Sam Ehlinger Bio
Samuel George Ehlinger is an American professional football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played for the Indianapolis Colts, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Ehlinger played college football for the Texas Longhorns, where he led the program to the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game and two bowl victories. He has built a reputation as a durable, dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm and surprising mobility for his size.
Early Life and Background
Samuel George Ehlinger was born on September 30, 1998, in Austin, Texas. He grew up in the Austin area and attended Westlake High School, where he played quarterback and was coached by Todd Dodge. Ehlinger graduated as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, surpassing Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Drew Brees and Nick Foles in the school record book. He was named the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year after his junior season, and was rated by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit. He received scholarship offers from Florida State, Houston, McNeese State, Oklahoma State, SMU, Texas Tech, and Wyoming, before committing to play football at the University of Texas at Austin on July 28, 2015.
Ehlinger’s father, Ross Ehlinger, was a central figure in his early athletic development, and his younger brother Jake would later play linebacker for the Texas Longhorns. Ross passed away from a heart attack in 2013 during a triathlon at the age of 46, a loss that shaped Samuel’s perspective and motivation. Ehlinger has spoken openly about how his father’s encouragement and example helped him pursue football with discipline and humility.
Path to American Football
Ehlinger joined the Texas Longhorns in 2017 under new head coach Tom Herman, inheriting an offense led by sophomore starter Shane Buechele. He made his first career start on September 9, 2017, against the San Jose State Spartans, leading Texas to a 56-0 victory with 222 passing yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 48 yards. That start made him the tenth freshman to start a game at quarterback in program history. Throughout his freshman year, Ehlinger battled with Buechele for the starting role, and his 380-yard passing performance against Kansas State set a school record for the most passing yards by a true freshman at Texas. He finished the 2017 season as the team’s leader in both passing and rushing yardage.
During the 2018 season, Ehlinger took firm control of the starting job, opening the year with four consecutive games of at least 200 passing yards and multiple touchdowns. He became the first Longhorns quarterback since Colt McCoy’s 2008 season to post three consecutive games with at least two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. He capped the year by leading Texas to a 28-21 upset victory over the fifth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in the 2019 Sugar Bowl, earning game MVP honors after rushing for three touchdowns.
Sam Ehlinger Career
Early Career (2019-2020)
Ehlinger was a full-time starter for the remainder of his college career. In 2019, he set school records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense through the first eight games of a season, and was a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Wuerffel Trophy, and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. He closed the year by leading Texas to an Alamo Bowl win, earning the game’s Offensive MVP award and helping the Longhorns to their third straight bowl victory.
As a senior in 2020, Ehlinger started all nine games and was named Second-Team All-Big 12, while also winning the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award. He finished the COVID-shortened campaign ranked first or second among Big 12 quarterbacks in passing efficiency, passing touchdowns, and total offense. He completed his college career ranked second in Texas history in career passing yards, attempts, completions, and touchdown passes, trailing only Colt McCoy in most categories.
Indianapolis Colts Breakthrough (2021-2024)
Ehlinger was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round, 218th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft and signed his rookie contract on May 19, 2021. He suffered an ACL sprain before the season and began the year on injured reserve before being activated in October. He spent his first two NFL seasons developing behind veteran quarterbacks before earning a larger role in 2022. On October 24, 2022, Ehlinger was named the Colts’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, replacing Matt Ryan. In his first start in Week 8 against the Washington Commanders, he completed 17 of 23 passes for 201 yards in a narrow 17-16 loss. He continued to see spot duty for Indianapolis through the 2023 and 2024 seasons, serving primarily as a backup.
