference’s most decorated offensive linemen before turning pro. After recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January 2025, he returned to action in the fall of that year.
Early Life and Background
Samuel Cosmi was born on February 16, 1999, in Humble, Texas. He grew up in the Houston metropolitan area and attended Atascocita High School, where he starred on the offensive line. As a senior, Cosmi earned first-team All-District 21-6A honors and was named second-team 6A All-State, recognition that helped establish him as a Division I prospect.
Cosmi’s parents immigrated from Romania to the United States in the early 1980s, and the family settled in Texas. Their support helped shape his football journey, and he has spoken about his Christian faith as an important part of his personal identity.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school, Cosmi was rated a three-star recruit. He originally committed to play college football at the University of Houston over offers from Texas Christian University and the University of Memphis. When Houston head coach Tom Herman left to take the same job at the University of Texas, Cosmi flipped his commitment and joined the Texas Longhorns.
At Texas, Cosmi redshirted his first year on campus before quickly earning a starting role. That early acceleration set the stage for a college career that included All-Big 12 recognition and bowl-game championships.
Sam Cosmi Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Cosmi’s development at Texas was steady and impressive. After redshirting in 2017, he played in all 14 games as a redshirt freshman, starting the final 13 at right tackle and earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention from the conference coaches. During that season he helped the Longhorns reach the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game and upset the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2019 Sugar Bowl.
As a redshirt sophomore, Cosmi started all 13 games and was named second-team All-Big 12. In a game against the West Virginia Mountaineers, he caught a lateral from quarterback Sam Ehlinger and ran 12 yards for a touchdown, setting the record for the longest touchdown run by an offensive lineman in Big 12 history. The Longhorns also won the Alamo Bowl that season and finished ranked in the top 25 nationally.
Texas Longhorns Breakthrough (2019–2020)
In 2020, Cosmi served as a team captain during the COVID-19-shortened season. He started the first eight games at left tackle before opting out of the remaining contests to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. That season he was a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection, a second-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree, an Honorable Mention for the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, and a third-team Associated Press All-American.
Although he considered entering the 2020 NFL Draft, Cosmi returned to Texas for his redshirt junior year, and his 2020 campaign solidified his status as a top prospect.
Washington Commanders Era (2021–Present)
The Washington Football Team selected Cosmi in the second round, 51st overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021. He was named the starting right tackle out of training camp and made his professional debut in the season opener, but injuries to his ankle and hip limited him to nine games, all of which he started.
In 2022, Cosmi underwent thumb surgery after Week 4 and missed three games. He returned in a reserve role and later started at right guard against the New York Giants in Week 13 before an ankle injury cut his afternoon short. He finished the year with 14 games played and six starts. In 2023, Cosmi remained healthy, starting all 17 games at right guard and playing nearly every offensive snap for Washington.
On September 4, 2024, Cosmi signed a four-year contract extension worth 74 million dollars with 45 million dollars guaranteed. He started all 17 regular-season games at right guard that year but tore his ACL during the Divisional Round playoff loss to the Detroit Lions, ending his postseason. He had surgery in early February 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cosmi is valued for his size, length, and athleticism at the guard position, with the foot quickness to handle pass-rushing edge defenders and the power to anchor in the run game. His durability and technique have made him a long-term starter along Washington’s offensive front.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Cosmi owns the record for the longest touchdown run by an offensive lineman in Big 12 history, set during his redshirt sophomore season against West Virginia. He was also part of Texas teams that won the 2019 Sugar Bowl and the 2019 Alamo Bowl, and he became one of the highest-paid guards in the league with his 2024 extension.
Sam Cosmi Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, Samuel Cosmi’s career is measured less by individual win totals and more by team success and personal honors. He was a key starter on Texas teams that won the 2019 Sugar Bowl and the 2019 Alamo Bowl, and he has played a central role on a Washington Commanders offensive line that has continued to develop around him.
College Highlights
Cosmi’s college resume includes All-Big 12 Honorable Mention as a redshirt freshman, second-team All-Big 12 as a redshirt sophomore, and unanimous first-team All-Big 12 as a redshirt junior in 2020. He was also named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press that same year, capping one of the most decorated offensive-line careers in Texas history.
Other Performances
In the NFL, Cosmi has been recognized primarily through his contract status, with his 2024 extension reflecting his standing as a reliable starter. Career statistics through the 2025 season include 66 games played and 58 games started for the Washington Commanders.
Sam Cosmi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Samuel Cosmi’s parents emigrated from Romania to the United States in the early 1980s, raising their family in Texas. Their immigrant story has been part of how Cosmi describes his background, and he has publicly identified as a Christian.
Personal Life
Cosmi married his wife Blair, whom he met while attending the University of Texas at Austin, in March 2023. The couple welcomed a daughter in 2024 and a son in 2025.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a long road back for Cosmi after the ACL tear he suffered in the 2024 Divisional Round. The Washington Commanders placed him on the active/physically unable to perform list on July 23, 2025, and he remained there at the start of the regular season as he continued his recovery.
Cosmi was activated ahead of Washington’s Week 7 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on October 18, marking his return to game action. His return added experience to a Commanders offensive line that had been managing without him through the first six weeks of the season.
On December 22, 2025, Washington placed Cosmi on season-ending injured reserve because of a concussion, cutting short his comeback year. Despite the setback, his 2024 contract extension and his history of durability suggest he remains a central piece of the Commanders’ long-term offensive plans.
