Chris Samuels is a well-known offensive tackle in NFL. The former NFL player played his entire pro career for the Washington Redskins before retiring in 2010.
Samuels was considered the top offensive tackle prospect in the 2000 NFL Draft and was drafted third overall by Washington Redskins.
He was the only offensive tackle and the first Alabama offensive lineman to be selected in the first round.
Samuels has devoted ten years of his life to the NFL. He has won various titles and awards during his ten-year NFL career, including the Outland Trophy, All-American titles, and six Pro Bowl selections.
Furthermore, the offensive tackle was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Redskins Ring of Fame in 2019.
Despite his stellar career, Chris Samuel had to retire early due to his medical condition.
So, what happened to Chris Samuel, and what is he doing now? Make sure to read until the end to find the answers.
So, let’s discuss the life story of Chris Samuels and uncover his personal and professional life. But first, let’s go through his quick facts.
Quick Facts
| Name | Chris Samuels |
| Nick Name | Samuels |
| Date of Birth | July 28, 1977 |
| Age | 46 years old |
| Birth Place | Mobile, Alabama |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Jewish-British |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Height | 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) |
| Weight | 314 lb (142 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Father’s Name | James Samuels |
| Mother’s Name | Shirley Samuels. |
| Siblings | Three brothers |
| High School | John Shaw High School |
| Education | Degree in Physical Education |
| University | University of Alabama |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Monique Cox |
| Marriage Year | 2012 |
| Children | Three; Chris Jr., Milani, and Chase Samuels. |
| Profession | NFL Player, Coach |
| Position | Offensive tackle |
| Leagues | National Football League (NFL) |
| NFL Draft | Overall third pick by Washington Redskins in the 2000 NFL Draft |
| Debut Year | 2000 |
| Retirement as a player | 2010 |
| Playing Teams |
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| Awards and Achievements |
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| Honors |
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| Net Worth | $17 million |
| Social Media | |
| Merch | Potty Training Mommy and Daddy (Paperback) |
| Last Update | April, 2024 |
Chris Samuels | Early Life
On July 28, 1977, Chris Samuels was born in Mobile, Alabama. He was born as the youngest son of his parents, James Samuels and Shirley Samuels.
Samuel’s father was a Vietnam war veteran who was physically disabled due to the war. Thus, Samuel’s mother had to work several jobs to support the family.
Samuels has three elder brothers who introduced him to football.
Chris Samuels | Amateur Career
Chris Samuels started playing football at the age of four. He learned football from his brothers and was invited to join his elder brother’s youth football squad.
Initially, he played football for fun, but as he grew up, he realized that he wanted to pursue a career in football.
Thus, he used to play in his middle and high school tournaments. Samuel attended Scarborough Middle and John Shaw High Schools, where he was known for his offensive skills.
Chris played offense and defense in high school, helping John Shaw achieve an 8-3 record and a ticket to the state semifinals.
His outstanding skills landed him a scholarship at the University of Alabama, where he played for the Alаbаmа Crimsоn Tidе Fооtbаll bеtwееn 1996 аnd 1999.
He was a stellar player and was even honored with several titles, such as Best college interior lineman, and won the Outland Trophy.
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Chris Samuels | NFL Career
Washington Redskins
Samuels was drafted as an overall third pick by Washington Redskins in the 2000 NFL Draft.
Thus, he became the first Alabama offensive lineman drafted in the first round of an NFL Draft since Bob Cryder in 1978.
Samuels signed a contract with Washington Redskins and immediately played as a left tackle. He was one of just four offensive players to start every game.
A month to the game, and Samuel had already won Co-offensive Rookie of the month. But unfortunately, he had to miss the rest of the season due to a neck injury.
The following season, Samuels started all 16 regular-season games as a left tackle and was named to the Pro Bowl.
After becoming the first team in NFL history to win five games consecutively, Samuels and running back Stephen Davis were featured on the cover of the December 3, 2001 issue of Sports Illustrated.
In 2002, Samuels started 15 regular-season games as a left tackle and was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl.
He also received the Redskins’ 2002 Ed Block Courage Award.
Samuels was slowly climbing the ladder to become the nation’s top player with back-to-back awards and achievements, but he had to miss the entire 2003 season due to a knee injury.
However, after recovering from the injury, Samuel had a fantastic comeback. He helped running back Clinton Portis carry for 1,315 yards in a single season, becoming only the fourth Redskin in history.
Samuel was already making his name in the National Football League (NFL). He was widely considered the leader of the Washington offensive line.
Resigning the contract
The Redskins resigned him to a seven-year, $47 million contract with a $16 million signing bonus during the 2005 offseason.
In 2008, Samuels was appointed as the Team Captain. He played and started in 12 regular-season games but was sidelined in one game due to knee cartilage inflammation.
Later, the football star had a triceps injury and didn’t play for the rest. However, despite his absence in the gameplay, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl.
On October 11, 2009, Samuels experienced brief upper-body paralysis due to compression of his neck from a helmet-to-helmet collision while in pass protection against the Carolina Panthers.
