# Andre' Sam

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**Andre' Sam** (born February 9, 1999) is an American professional [football](/source/American_football) [safety](/source/Safety_(gridiron_football_position)) for the [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). He played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [McNeese Cowboys](/source/McNeese_Cowboys_football), [Marshall Thundering Herd](/source/Marshall_Thundering_Herd_football) and [LSU Tigers](/source/LSU_Tigers_football).

## Early life

Sam was born on February 9, 1999, and grew up in [Iowa, Louisiana](/source/Iowa,_Louisiana).[1] He has a [speech disorder](/source/Speech_disorder) that causes him to [stutter](/source/Stuttering).[2] He was raised by his mother after his father and grandfather died when he was age six.[3] Growing up, he trained in [football](/source/American_football) with his older brother, Aaron, who went on to play [college football](/source/College_football) for the [McNeese Cowboys](/source/McNeese_Cowboys_football).[3] Sam attended [Iowa High School](/source/Iowa_High_School) where he played football, being an all-state [wide receiver](/source/Wide_receiver) and [kick returner](/source/Return_specialist), and participated in [track and field](/source/Track_and_field), being a district [long jump](/source/Long_jump) champion and district champion in two relay events.[4]

However, at the start of his [senior](/source/Senior_(education)) year, his brother Aaron was killed in a shooting, and Sam considered quitting the sport.[3] Sam opted to continue to play and had 775 receiving yards and 11 receiving [touchdowns](/source/Touchdown) that year, helping Iowa reach the state playoff quarterfinals.[3][4] Due to his weight, 150 pounds (68 kg), and his status as a small school prospect, Sam received no offers to play college football and [walked-on](/source/Walk-on_(sports)) to the local [McNeese Cowboys](/source/McNeese_Cowboys_football).[5]

## College career

Sam became a [safety](/source/Safety_(gridiron_football_position)) and [redshirted](/source/Redshirt_(college_sports)) as a true [freshman](/source/Freshman) at McNeese in 2017.[2] He wore the number 21, previously worn by his brother, during the 2018 season, but only appeared in three games, posting six [tackles](/source/Tackle_(football_move)), before suffering a torn labrum.[4][2] He saw more playing time in 2019, playing 12 games and recording 51 tackles, seven [pass breakups](/source/Pass_deflected) and an [interception](/source/Interception).[6] The 2020 season was postponed to spring 2021 due to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), and he then appeared in all seven games during the spring 2021 season while leading the team with 52 tackles and three interceptions.[5] He was a first-team All-[Southland Conference](/source/Southland_Conference) (SLC) selection for the spring 2021 season.[7] In the fall 2021 season, he placed second in the team with 70 tackles and made a team-leading seven pass breakups along with one interception, repeating as a first-team All-SLC pick.[8]

Sam graduated from McNeese following the 2021 season but opted to continue his college football career, having received extra eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a medical redshirt from his injured 2018 season.[2][8] He entered the [NCAA transfer portal](/source/NCAA_transfer_portal) and concluded his stint at McNeese having appeared in 33 games while posting 179 tackles, 19 passes defended and five interceptions.[8] Television station [KSWL-LD](/source/KSWL-LD) noted that in his tenure with the team, Sam "had to play through three head coaches and deal with a pair of hurricanes that wiped out almost all of the Cowboy facilities."[5] He ended up transferring to the [Marshall Thundering Herd](/source/Marshall_Thundering_Herd_football) for the 2022 season.[9]

With Marshall in the 2022 season, Sam totaled 53 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss (TFLs) and seven pass breakups, being named honorable mention All-[Sun Belt Conference](/source/Sun_Belt_Conference) (SBC).[2] He opted to transfer again, and committed to the [LSU Tigers](/source/LSU_Tigers_football) for the 2023 season – his seventh and final year of college football.[3] He was granted a medical waiver by the [NCAA](/source/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association) to be able to play in 2023.[3] With the Tigers, he finished with 85 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions, earning the team's Defensive Player of the Year award.[10] Across his time with McNeese, Marshall and LSU, Sam played in 68 games, 61 as a starter, making 317 tackles 11 TFLs and nine interceptions.[4] He was invited to the 2024 [NFL Scouting Combine](/source/NFL_Scouting_Combine).[11]

## Professional career

After going unselected in the [2024 NFL draft](/source/2024_NFL_draft), Sam signed with the [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles) as an [undrafted free agent](/source/Free_agent#Undrafted_free_agent).[3] He was the first alumnus of Iowa High School to sign into the NFL and the school retired his number 16 later in the year.[12] He was [waived](/source/Waivers_(NFL)) on August 26, 2024, then re-signed to the [practice squad](/source/Practice_squad) on August 28.[13][14] He was elevated to the active roster for the team's Week 14 game against the [Carolina Panthers](/source/Carolina_Panthers) and made his NFL debut in the game.[10][15] Sam won a Super Bowl championship when the Eagles defeated the [Kansas City Chiefs](/source/Kansas_City_Chiefs) 40–22 in [Super Bowl LIX](/source/Super_Bowl_LIX).[16] He signed a reserve/future contract on February 14, 2025.[17]

On August 26, 2025, Sam was waived by the Eagles as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[18][19] He signed a reserve/futures contract on January 14, 2026.[20]

