Sam Kamara Bio
Sam Kamara (born December 21, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and listed at 245 pounds, Kamara plays on the defensive line and has developed into a depth contributor through practice squad promotions and active roster stints. After going undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft, he has spent his professional career split between the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns, working to establish himself as a reliable rotational defender.
Kamara built his resume at the collegiate level with the Stony Brook Seawolves, where he earned All-Colonial Athletic Association recognition in consecutive seasons. His path from a New Jersey high school standout to an NFL roster reflects persistence, as he transitioned between the active roster and practice squad several times during his first three professional seasons. By 2025, he remained with the Cleveland Browns organization, continuing his development as a defensive end at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Sam Kamara was raised in Carteret, New Jersey, where he attended Carteret High School. At Carteret, he played on both sides of the football, contributing as a defender while also scoring seven touchdowns as the team’s fullback on offense. His high school performance earned him first-team All-Conference honors, and he was recognized with the Mini Max award, a New Jersey accolade given for a combination of athletic performance, academic achievement, and community service.
His head coach at Carteret compared him favorably to Jason Worilds, a fellow Carteret standout who became a second-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. Although several Football Championship Subdivision programs expressed interest in Kamara, including Maine, Monmouth, and Stony Brook, only one Football Bowl Subdivision school, Pittsburgh, showed serious recruiting attention. Kamara ultimately chose to attend Stony Brook, where he would spend five seasons developing his game.
Path to American Football
Kamara’s path to professional football began in earnest at Stony Brook, where he joined the Seawolves as a true freshman in 2016. He appeared in eight games during his freshman season and made three starts, becoming the first true freshman to start a game for Stony Brook that year when he took the field on October 29, 2016, against New Hampshire. By his sophomore season, he had moved into a full-time starting role at defensive end, appearing in all thirteen games and recording 31 tackles along with a sack.
His junior year in 2018 marked a clear step forward, as Kamara led the team with nine sacks while adding 42 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss. He set a collegiate career high with seven tackles against Air Force and posted six tackles with 2.5 sacks against Southeast Missouri State in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Following that season, he was named second-team All-Colonial Athletic Association. Before his senior year, head coach Chuck Priore named him one of three team captains, and NFLPA scouting director Dane Vandernat publicly stated that Kamara possessed the physical attributes pro scouts require.
Sam Kamara Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Kamara’s early career at Stony Brook was defined by steady growth and increasing responsibility. After his promising junior campaign, he suffered a shoulder injury during his senior year in 2019 and appeared in only five games before being sidelined for the remainder of the season. He was granted an NCAA waiver to return for a fifth year, but the 2020 season was postponed to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the shortened spring season, Kamara started all three games, recording 12 tackles and two sacks. His play earned him first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors as a defensive lineman, giving him two All-CAA selections across his college career. He entered the 2021 NFL Draft process as an undrafted prospect and signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent.
Chicago Bears Era (2021–2022)
Kamara signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent following the 2021 NFL Draft. He was listed as the fourth-string linebacker on the team’s initial depth chart and made his preseason debut on August 14, 2021, against the Miami Dolphins. He finished the preseason with six tackles, three quarterback hits, and a sack. On August 31, 2021, he was waived and re-signed to the practice squad the following day.
Kamara was promoted to the active roster on October 12, 2021, following a season-ending injury to teammate Jeremiah Attaochu. He made his NFL debut on October 17 against the Green Bay Packers and recorded his first career tackle on running back Aaron Jones. After being waived and re-signed to the practice squad in November, he was flexed to the active roster for a Monday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, recording two tackles. He was later flexed up for the Bears’ Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions, where he graded as Chicago’s third-highest defensive player before exiting with a concussion. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on December 14 and returned to the active roster on December 23. In the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings on January 9, 2022, he recorded his first career tackle for loss and his first pass deflection. He finished his rookie year having played eight games with 10 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass deflection. On August 30, 2022, he was waived by the Bears and released from the practice squad on September 9, 2022.
Cleveland Browns Era (2022–Present)
On October 4, 2022, Kamara was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad. He appeared in one game that season, playing in Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023. The following year, on August 29, 2023, he was waived and re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on December 12. He was released on December 29, returned to the practice squad on January 2, 2024, and was signed back to the active roster on January 5. In the 2023 season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, he recorded seven tackles.
In 2024, Kamara was again waived and re-signed to the practice squad on August 27 before being promoted to the active roster on September 11. After a brief waiver and practice squad stint in October, he returned to the active roster on November 16. In the 2024 regular season finale, he led the Browns with six tackles against the Baltimore Ravens and finished the year with 15 total tackles. He was released as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, before being signed to the active roster on December 2, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kamara is a versatile defender who has experience playing both linebacker and defensive end at the professional level. His college production, particularly his 2018 season with nine sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss, showcased his ability to disrupt opposing backfields. At the NFL level, he has been valued for his tackling reliability and special teams contributions, often stepping into larger roles when promoted from the practice squad.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Kamara’s career highlights are his NFL debut against the Green Bay Packers in October 2021, his first career tackle for loss and pass deflection against the Minnesota Vikings in January 2022, and his seven-tackle performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2023 season finale. His six-tackle game against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 finale marked his most productive outing with the Browns, in which he led the team in tackles.
Sam Kamara Career Wins
Sam Kamara’s professional record is highlighted more by perseverance and roster survival than by traditional win totals. Across his NFL career with the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns, he has consistently moved between the practice squad and active roster, earning opportunities through strong special teams play and depth contributions. His college career at Stony Brook featured two All-CAA selections and a team-leading 9-sack junior season.
NFL Highlights
Kamara’s NFL résumé includes 10 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass deflection across eight games as a rookie with the Chicago Bears in 2021. With the Cleveland Browns, he has produced 15 tackles in 2024 and seven tackles in the 2023 finale, demonstrating growth in his tackling totals as he has earned more active roster time.
Other Wins & Performances
At the college level, Kamara recorded 31 tackles and a sack in his sophomore year at Stony Brook, then led the team with nine sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss during his 2018 junior campaign. His two All-CAA selections, including first-team honors in the spring 2021 season, stand as the most decorated accomplishments of his playing career to this point.
Sam Kamara Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Sam Kamara’s family background is limited. He was raised in Carteret, New Jersey, where his high school head coach compared him to fellow Carteret alumnus and NFL linebacker Jason Worilds. Beyond those connections, detailed family information has not been publicly verified.
Personal Life
Sam Kamara has kept his personal life largely private, and no public details about a spouse, partner, or children have been confirmed. He has remained connected to his New Jersey roots while pursuing his professional football career in Chicago and Cleveland.
2025 Season Performance
Sam Kamara’s 2025 season with the Cleveland Browns began with a familiar pattern, as he was released as part of final roster cuts on August 26 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He continued to develop on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on December 2, 2025, providing defensive line depth during the late stages of the regular season.
Throughout the year, Kamara served primarily as a rotational defensive end and special teams contributor whenever called upon. His experience moving between the practice squad and active roster has made him a reliable depth option for the Browns’ defensive staff. His continued presence in the organization reflects the value Cleveland places on his versatility and his readiness to step into larger roles when needed.
Looking ahead, Kamara remains under contract with the Browns and will look to build on his late-season momentum into the following year. With continued development and another full offseason of work, he has an opportunity to secure a more stable role on the active roster and expand his contributions on the defensive line and special teams units.