The damage was traced back to spinal stenosis, which he was diagnosed with as a youngster.
Considering the damage, the doctors recommended that he stop playing football as there was a high chance of acquiring a long-term, serious injury connected to his ailment if he continued his career.
Chris Samuels | Retirement
The football star officially resigned from the NFL on March 4, 2010. This severely impacted Chris as he wanted to play football for more years.
He felt he still had time to play, and it was too early for retirement. Samuel was 32 when he retired as an NFL player.
Probably, this is the most challenging time for any athlete who dedicates their life to sports but can’t play further due to health conditions.
Chris dedicated ten years of his life to football. He wanted to play five more years before retiring, but this early retirement took a considerable toll.
However, when one door closes, another opens. Chris also found a new direction in his life through coaching.
Chris Samuels | Coaching Career
Samuels has wanted to be a coach since long ago, and he was waiting for his official retirement day to embark on his career as a coach. But, his coaching career came early as he retired early.
In 2010, he participated in the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship as an assistant offensive line coach.
While pursuing his degree in physical education, he also worked as an assistant offensive line coach at the University of Alabama.
Samuel was offered the assistant coach position from various NFL teams, but he declined all the offers.
He wanted to coach in high school, and thus, he has worked as a coach in various schools and institutions.
Awards and Achievements
- Six times Pro Bowl (2001, 2002, 2005–2008)
- 80 Greatest Redskins
- Washington Commanders Ring of Fame
- First-team All-SEC (1999)
- Outland Trophy (1999)
- Unanimous All-American (1999)
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Chris Samuels | Wife and Children
Bestfriends to Lover; Perfect Love Story
Chris Samuel was someone who did not like love and commitment. He never thought he would fall in love or marry someone to spend the rest of their lives together.
But, his perception changed after meeting Monique Cox, who was trying to make it as a hip-hop artist. Initially, Samuel was flirting with her in the club where they met for the first time.
When he started flirting with her, Monique was intimidated by Chris and asked her if she had a boyfriend. Monique just nodded and left.
Later, Chris saw her perform in the club, and her voice mesmerized him. They stayed in touch despite the brief meeting in the club as Chris had said he was looking to start a music label.
The two became excellent friends and started hanging out together more often. Cox had given up on music and became a real estate appraiser. The two of them became inseparable.
The Feelings and Confession
However, it took a while when Cox realized her feelings toward Samuel, but she kept them to herself for fear of losing the friendship.
But, she didn’t know that Samuel also felt the same. Both were in their ideas of dating one another, but neither proposed.
Later, Chris confessed that he had feelings for her, and that’s how the couple officially started dating.
The Proposal and Marriage
Samuels and Cox were at a church service on new year’s night. Later, they changed into pajamas, lit a Fire in their backyard, and poured wine.
They casually talked about life when Chris opened a ring box and proposed to her. Cox fell to the ground in shock, and with a tear rolling down her face, she said, ” Of course! “
On 3rd March 2012, they married at the Ronald Reagan Building before 350 guests. The couple is blessed with three children, Chris Jr., Milani, and Chase Samuels.
Furthermore, Monique has also appeared in a reality TV show called, The Real Housewives of Potomac. She also has her website where we can catch a brief on her.
Monique is the founder of Mila Eve Essentials, an essential products firm featuring pure, therapeutic essential oils and CEO of Not For Lazy Moms. This blog provides parents with lifestyle tips.
She has also written a book on Potty training, “Potty Training Mommy and Daddy: A Guide For Introducing Infant Potty Training As Early As 6 Months Old.”
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Chris Samuels | Net Worth
The net worth of Chris Samuels is estimated to be $ 17 million. Chris earned their net worth from his NFL player and coach career.
Samuels signed a rookie contract with the Washington Redskins for $12.5 million over seven years, with a signing bonus of $10 million.
Later, he extended the contract for the six-year worth $47 million. The agreement also included a $10 million signing bonus and an escalation clause that would increase the contract’s value by nearly $16 million.
The typical high school football coach earns $44,475 per year. Thus, Samuel has made tens of thousands of dollars every year since his retirement.
Besides this, Chris has also started three businesses, CRS Real Estate, Chris Enterprise, and The Chris Foundation, and he earns a good fortune.
Social Media Presence
Chris Samuels is an active user of social media, particularly Instagram. The player frequently posts about his personal as well as professional life.
His Insta feeds are mostly covered with photos of his wife and children. Also, he posts other random pieces of stuff as well.
So, if you want a glimpse of his life, follow him on his Instagram and join his 19.7 K followers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Chris Samuel dead?
No, former Redskins player Chris Samuels is alive and healthy. Do not get confused with former Texas longhorn player Chris Samuels, who died of a gunshot in 2021. They are different people.
Is Chris Samuels a Hall of Famer?
Yes, Chris Samuels was inducted into the 2016 Alabama Sports Hall of Fame class. Also, he was inducted into the Redskins Ring of Fame on October 20, 2019.