## References

1. ["Andre' Sam"](https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/andre-sam-player-bio). [Fox Sports](/source/Fox_Sports)

1. Alexander, Wilson (May 25, 2023). ["4 teams, 7 years: André Sam took a modern journey to LSU — and found himself on the way"](https://www.nola.com/sports/lsu/how-lsu-db-andre-sam-came-from-fcs-walk-on-and-found-himself/article_2f3b716a-fab1-11ed-8784-235cc335eda9.html). *[Nola.com](/source/Nola.com)*

1. Steele, Cayden (November 21, 2024). ["Eagles rookie uses brother's death to inspire NFL dreams: 'We both play' for Philadelphia"](https://www.pennlive.com/philadelphiaeagles/2024/11/eagles-rookie-honors-late-brother-by-making-nfl-i-let-him-live-inside-of-me.html). *[The Patriot-News](/source/The_Patriot-News)*

1. ["Andre' Sam"](https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/andre-sam/). [LSU Tigers](/source/LSU_Tigers)

1. Swire, Kelsey (January 11, 2024). ["Living Dream for Two"](https://www.cbslakecharles.tv/2024/01/11/478156/living-dream-for-two). [KSWL-LD](/source/KSWL-LD)

1. Travis, Matthew (January 5, 2024). ["Former Iowa Safety Andre Sam Declares for 2024 NFL Draft"](https://www.kplctv.com/2024/01/06/former-iowa-safety-andre-sam-declares-2024-nfl-draft/). [KPLC](/source/KPLC)

1. Alexander, Wilson (May 18, 2023). ["LSU adds to the secondary with seventh-year transfer safety from state of Louisiana"](https://www.nola.com/sports/lsu/lsu-football-adds-former-marshall-transfer-safety-andr-sam/article_d420cb58-f59d-11ed-bf40-738d198b14be.html). *[Nola.com](/source/Nola.com)*

1. Renard, Brady (December 2, 2021). ["McNeese all-conference safety André Sam enters the transfer portal"](https://www.kplctv.com/2021/12/02/mcneese-all-conference-safety-andr-sam-enters-transfer-portal/). [KPLC](/source/KPLC)

1. Renard, Brady (December 16, 2021). ["McNeese transfer safety André Sam signs with Marshall"](https://www.kplctv.com/2021/12/16/mcneese-transfer-safety-andr-sam-signs-with-marshall/). [KPLC](/source/KPLC)

1. McPherson, Chris (December 7, 2024). ["Eagles sign TE E.J. Jenkins to the active roster, place TE Dallas Goedert on Injured Reserve"](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-sign-ej-jenkins-to-the-active-roster-place-dallas-goedert-on-injured-reserve). [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles)

1. Shipp, Sonny (March 1, 2024). ["Tracking the LSU Tigers at NFL Combine on Friday"](https://247sports.com/college/lsu/article/2024-nfl-scouting-combine-lsu-tigers-andre-sam-tracker-friday-227950595/). *[247Sports](/source/247Sports)*

1. Travis, Matthew (October 5, 2024). ["Iowa Retires Number 16 in Honor of First NFL Yellow Jacket Andre Sam"](https://www.kplctv.com/2024/10/05/iowa-retires-number-16-honor-first-nfl-yellow-jacket-andre-sam/). [KPLC](/source/KPLC)

1. Erby, Glenn (August 26, 2024). ["Report: Eagles waive DB Andre Sam ahead of 53-man roster deadline"](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/26/philadelphia-eagles-waive-andre-sam-roster-moves-deadline/). *[USA Today](/source/USA_Today)*

1. Zangaro, Dave (August 28, 2024). ["Eagles practice squad tracker 2024: Filling out the 17-man squad"](https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-practice-squad-tracker-2024-filling-out-the-17-man-squad/611038/). [NBC Sports Philadelphia](/source/NBC_Sports_Philadelphia)

1. ["Andre' Sam Stats"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SamxAn00.htm). *[Pro-Football-Reference.com](/source/Pro-Football-Reference.com)*

1. Maaddi, Rob (2025-02-10). ["Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat with dominant defense in a 40-22 rout"](https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8). *AP News*. Retrieved 2025-02-17.

1. ["Eagles sign 13 players to Reserve/Futures deals ahead of 2025 NFL free agency"](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/philadelphia-eagles-nfl-free-agency-reserve-futures-deals-andre-sam-danny-gray-elijah-cooks/). *Eagles Wire*. USA Today. February 15, 2025.

1. ["Eagles sign 14 players to the practice squad"](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-sign-14-players-to-the-practice-squad-2025). *PhiladelphiaEagles.com*. Retrieved 29 August 2025.

1. ["Eagles announce their initial 53-man roster"](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-announce-initial-53-man-roster-2025-season). *PhiladelphiaEagles.com*. Retrieved 27 August 2025.

1. Erby, Glenn (January 14, 2026). ["Philadelphia Eagles sign Andre Sam to a Reserve/Future deal"](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/eagles/2026/01/14/andre-sam-signs-a-reservefuture-deal-with-philadelphia-eagles/88180959007/). *Eagles Wire*. USA Today. Retrieved 15 January 2026.

## External links

- [Philadelphia Eagles bio](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/players-roster/andre-sam/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Andre' Sam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre'_Sam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre'_Sam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.