Sam Eguavoen

Sam Eguavoen's Biography

Born into Nigerian descent on February 22, 1993, Samuel Ehi Eguavoen, widely recognized for his professional football career, emerged from Garland, Texas. His dominance in athletics started early and was well-rounded, as seen in both his football and basketball performances at Lakeview Centennial High School.

During his high school years, Eguavoen was particularly impressive on the football field, recording an impressive 118 total tackles in his senior year alone, in addition to four sacks, an interception, two pass deflections, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries. This performance led him to earn Second-team District 10-5A honors and a three-star prospect rating from both Rivals.com and ESPN.com.

Moving on from his high school career, Eguavoen played football at the collegiate level for the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Texas Tech University between 2011 to 2014. During his freshman year, his impressive performance of 30 tackles from twelve games earned him a spot on Rivals.com’s Big 12 All-Freshman Team Defense. In his junior year, his record of 13 games, 70 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and more contributed towards an impactful year. Eventually, he gained Honorable Mention All-Big 12 recognition in 2014.

Despite his stunning college record, Eguavoen was not drafted in the 2015 NFL draft, leading him to spend the subsequent year working in Dallas, Texas. His football career took an unusual turn when he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a Canadian Football League (CFL) team, in February 2016. Making his CFL debut in June 2016, he managed to record four defensive tackles against the Toronto Argonauts and spent three successful seasons with the team, contributing 159 defensive tackles, 14 special team tackles, and more to the team’s overall performance.

Eguavoen’s NFL dream eventually came true when the Miami Dolphins signed him in early 2019. His breakthrough in the NFL was a dream come true. He made his mark with the Dolphins by appearing in 66 games, starting seven of them, and playing a considerable role in the team’s special operations. In the uncertain times of COVID-19 in 2020, he was placed on the reserve list by the Dolphins but was activated the very next day. Despite these interruptions, his performance during the season was exceptional, with 42 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.

Eguavoen’s first NFL touchdown came in 2021 during a Week 18 victory against the New England Patriots, where he recovered a fumble in the end zone on the game’s final play. Appreciating his talent, the Dolphins signed a one-year contract extension with him in March 2022.

However, a new chapter in his career began in August 2023 when he secured a one-year contract worth $1,080,000 with the New York Jets of the NFL. Eguavoen played the season opener as a special teams player and made his first appearance on the Jets’ defense the following week against the Dallas Cowboys. Eguavoen went on to re-sign with the Jets on May 3, 2024, and continues to be an integral part of their defense, demonstrating the same grit, determination, and commitment to football he’s shown throughout his career.

Despite continuous transitions, re-signings, and challenges, Samuel Eguavoen’s journey from high school standout, to college athlete, to CFL player and finally, to NFL linebacker is a testament to his resilience and talent. His journey continues, fittingly, with the New York Jets, adding another remarkable chapter to an already stellar professional football career.