Sammis Reyes Bio
Sammis Daniel Reyes Martel (born October 19, 1995) is a Chilean professional football tight end and former basketball player. He is the first player from Chile to play in the National Football League, a milestone that followed years of representing his country in international basketball competitions. Standing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and listed at 260 lb (118 kg), Reyes transitioned from the hardwood to the gridiron after a successful youth and college basketball career that included time with several United States college programs.
Since entering the NFL in 2021, Reyes has been a member of the Washington Football Team, the Chicago Bears, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Minnesota Vikings. His journey through the league has been shaped by his participation in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, which has helped him develop the football skills needed to compete at the highest professional level. He is widely recognized as a pioneer for Chilean athletes in American football.
Early Life and Background
Sammis Daniel Reyes Martel was born on October 19, 1995, in Talcahuano, a port city in the Greater Concepción metropolitan area of Chile. His family moved to Santiago shortly after his birth, where Reyes grew up playing soccer and basketball. At the age of nine, he joined the Boston College Sports Club, a member of the Liga Nacional de Básquetbol de Chile, and two years later was recruited to join the Chile national basketball team, becoming one of the youngest members of the program.
While on a United States tour with the Chilean youth national team in 2010, Reyes was scouted by American recruiters and offered a scholarship to attend Westlake Prep, a school in the Miami metropolitan area. He accepted and left Chile by himself at age 14, arriving in the United States knowing almost no English and learning the language through exposure from film and music. During this time he met and befriended Alex Rifkind, the son of music entrepreneur Steve Rifkind, while playing together in an Amateur Athletic Union basketball circuit. Reyes eventually moved in with the Rifkinds and transferred to North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, Florida, after briefly attending Saint Andrews School in Boca Raton.
Path to American Football
Reyes signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball at the University of Hawaii in 2014 but suffered a hand injury while practicing with the team that forced him to miss his freshman season. Feeling homesick and unhappy with the school’s decision to fire head coach Gib Arnold mid-season, he dropped out and returned to Florida to recover. He then attended a semester at Palm Beach State College and played with their basketball team before transferring to Tulane University in 2016.
He spent two seasons with the Tulane Green Wave but played in just two games in 2017 after opting out due to being unhappy with his playing time. Reyes graduated from Tulane’s Freeman School of Business with a degree in business management before playing his final year of collegiate eligibility for the Loyola Wolf Pack at Loyola University New Orleans in 2018, where he also earned a Master of Business Administration degree. He ended his basketball career after Chile failed to qualify for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and later worked as an athletic trainer and a driver for DoorDash before deciding to pursue professional American football.
Sammis Reyes Career
Washington Football Team Era (2021–2022)
Despite knowing nearly nothing about football, Reyes applied for and was accepted into the National Football League’s International Player Pathway Program as a tight end prospect. He spent 10 weeks training and learning the sport at IMG Academy in Bradenton before participating alongside other pathway players at the University of Florida’s Pro Day on March 31, 2021. He received interest from several NFL teams due to his athletic performance before accepting a three-year contract from the Washington Football Team on April 13, 2021, citing his residency in the Washington metropolitan area and his fit with the team’s culture. Reyes became the first Chilean-born player in the NFL upon signing, and was also selected by the Toronto Argonauts 34th overall in the 2021 CFL global draft, though he never signed a contract with that team.
Reyes made his professional debut against the New Orleans Saints in October 2021, playing a limited number of snaps on special teams. He spent a week on the team’s COVID-19 reserve list in December 2021 and finished the season having played in 11 games, primarily on special teams, where he recorded two tackles. During training camp for the 2022 season, Reyes suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on the injured reserve list before being released by the team with an injury settlement on August 23, 2022.
Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars (2022–2023)
On October 18, 2022, Reyes signed with the Chicago Bears’ practice squad. The Bears briefly attempted to convert him to a defensive lineman during his time with the organization. He was released before the start of the 2023 league year, having spent several months developing within the Bears’ system.
On May 16, 2023, Reyes signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. On August 14, 2023, he announced his retirement from professional football through his Instagram account, stating that he had decided to retire because he suffered a concussion. He later expressed his desire to return to football on February 28, 2024, and was waived by the Jaguars.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024–Present)
On May 13, 2024, Reyes signed with the Minnesota Vikings through the International Player Pathway Program. He was waived on August 26, 2024, and signed to the practice squad two days later, continuing his work to develop as a tight end at the professional level. His signing marked his return to the NFL following his brief retirement and reflected his ongoing commitment to the sport.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although tight ends are not typically described in racing terms, Reyes’s athletic profile has long been his primary asset. His 6 ft 6 in frame, combined with the mobility developed through years of playing basketball as a power forward, allows him to create matchup problems for opposing defenders. He has worked to translate his basketball footwork and hand-eye coordination into route running and blocking fundamentals, with the International Player Pathway Program serving as a structured environment for that development.
Notable Events and Milestones
Reyes’s most significant milestone remains his 2021 signing with the Washington Football Team, which made him the first Chilean-born player in the NFL. He also represented Chile in international basketball competitions, including the 2011 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship and the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers, underscoring his longstanding role as a national sporting figure.
Sammis Reyes Career Highlights
Professional Football Highlights
Reyes has appeared in 11 NFL regular season games, with one start, and has recorded two tackles. He has suited up for the Washington Football Team, the Chicago Bears, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Minnesota Vikings, and has spent time on both active rosters and practice squads. He was also a 2021 CFL global draft selection by the Toronto Argonauts, highlighting the cross-border attention his athletic profile received.
Basketball Achievements
As a member of the Boston College team, Reyes was a runner-up at the 2014 Campioni del Domani, a Chilean youth basketball tournament. He played college basketball for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, the Palm Beach Panthers, the Tulane Green Wave, and the Loyola Wolf Pack, and represented Chile at multiple international events. He primarily played the power forward position throughout his basketball career.
Sammis Reyes Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Reyes was raised in Talcahuano and Santiago, Chile, before moving to the United States as a teenager to pursue an athletic scholarship. While in Florida, he was taken in by the family of music entrepreneur Steve Rifkind, a connection formed through youth basketball. He has kept much of his personal and family life private, with limited publicly available details about his relatives and relationships.
Off-Field Life
Beyond athletics, Reyes completed a Master of Business Administration degree at Loyola University New Orleans and appeared in a 2021 Chilean advertisement for Pepsi Zero. His educational background and business credentials have provided a foundation for life outside of professional sports, and he has spoken about the importance of planning for a career after football.
2025 Season Outlook
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Reyes remains part of the Minnesota Vikings organization following his 2024 signing through the International Player Pathway Program. His development as a tight end will continue to be a central storyline, with the team providing a structured environment for him to refine his route running, blocking, and overall understanding of the position. Given his prior experience with multiple NFL rosters, he is expected to compete for a spot on the active roster or remain a developmental piece on the practice squad.
Reyes’s role in 2025 will likely balance on-field growth with leadership responsibilities as one of the more experienced International Player Pathway participants in the league. His track record of moving between organizations and adapting to new schemes suggests he will continue to be a versatile presence in the Vikings’ tight end room. The combination of his size, basketball background, and renewed focus on football positions him to contribute in specialized roles, particularly on special teams and as a red zone target.
As the 2025 season approaches, Reyes’s story remains one of persistence, cross-sport transition, and international representation within the NFL. His continued presence in Minnesota offers a platform to further his development while serving as a visible example for athletes considering non-traditional paths to professional football in the United States.