Andre’ Sam Bio
Andre’ Sam is an American professional football safety for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 178 centimeters tall and listed at 88 kilograms, he has earned a reputation for resilience after overcoming significant personal challenges on his path to professional football. Known for his composure in the secondary and his leadership on special teams, Sam played college football at three different programs before reaching the NFL. He is a Super Bowl champion, having been part of the Eagles roster that defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
Sam attended Iowa High School in Louisiana before beginning a winding college journey with the McNeese Cowboys. He later transferred to the Marshall Thundering Herd and then the LSU Tigers, where his play earned him an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent and quickly worked his way onto the active roster.
Early Life and Background
Andre’ Sam was born on February 9, 1999, and grew up in Iowa, Louisiana. He was raised primarily by his mother after his father and grandfather passed away when he was six years old. Those early losses shaped his perspective and fueled his determination to succeed through sport. He has spoken publicly about a speech disorder that causes him to stutter, an obstacle he has worked to manage throughout his life.
Sam developed his football skills alongside his older brother, Aaron, who went on to play college football for the McNeese Cowboys. As a young athlete, Sam attended Iowa High School, where he starred as an all-state wide receiver and kick returner while also competing in track and field. He was a district champion in the long jump and in two relay events, showcasing the speed and athleticism that would later define his defensive career.
Tragedy struck again at the start of Sam’s senior year when his brother Aaron was killed in a shooting. Devastated, Sam briefly considered leaving football but ultimately chose to continue playing in his brother’s memory. He finished that season with 775 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns, leading Iowa to the state playoff quarterfinals. Despite his production, his size at 150 pounds and his small-school background left him without college scholarship offers, and he walked on at McNeese.
Path to the NFL
Sam arrived at McNeese in 2017 and redshirted as a true freshman before transitioning from wide receiver to safety. He wore number 21, the number previously worn by his brother, during the 2018 season. A torn labrum limited him to just three games that year, but he returned healthy in 2019 and became a full-time starter, recording 51 tackles, seven pass breakups and an interception across 12 games.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a reshuffling of schedules, and Sam played the 2020 season in the spring of 2021. He appeared in all seven games that spring and led the team with 52 tackles and three interceptions, earning first-team All-Southland Conference honors. He repeated that honor in the fall 2021 season after finishing second on the team with 70 tackles and leading the squad with seven pass breakups.
Andre’ Sam Career
Early Career at McNeese (2017–2021)
Sam’s developmental years at McNeese were defined by perseverance. After three head coaching changes and two hurricanes that devastated the program’s facilities, he emerged as one of the conference’s most reliable defensive backs. He finished his McNeese career having played in 33 games, posting 179 tackles, 19 passes defended and five interceptions.
Using extra eligibility granted because of the pandemic and a medical redshirt from his injured 2018 season, Sam entered the NCAA transfer portal following the 2021 season. His experience at McNeese laid the foundation for his move to a higher level of competition in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Marshall Thundering Herd (2022)
Sam transferred to the Marshall Thundering Herd for the 2022 season and immediately contributed on defense. He totaled 53 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and seven pass breakups, earning honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference recognition. His one season at Marshall gave him valuable experience in a power conference and reinforced his reputation as a ball-hawking safety.
LSU Tigers Breakthrough (2023)
Seeking a final collegiate chapter, Sam committed to the LSU Tigers for the 2023 season and was granted a medical waiver to play his seventh year of college football. With the Tigers, he posted 85 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions, earning LSU’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Across his stops at McNeese, Marshall and LSU, he played in 68 games with 61 starts, totaling 317 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and nine interceptions. His strong senior season earned him an invitation to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
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 into the NFL, and the school later retired his number 16 in his honor. The Eagles waived him on August 26, 2024, but re-signed him to the practice squad two days later, where he continued to develop.
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 then won a Super Bowl championship when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. On February 14, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract to remain with the organization, and on August 26, 2025, he was waived as part of final roster cuts before being re-signed to the practice squad the following day.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sam’s most defining professional moment came with the Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LIX, a 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs that capped his rookie season. Earlier that year, he had become the first Iowa High School graduate to sign an NFL contract, a milestone the school commemorated by retiring his jersey number.
Andre’ Sam Career Wins
Andre’ Sam has compiled a unique trophy case built across multiple college programs and capped with a Super Bowl championship at the professional level. His on-field success includes conference recognition at three different universities and an NFL title in his first professional season.
College Highlights
Sam earned first-team All-Southland Conference honors in both the spring 2021 and fall 2021 seasons with McNeese, leading the team in interceptions during the spring campaign. He followed that with honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference recognition at Marshall in 2022 and LSU’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023.
NFL Highlights
As an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles, Sam made his NFL debut in Week 14 of the 2024 season and went on to win Super Bowl LIX. His journey from a small Louisiana high school to a championship roster stands as one of the more compelling undrafted stories in recent NFL memory.
Andre’ Sam Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Sam was raised by his mother in Iowa, Louisiana, after the death of his father and grandfather when he was six years old. He credits his older brother, Aaron, with first introducing him to competitive football; Aaron went on to play for the McNeese Cowboys before his tragic death in a shooting at the start of Andre’ Sam’s senior year of high school.
Sam has continued to honor his brother’s memory throughout his career, including by wearing Aaron’s former number 21 at McNeese in 2018. He has spoken about using his platform to give back and inspire young athletes from small towns who face long odds on the path to professional sports.
2025 Season Performance
Andre’ Sam spent the 2025 offseason with the Philadelphia Eagles after signing a reserve/future contract on February 14, 2025. He competed throughout training camp and the preseason as part of the team’s safety rotation and special teams units, continuing to build on his rookie year experience.
On August 26, 2025, Sam was waived as part of the Eagles’ final roster cuts ahead of the regular season. He was re-signed to the practice squad the following day, keeping him within the organization and positioning him for potential elevation during the 2025 campaign.
With a Super Bowl championship already on his resume and familiarity with the Eagles’ defensive system, Sam enters the 2025 season looking to carve out a larger role on the active roster. His blend of special teams value and experience in coverage makes him a strong candidate to be elevated again as the season progresses.