Denver Broncos Era (2025-Present)
On March 31, 2025, Ehlinger signed a one-year contract with the Denver Broncos, beginning a new chapter of his career. He was released on August 26 as the team trimmed its roster, but was re-signed to the practice squad the next day despite having offers from multiple teams to join their 53-man active rosters. On September 6, he was promoted to the active roster following an injury to Malcolm Roach. He was released on October 17 and re-signed to the practice squad, before being promoted again on October 22. Ehlinger was released once more on October 28 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day, demonstrating his value as a trusted reserve option in the Broncos quarterback room.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ehlinger is a pocket-oriented quarterback with above-average arm strength and the ability to extend plays with his legs when structures break down. He has shown comfort operating play-action concepts and attacking intermediate-to-deep portions of the field, and his willingness to compete in the run game has long been a hallmark of his profile dating back to his record-setting rushing touchdown totals at Texas.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ehlinger’s most memorable career moments are his 2018 upset win over the seventh-ranked Oklahoma Sooners, where he accounted for five touchdowns, and his 2019 Sugar Bowl MVP performance against Georgia. He also set a Big 12 Conference record with 308 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, surpassing a mark previously held by Geno Smith.
Sam Ehlinger Career Wins
Sam Ehlinger has earned victories at multiple levels of competitive football, from high school to the NFL. His most celebrated wins include the 2019 Sugar Bowl, the 2019 Alamo Bowl, and the 2020 Alamo Bowl during his time at Texas, along with several regular-season Big 12 victories that helped shape the Longhorns’ resurgence under head coach Tom Herman.
Texas Longhorns Highlights
During his Texas career, Ehlinger started in three consecutive bowl-winning games for the Longhorns, including MVP performances in both the 2019 Sugar Bowl and the 2019 Alamo Bowl. He set a Texas single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 16 in 2018, and his upset victory over Oklahoma during the 2018 Red River Rivalry was widely regarded as one of the defining moments of that season. He finished his career with more than 11,000 passing yards and 90 total touchdowns.
Other Wins and Performances
Ehlinger’s first career win came in his first college start against San Jose State in 2017, and he added a win in the 2017 Texas Bowl against Missouri. With Indianapolis, his first NFL victory came in a 2021 preseason start against the Carolina Panthers, a 21-18 comeback that signaled his potential to handle NFL speed.
Sam Ehlinger Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ehlinger’s late father, Ross Ehlinger, was a competitive triathlete whose death in 2013 from a heart attack profoundly shaped the quarterback’s character and work ethic. His younger brother, Jake Ehlinger, played linebacker for the Texas Longhorns and passed away from an accidental overdose on May 6, 2021, at the age of 20. The Ehlinger family remains closely tied to the Austin, Texas community, where Sam grew up and continues to be recognized for his commitment to faith and family.
Personal Life
Samuel George Ehlinger is a Christian and is married to Cami Jo Ehlinger. The couple has been open about the central role of faith in their relationship, and Ehlinger has spoken frequently about how his Christian beliefs have guided him through personal adversity, including the losses of his father and brother.
2025 Season Performance
Sam Ehlinger’s 2025 season with the Denver Broncos has been defined by movement between the active roster and the practice squad. After signing a one-year contract on March 31, he was released in late August, re-signed to the practice squad the following day, and promoted to the active roster on September 6 in the wake of an injury to Malcolm Roach. He later bounced between the practice squad and the active roster multiple times through October, including a promotion on October 22 and another on October 28, reflecting the team’s continued interest in retaining him as a depth option behind the starting quarterback.
Despite the lack of a full-time starting role, Ehlinger has remained a respected presence in the Broncos quarterback room, valued for his preparation, experience, and leadership. His familiarity with offensive systems, combined with his proven ability to step in and perform when called upon, has made him a reliable insurance policy for Denver’s staff. With the team pushing toward the postseason, Ehlinger’s role as a steady veteran backup gives the Broncos flexibility at the game’s most important position.
Looking ahead, Ehlinger’s contract with Denver is set to run through the end of the 2025 season, leaving his long-term future open. Should he receive an opportunity to compete for a starting role elsewhere in 2026, his track record of stepping into difficult situations, from his college rivalry heroics to his 2022 starting stint with the Colts, suggests he remains a capable NFL quarterback eager for his next chance to lead a team.