Sam Ehlinger is an American football quarterback for the National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts (NFL). He played high school football at Westlake in Austin, Texas.
At Westlake, Sam broke several school records held by Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Drew Brees and Nick Foles. Similarly, he played college football for the Texas Longhorns.
The player split playing time with quarterback Shane Buechele as a freshman before taking over as the starter in 2018.
The player led the team to the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game and two bowl games. The Colts selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Want to know more about Sam Ehlinger and his life?
Please read the whole article, but before, check out some quick facts.
Sam Ehlinger | Quick Facts
Full Name | Samuel George Ehlinger |
Nick Name | Sam |
Date of Birth | September 30, 1998 |
Age | 26 Years Old |
Birth Place | Austin, Texas |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Zodiac Sign | Libra |
Religion | Christianity |
Height | 6 ft. 1 in/1.85 m/185 cm |
Weight | 101 kg/222 lbs. |
Hair Color | Blonde |
Eye Color | Hazel |
Father’s Name | Ross Ehlinger |
Mother’s Name | Jena Ehlinger |
Siblings | Morgen Adeline Ehlinger, Jacob McAdams Ehlinger |
High School | Westlake High School |
University | The University of Texas |
Marital Status | Married |
Wife’s name | Robyn Daniel |
Children | None |
Profession | NFL Player |
Position | Quarterback |
Jersey Number | 27, 34 |
Leagues | National Football League (NFL) |
NFL Draft | Round: 6, Pick: 218, 2021 |
Debut Year | 2021 |
Team | Indianapolis Colts (2021–Present) |
Rooster Status | Active |
Career Highlight | Second-team All-Big 12 (2020) |
Rushing Yards | 9 |
Salary | $902,677 |
Net Worth | $1-$5 Million |
Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
Merch | Signed Helmet |
Last Update | November 2024 |
Sam Ehlinger | Early Years
The Colts quarterback, Sam, was born on September 30, 1998, in Austin, Texas, to father Ross Ehlinger and mother, Jena Ehlinger.
Sam grew up with his brother Jacob McAdams Ehlinge and sister Morgen Adeline Ehlinger.
Morgan is a UT cheerleader. She is currently in her adolescence and a high school student at Westlake High School.
Sam went to Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, and played under the coach Todd Dodge.
He graduated high school as the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
After his junior season, he was named the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year, and Rivals.com rated him as a four-star recruit.
Likewise, on July 28, 2015, Sam committed to playing football at the University of Texas at Austin.
Death of Sam Ehlinger’s Father
Ross Ehlinger, Sam’s father, had traveled to San Francisco to compete in a triathlon. However, he never crossed the finish line.
Ross died during the swim of the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco on March 5, 2013. The cause of death was heart arrhythmia. At that time, Ross was only 46 years old.
It took a lot of courage for Jena to tell her kids that their father was never coming back.
The news was so heart breaking to Sam that he could not process what had happened.
Sam would sprint down the hall, up the stairs, and into his father’s office because he could sense his father’s presence in the room.
Father’s Dream
When Sam and his brother were younger, Ross would take them out back, dress them in burnt orange jerseys, and toss them passes.
The dream for a father and his two sons was always the University of Texas.
Sam won the starting quarterback position as a freshman and held it for the next four years. He was small in stature but tough and determined.
He embodied everything Ross had taught him. The player discovered a way to honor and connect with his father through football.
Sam once tore cartilage in both his knees in high school but never missed a game. That night, they defeated the defending state champions on the road. The coaches were not informed of the injury until two days later!
Death of Sam Ehlinger’s Brother, Jake Ehlinger
Jake Ehlinger, the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger, died of an accidental fentanyl overdose at the early age of 20. Jake’s body was discovered on May 6th, 2021.
There was no immediate word on the cause of death, but according to the family statement, he ingested a dose of the prescription drug Xanax laced with toxic substances, including fentanyl.
At a time when the family had barely come out of the shock of Ross’s death, Jake’s death was a devastating blow to the Ehlinger family.
Jake was the joy of the Ehlinger family. Sam was a serious guy, whereas Jake was rather silly.
