Sam Tecklenburg Bio
Sam Tecklenburg (born January 31, 1997) is an American football center who has played professionally in both the National Football League and the United Football League. A product of Plano, Texas, and Baylor University, Tecklenburg entered the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and has built his career along the offensive interior. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, he has been valued for his size, technique, and intelligence at the center position.
After spending three seasons on the Carolina Panthers’ roster and practice squad, Tecklenburg moved to the UFL, where he signed with the San Antonio Brahmas in 2024 and later joined the Dallas Renegades in 2026. His journey from college standout to multi-league professional reflects the perseverance required of an undrafted interior lineman seeking to extend a football career beyond initial expectations.
Early Life and Background
Sam Tecklenburg was born on January 31, 1997, in Plano, Texas, a Dallas suburb long known for producing competitive football talent. He grew up in the Plano area and attended Plano High School, where he developed into a promising offensive lineman. His physical maturation during his teenage years set the foundation for the size and strength that would later define his professional profile.
At Plano, Tecklenburg earned recognition as a reliable and technically sound interior lineman. Coaches praised his football intelligence and his capacity to absorb complex schemes, traits that translated well when he advanced to the next level. His high school performance attracted the attention of college programs seeking developmental centers, and he ultimately chose to continue his football career at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
The transition from high school to college football required Tecklenburg to refine his body and his technique against older, stronger competition. His commitment to strength training and his understanding of the center position allowed him to compete for meaningful reps early in his college tenure, laying the groundwork for a five-year stay in the Baylor program.
Path to American Football
Tecklenburg enrolled at Baylor University in 2015, joining a Big 12 program in the midst of a competitive rebuild. He spent his early college seasons developing within the Bears’ offensive line rotation, learning from veteran linemen and absorbing the system installed by head coach Matt Rhule. His patience and willingness to embrace a developmental role paid off as he earned increased responsibilities each season.
By the time he reached his upperclassman years, Tecklenburg had cemented himself as a starting-caliber center at the Power Five level. His senior campaigns coincided with Baylor’s resurgence under Rhule, including a Big 12 Championship and a Sugar Bowl appearance during the 2019 season. Those experiences against top-tier defensive linemen sharpened his pass-protection and run-blocking fundamentals.
Following the 2019 college season, Tecklenburg declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. His combination of size, experience, and football intelligence generated interest despite projections that he might not be selected. When the draft concluded without his name being called, he transitioned to undrafted free agency and prepared to sign wherever an opportunity would arise.
Sam Tecklenburg Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
On April 27, 2020, shortly after the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft, Sam Tecklenburg signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent. The signing reunited him with head coach Matt Rhule, under whom he had played at Baylor. Tecklenburg entered training camp aiming to earn a reserve role along the Panthers’ offensive line.
He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and signed to the team’s practice squad the following day. Later that fall, on October 20, 2020, he was promoted to the active roster, only to be waived again on November 5 and re-signed to the practice squad two days later. On January 4, 2021, Tecklenburg signed a reserve/future contract with Carolina, signaling the organization’s continued confidence in his developmental trajectory.
NFL Breakthrough with the Carolina Panthers (2020–2023)
Tecklenburg’s most consistent stretch with the Panthers came through repeated practice squad promotions and brief active-roster stints. In 2021, he was waived on August 31 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, before being promoted to the active roster on September 7, 2021. His ability to step into game action when called upon made him a trusted depth piece along the interior line.
In 2022, the pattern continued when he was waived on August 30 and signed back to the practice squad the following day. He returned to the active roster on January 7, 2023, providing experienced depth during the stretch run of that season. Across his Panthers tenure, Tecklenburg appeared in 17 games and made one start, compiling the kind of steady résumé that undrafted linemen rely upon to extend their careers.
On August 29, 2023, the Panthers waived Tecklenburg, bringing his NFL chapter to a close. Although his time in Carolina did not include a long-term starting role, the experience he gained working within an NFL strength and conditioning program, meeting room, and offensive scheme prepared him for opportunities in alternate professional leagues.
San Antonio Brahmas Era (2024–2025)
On February 28, 2024, Tecklenburg signed with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League, the spring professional league formed from the merger of the XFL and USFL. The move marked a fresh start in a league that emphasizes fast-paced, fan-friendly football and provides meaningful reps for veteran professionals.
He re-signed with the Brahmas on September 3, 2024, after the conclusion of the UFL season, signaling that the organization viewed him as part of its long-term plans. His tenure in San Antonio gave him an opportunity to take on a larger role than he had in Carolina, contributing to a Brahmas offensive line that valued his college pedigree and NFL experience.
Dallas Renegades Era (2026–Present)
On January 12, 2026, Tecklenburg was allocated to the Dallas Renegades in the UFL regional allocation process. The move brought the Plano native back to his home metro area, joining a Dallas-based franchise with deep roots in the city’s football community. Wearing number 71, he is currently listed as an active center on the Renegades’ roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 4 inches and 316 pounds, Tecklenburg brings prototypical size to the center position. His strengths include quick diagnostic skills at the line of scrimmage, the ability to anchor against power rushers, and a dependable presence in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Coaches have consistently valued his intelligence, his communication with quarterbacks, and his dependability in both pass protection and run blocking.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Tecklenburg’s career came on April 27, 2020, when he signed with the Carolina Panthers and was reunited with Matt Rhule. His 17 career NFL games and one start represent milestones for an undrafted interior lineman, and his transition to the UFL has allowed him to continue building on a professional résumé that spans multiple leagues.
Sam Tecklenburg Career Highlights
Across his professional career, Sam Tecklenburg has compiled a résumé that includes 17 NFL games played and one NFL start, all with the Carolina Panthers, before transitioning to the UFL with the San Antonio Brahmas and the Dallas Renegades. His career wins and team contributions reflect the durability and consistency that have defined his path from Plano to the professional ranks.
UFL Highlights
Tecklenburg’s UFL chapter began with the San Antonio Brahmas in 2024, where he quickly established himself as a reliable starter at center. His 2025 campaign with the Brahmas and his 2026 allocation to the Dallas Renegades mark the most recent steps in a professional journey that has spanned the NFL and the UFL.
Other Performances
Beyond his professional stops, Tecklenburg’s college tenure at Baylor included participation in the Big 12 Championship and a Sugar Bowl appearance during the 2019 season, experiences that helped shape his approach to the game at the next level.
Sam Tecklenburg Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Sam Tecklenburg was raised in Plano, Texas, the same city where he attended high school and first developed as a football player. Public details about his immediate family remain limited, and he has not widely shared information about his parents or siblings in available sources.
As of the most recent available information, Tecklenburg is not publicly known to be married, and no children have been publicly reported. He maintains a presence on Instagram under the handle sam_teck, where he occasionally shares updates about his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 UFL season, Sam Tecklenburg continued his role with the San Antonio Brahmas after re-signing with the team in September 2024. His experience at center provided the Brahmas with a steady presence in the middle of the offensive line, and his familiarity with the team’s scheme translated into consistent snaps throughout the year.
The 2025 campaign represented a step forward in Tecklenburg’s transition from a practice squad contributor in the NFL to a starter-level center in the UFL. His ability to handle protections at the line of scrimmage and to communicate blocking assignments helped stabilize an offense that leaned on his familiarity with the professional game.
Looking ahead, the 2026 UFL season will see Tecklenburg wearing number 71 for the Dallas Renegades after his January 12, 2026 allocation. Returning to his home region positions him for an expanded leadership role, and his blend of NFL experience, size, and football intelligence suggests he will be a central figure along the Renegades’ offensive line in the seasons to come.