Sam Howell Bio
Samuel Duke Howell (born September 16, 2000) is an American professional football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). A former standout at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he set multiple school passing records during his college career before entering the NFL. Howell has played for the Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, and now Philadelphia.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 220 pounds, Howell is known for his strong arm and mobility. He was selected by the Washington Commanders in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has since built a professional career across multiple teams.
Early Life and Background
Samuel Duke Howell was born on September 16, 2000, in Waynesville, North Carolina, and grew up in Union County, North Carolina. He attended Sun Valley High School, where he starred as a dual-threat quarterback. During his high school career, Howell threw for 13,415 yards and 145 touchdowns while adding 3,621 rushing yards and 60 rushing touchdowns.
Howell was ranked as the second-best recruit in the state of North Carolina. He originally committed to Florida State University before flipping to the University of North Carolina after FSU offensive coordinator Walt Bell departed and Mack Brown was hired as UNC head coach. Howell is part Korean; his American grandfather met his Korean grandmother while stationed in Korea in 1960 following the Korean War.
Path to American Football
Howell enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in January 2019 and quickly made an impact. He became the first true freshman to win the starting quarterback job for the Tar Heels. In his debut, he passed for 245 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening victory over South Carolina.
That freshman season earned him the ACC Rookie of the Year award after he completed 259 of 422 passes for 3,641 yards and 38 touchdowns, a freshman FBS record. He also earned third-team All-ACC honors and was named MVP of the 2019 Military Bowl. His sophomore and junior seasons included record-setting performances, including a 550-yard, six-touchdown game against Wake Forest.
Sam Howell Career
Early Career (2022)
Howell was selected in the fifth round (144th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders, despite many analysts projecting him as an earlier selection. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 6, 2022. He made his first career start in Week 18 of the 2022 season, after Washington had been eliminated from playoff contention.
In that debut start, Howell completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards and recorded both a passing and rushing touchdown in a 26–6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Washington Commanders Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Howell entered the 2023 season as Washington’s starting quarterback after winning the job over Jacoby Brissett in training camp. He started all 17 games that season, finishing with 3,946 passing yards and 21 touchdowns. However, he also led the league with 21 interceptions and was sacked 65 times, both NFL highs.
By mid-November 2023, Howell had passed for over 2,700 yards and was on pace to break the single-season sack record for a quarterback, having already taken 40 sacks through seven games. He was benched in favor of Brissett during a Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Rams and again the following week against the New York Jets, though he returned to the starting role after Brissett suffered a hamstring injury in practice.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2024)
On March 14, 2024, Howell was traded to the Seattle Seahawks along with a fourth-round and a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, in exchange for a third-round and a fifth-round pick. He spent the season as the backup to Geno Smith and appeared in only two games.
Howell’s most significant playing time came during a Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers, when he replaced an injured Smith and completed 5 of 14 passes for 24 yards with one interception.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2025)
In the 2025 offseason, the Seahawks signed Sam Darnold and Drew Lock in free agency and drafted Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, making Howell expendable. On April 26, 2025, the Minnesota Vikings traded a fifth-round pick (No. 142 overall) for Howell and another fifth-round pick (No. 172 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2025–Present)
On August 24, 2025, the Philadelphia Eagles traded a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for Howell and a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Minnesota Vikings. The move brought Howell to his fourth NFL team in four seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Howell set multiple North Carolina records during his college career, including 10,283 career passing yards and 92 career touchdown passes. His 38 touchdown passes as a freshman set an FBS record for that class. He threw at least one touchdown pass in every college game he played, joining Lamar Jackson as one of only two Power 5 quarterbacks since 2004 to post back-to-back games of over 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards.
Sam Howell Family
Personal Life
Samuel Duke Howell is part Korean through his maternal grandparents. His American grandfather met his Korean grandmother while stationed in Korea in 1960 following the Korean War. Howell has never eaten beef or seafood, and chicken is the only meat in his diet. He remains close friends with former North Carolina teammate Drake Maye, who succeeded him as the Tar Heels’ starting quarterback.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been eventful for Samuel Duke Howell, involving three different teams in a single calendar year. After being traded from Seattle to Minnesota in April 2025, he was later dealt to Philadelphia in August 2025, joining the Eagles as they built depth behind their starting quarterback.
Howell’s movement between rosters reflects the changing quarterback landscape across the league, as teams reshaped their depth charts through the draft and free agency. His arrival in Philadelphia places him on a contending roster looking to solidify its quarterback room heading into the regular season.
Looking forward, Howell’s role with the Eagles will depend on how the team deploys its quarterback rotation and manages injuries throughout the season. His experience as a starter with Washington and his familiarity with multiple offensive systems give him versatility as a backup option.