Sam Franklin Jr. Bio
Samuel Lamar Franklin Jr. (born February 2, 1996) is an American professional football safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Temple Owls and entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 209 pounds, Franklin has worked his way across multiple rosters through special teams play and situational defense.
Over five NFL seasons, Franklin has built a reputation as a reliable depth safety and core special teams contributor. After time with the Carolina Panthers and a brief stint with the Denver Broncos, he joined the Buffalo Bills in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Franklin was born on February 2, 1996, in Inverness, Florida, and grew up in nearby Crystal River, a small Gulf Coast community known for its outdoor lifestyle. He attended Citrus High School, where he was a multi-position player for the football team, lining up at wide receiver, safety, and linebacker during his prep career. Playing several positions helped him develop the versatility and tackling form that would later define his professional profile.
Coming out of high school, Franklin was recruited by the University of Massachusetts, but he did not qualify academically. Instead of giving up his Division I dream, he enrolled at East Coast Prep, a postgraduate program designed to sharpen both grades and test scores. There, he played alongside Myles Hartsfield, a future Carolina Panthers teammate, forming a connection that would later carry into the NFL.
Path to Professional Football
After his postgraduate year, Franklin joined the Temple Owls, where he spent four seasons in the American Athletic Conference. He began his college career as a defensive back before eventually transitioning to linebacker, adding size and physicality to his game. As a senior, he ranked third on the team with 68 tackles and added 7.5 tackles for loss, showing the range that would appeal to NFL evaluators.
Franklin finished his collegiate career with 194 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble across 53 games. His stat line and his experience at multiple defensive positions positioned him as a priority undrafted free agent target once the 2020 NFL Draft concluded.
Sam Franklin Jr. Career
Early Career (2020-2021)
Franklin signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2020, and made the initial 53-man roster out of training camp, an impressive feat for a rookie without a draft pedigree. His first significant defensive action came on October 18, 2020, against the Chicago Bears, when he entered the game after an injury to Juston Burris and recorded two tackles. Later that season, in Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Franklin notched his first career sack, taking down quarterback Patrick Mahomes during a narrow 33-31 loss.
Those early moments helped Franklin establish himself as a core special teams player and a trusted reserve on defense. His ability to contribute on coverage units, combined with his tackling reliability, kept him on the Panthers’ roster through his first two seasons and laid the foundation for an expanded defensive role.
Carolina Panthers Breakthrough (2022-2023)
By 2022, Franklin had grown into a dependable rotational safety and special teams leader for the Carolina Panthers. He appeared regularly on defense and continued to handle core duties on kick and punt coverage, earning praise from the coaching staff for his preparation and effort.
His career-defining moment came in Week 4 of the 2023 season against the Minnesota Vikings, when Franklin recorded his first career interception and returned it 99 yards for his first NFL defensive touchdown. The play set the Panthers’ franchise record for the longest interception returned for a touchdown. One week later at Detroit, he posted a personal-best eight total tackles, including seven solo stops, capping the most productive stretch of his career to that point.
Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills Era (2024-2025)
Franklin’s 2024 season was disrupted before it began when he suffered a broken foot during training camp practice on July 29. He was placed on injured reserve to open the year and missed the early weeks before being activated on October 26. After working his way back, he finished the season with the Panthers and entered free agency looking for a fresh opportunity.
On April 8, 2025, Franklin signed a one-year guaranteed contract with the Denver Broncos. His time in Denver was short, as he was released on August 26, 2025, during final roster cuts. Days later, on August 27, 2025, he signed with the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad, and on September 4, 2025, he was promoted to the active roster, giving him a clear path back onto an NFL game day roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Franklin is best known for his physicality in run support and his value on special teams. Coaches have praised his tackling form, field awareness, and willingness to play through contact. His ability to line up at safety or as a hybrid linebacker gives defensive coordinators flexibility, while his experience on coverage units makes him a reliable fourth-phase contributor.
Notable Events and Milestones
The 99-yard interception return against the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 stands as Franklin’s signature NFL moment and a Carolina Panthers franchise record. His first career sack on Patrick Mahomes in 2020 remains another highlight, underscoring his knack for producing big plays in marquee matchups.
Sam Franklin Jr. Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Franklin’s family life remains limited. He was raised in the Crystal River area of Florida and has often spoken about the influence of his hometown in shaping his work ethic. He maintains an active presence on social media under the handle @dunk_4x, where he shares glimpses of his training and family moments.
Franklin’s educational path, from Citrus High School to East Coast Prep and finally to Temple, reflects a determined young man who refused to let academic setbacks end his football career. That journey from Inverness to the NFL remains a central part of his personal story.
2025 Season Performance
Franklin’s 2025 campaign began with a one-year guaranteed deal in Denver, but he was released during final cuts on August 26. He quickly found a new home, joining the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad on August 27 before earning a promotion to the active roster on September 4. The move gave him a stable landing spot late in the preseason and an opportunity to reestablish himself on a contending roster.
With the Buffalo Bills, Franklin is expected to contribute primarily on special teams while providing experienced depth at safety. His familiarity with multiple defensive schemes, developed across five NFL seasons, should help him slot into a defined role within the Bills’ defensive game plans.
Looking ahead, Franklin’s priorities are straightforward: stay healthy, hold down a roster spot, and continue producing on coverage units. For a player whose career has been built on perseverance, from postgraduate prep school to undrafted free agent to franchise record-holder, the 2025 season with the Buffalo Bills offers another chance to extend his NFL journey.