Sam Hartman Bio
Sam Hartman is an American professional football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Born Samuel Hartman on July 29, 1999, in Charlotte, North Carolina, he became one of the most productive passers in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history during a five-year college career. After going undrafted in 2024, he signed with the Commanders and has worked his way between the practice squad and the active roster while continuing to develop as a professional passer.
Hartman built his reputation as a record-setting thrower at Wake Forest, where he set multiple school benchmarks for passing yards, completions, attempts, and touchdowns. He later spent one season at Notre Dame before turning professional. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 209 pounds, he is listed at number 15 on the Washington roster and is recognized for his arm talent, durability, and deep knowledge of offensive systems.
Early Life and Background
Hartman was born on July 29, 1999, in Charlotte, North Carolina, to his father, Mark Hartman. He grew up in the Charlotte area and attended Davidson Day School in Davidson, North Carolina, where he developed into a top high school quarterback. As a sophomore and junior at Davidson Day, Hartman served as a team captain and threw for 6,388 passing yards and 69 touchdowns, earning first-team all-state honors as a junior and being named the Charlotte Observer player of the week four times.
For his senior season, Hartman transferred to Oceanside Collegiate Academy in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. There, he led the team to a 7-3 record while passing for 3,093 yards and 29 touchdowns and adding nine rushing scores. He was rated the No. 12 pro-style passer in the class of 2018 by 247Sports.com and was a three-star recruit. His senior season was featured in the documentary series QB1: Beyond the Lights, which helped introduce him to a national audience.
Path to American Football
Hartman accepted a scholarship offer from Wake Forest University to play for the Demon Deacons. He opened his freshman year as the starter against Tulane, becoming the first freshman to start a season opener at quarterback in school history. He threw for 378 yards in that debut and led all freshmen nationally in yards of offense through the first three games. He was named ACC Rookie of the Week after a win over Rice, tying a school record with 12 consecutive completions, before a leg injury against Syracuse ended his first season.
After sitting behind Jamie Newman in 2019 and preserving a redshirt, Hartman returned as a starter in 2020 and 2021, when he set several Wake Forest single-season records, including 39 touchdown passes and 4,228 passing yards. He guided the Demon Deacons to an 8-0 start and an appearance in the ACC Championship Game. In 2022, despite playing through Paget-Schroetter disease and offseason surgery, he threw for 3,701 yards and 38 touchdowns, won the Gasparilla Bowl MVP for the second time, and earned the Brian Piccolo Award as the most courageous player in the ACC.
Sam Hartman Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
Hartman’s first three college seasons showed steady growth at Wake Forest. After a promising freshman debut in 2018, he used 2019 to learn behind Newman before taking over as the full-time starter in 2020. That season, he played all nine games, finished 28th nationally with 2,224 passing yards, and threw for 429 yards and four touchdowns in a high-scoring loss to North Carolina. The NCAA decision to count the 2020-21 school year separately due to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed him to return for additional seasons and continue building his resume.
By the end of 2020, Hartman had earned the respect of the ACC for his arm strength and preparation. He entered 2021 as a team captain and one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the conference, ready to lead one of the most explosive offenses in school history.
Wake Forest Breakthrough (2021-2022)
The 2021 season was Hartman’s breakout year. He led Wake Forest to its first 8-0 start in program history and to the ACC Championship Game against Pittsburgh. In a career-best performance against Army, he threw for 458 yards and five touchdowns, earning national honors from the Davey O’Brien Award, Pro Football Network, the Maxwell Award, and the College Football Performance Awards. He set single-season school records for touchdown passes and passing yards, while also being recognized as one of the most efficient passers in the country.
In 2022, Hartman played through a serious medical condition. He underwent surgery early in the season for Paget-Schroetter disease, missed only one game, and still produced 3,701 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. He earned Second-team All-ACC honors, was a finalist for the Manning Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and was a Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist. His performance in the Gasparilla Bowl, where he was named MVP for the second time, made him the first player in school history to win two bowl MVP awards.
Hartman finished his Wake Forest career as the school record holder for passing attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns, and he left as the all-time ACC leader in career passing touchdowns with 110. He ranked second in ACC history with 12,967 career passing yards and posted 21 career 300-yard passing games, the most in conference history.
Notre Dame Season (2023)
On January 5, 2023, Hartman announced his decision to transfer to Notre Dame. He started the season opener against Navy in Dublin, Ireland, on August 26, 2023, and tied a Fighting Irish program record by throwing four touchdown passes in his debut. He completed 19 of 23 attempts for 251 yards and helped set the tone for Notre Dame’s offensive attack. After the regular season, he opted out of the Sun Bowl to begin preparing for the 2024 NFL draft.
Washington Commanders Era (2024-Present)
Hartman signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and was also selected by the Birmingham Stallions in the ninth round of the 2024 UFL draft. He was waived by the Commanders on August 27, 2024, and added to the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 7, 2024, after an injury to backup Marcus Mariota, and was later released and returned to the practice squad on October 12, 2024. On January 28, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Commanders, was waived on August 26, 2025, and rejoined the practice squad. He was promoted back to the active roster on December 24, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hartman’s career is defined by his record-setting production at Wake Forest, including 110 career touchdown passes, an ACC-record 21 games with at least 300 passing yards, and two bowl MVP honors. He also earned the Brian Piccolo Award in 2022, becoming one of the few quarterbacks to win the prestigious honor, and he was featured in the documentary series QB1: Beyond the Lights during his senior year of high school.
Sam Hartman Career Wins
College Career Highlights
Hartman’s college record includes an ACC Championship Game appearance in 2021 and a Gasparilla Bowl victory in 2022, where he was named MVP for the second time in his career. He also helped Wake Forest reach additional bowl appearances during his five seasons as a starter and as a backup.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his bowl success, Hartman was a multi-year All-ACC selection and one of the most decorated passers in Wake Forest history. He earned national weekly honors multiple times during the 2021 season and finished his career ranked among the top 25 passers in FBS history in both passing yards and touchdown passes.
Sam Hartman Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Hartman is the son of Mark Hartman, who has been referenced in biographical coverage of his early football development. He is a United States citizen who grew up in the Charlotte, North Carolina area before moving to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, for his senior year of high school.
2025 Season Performance
Hartman spent the majority of the 2025 season on the Washington Commanders practice squad after signing a reserve/future contract on January 28, 2025. He was waived on August 26, 2025, and rejoined the practice squad the following day, where he continued to develop within the Commanders’ offensive system and stay ready for promotion.
On December 24, 2025, Hartman was promoted to the active roster, giving him another opportunity to contribute late in the season. His familiarity with the playbook and his college-level experience offered Washington additional depth at the quarterback position heading into the final stretch of the year.
Looking ahead, Hartman remains under contract with the Commanders and will look to build on his late-season opportunity in 2025. His combination of experience, accuracy, and knowledge of the offensive scheme gives him a strong foundation to compete for a larger role in the seasons to come.