At halftime of a game, Sam would be sitting in the locker room, fuming over his mistakes.
On the other hand, Jake, a walk-on linebacker who rarely played, would walk up to him, whisper something in his ear, and make him laugh. No one was better at loosening Sam up.
When Sam got out to know about the death of his brother, he collapsed on the ground. He could not believe it at all!
On the other hand, Jena Ehlinger was in Mexico for the wedding of a family friend.
When she finally checked her phone, she discovered that she had dozens of missed calls—some from Jake’s circle and some from Sam’s circle of friends.
Sam Ehlinger | Age & Body Measurements
Born in the year 1998 Sam is 26 years old as of 2024.
Talking about his physique, Sam is 1.85 meters tall and weighs around 222 lbs. The player has blonde hair and hazel eyes. Likewise, Sam looks fit and attractive with his well-maintained body.
Sam wears an orange bracelet under a white wristband at practice, with JAKE EHLINGER scripted on one side and his Texas jersey number, 48, on the other.
Likewise, he also has ‘MDLXVI,’ his father’s triathlon number that day in San Francisco, tattooed on one rib cage.
Sam Ehlinger | Career
With a stellar track record, Sam committed to playing collegiate football for the Texas Longhorns at the University of Texas.
He appeared in nine games as a freshman and threw a school-record 158 passes for 1,915 yards and eleven passing touchdowns (57.5 percent of the team).
The player’s performance gradually improved over time. During his college career, he appeared in 46 games, completing 923 passes (62.5 percent of the team’s total) for 11,436 yards and 94 touchdowns.
During his undergraduate career, Sam was named to Second-Team All-Big 12.
After an outstanding college career, Sam Ehlinger chose to enter the NFL Draft in 2021.
Sam was drafted by Indianapolis Colts as the 218th pick in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
On May 19, 2021, Sam signed a four-year rookie contract with the Colts.
Sam Ehlinger | Marriage
Sam Ehlinger recently got married to his girlfriend, Molly Parken. Just like Sam, Molly is also a Westlake High School graduate. In fact, the two went to UT in Austin together.
The two had been dating for a while until they decided to take their relationship a step further.
Talking more about Molly, she launched Rank & Style, an online fashion boutique, in 2020 after receiving her bachelor’s degree in 2019.
Moreover, Molly is currently a full-time marketing associate at an Austin-based company.
Sam Ehlinger | Charity
In 2020, Ehlinger announced on social media that he had created a GoFundMe page to assist organizations affected by the pandemic both locally and nationally.
“I want to assist people in any way I can,” Ehlinger said in a statement provided to Yahoo Sports. He further added that “It’s an event with so many unknowns, so many ways it’s hurting people, and I feel like we need to help people who are suffering from it.”
The player posted on Twitter and Instagram that the money would be distributed to organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of America, Austin Pets Alive!, the Central Texas Food Bank, and others. He set a goal of raising $1 million.
The fundraiser raised more than $10,000 in the first few hours.
Some well-known donors included Texas offensive line coach Herb Hand, offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, and former offensive coordinator Tim Beck.
Sam Ehlinger | Net Worth
At present, Sam has a net worth of somewhere between $1- $5 million. The majority of his earnings come from brand endorsements, contracts, and salaries.
Sam signed a four-year, $3,610,708 contract with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. The contract also includes a $130,708 guarantee, as well as a $902,677 average annual salary.
Moreover, Ehlinger will earn a base salary of $825,000 and a signing bonus of $130,708 in 2022.
Likewise, Sam works with a variety of advertising brands, including soft drinks, proteins, and sports products.
The brand pays him about $1 million per year.
Sam Ehlinger | Social Media Presence
- Instagram: @sehlinger
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- Twitter: @sehlinger3
Sam Ehlinger’s Popularity Over The Years
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
What is Sam Ehlinger’s Jersey Number?
The NFL player, Sam, wears jersey no. 11 for Indianapolis Colts.
Did Sam win the Heisman Trophy?
In December 2018, Sam was named one of the early favorites to win the Heisman Trophy of 2019 after a strong sophomore season.