Khari Samuel
Encyclopedia
Khari Iman Mitchell Samuel (born October 14, 1976) is a former American football
linebacker
who played with the Chicago Bears
and Detroit Lions
in the National Football League
. He played college football
at Massachusetts
.
and signed on to play at UMass. While at UMass he was a first team All-American and first team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection who helped lead the Minutemen to their first ever national championship in 1998. Samuel finished his career as UMass’ all-time leader in solo tackles with 328, while ranking second in total tackles (495), fourth in assisted tackles (167) and seventh
in sacks (19). As a senior in 1998, he recorded the second-highest single season total in school history for solo tackles (113), while ranking third on the list for total tackles (160).
. In his rookie season with Chicago, Samuel would appear in 13 games, making one start at linebacker and also playing on special teams. He recorded nine solo tackles and six assists while recovering one fumble.
In 2000 Samuel would appear in all 16 games for the Bears, primarily on special teams.
Samuel would start 2001 with Chicago but was cut after just one game.
to attempt to make the team in training camp. Samuel would be cut by the Texans on August 31, 2002.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who played with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Massachusetts
UMass Minutemen
The UMass Minutemen are the athletic teams that represent the University of Massachusetts Amherst in NCAA Division I sports competition. The nickname is also applied to club teams that do not participate within the NCAA structure. Strictly speaking, the Minutemen nickname applies to men's teams and...
.
College career
Samuel played high school football at Framingham High School in Framingham, MassachusettsFramingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
and signed on to play at UMass. While at UMass he was a first team All-American and first team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection who helped lead the Minutemen to their first ever national championship in 1998. Samuel finished his career as UMass’ all-time leader in solo tackles with 328, while ranking second in total tackles (495), fourth in assisted tackles (167) and seventh
in sacks (19). As a senior in 1998, he recorded the second-highest single season total in school history for solo tackles (113), while ranking third on the list for total tackles (160).
Chicago Bears
Samuel was a 5th round selection (144th overall) by the Chicago Bears in the 1999 NFL Draft1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. In his rookie season with Chicago, Samuel would appear in 13 games, making one start at linebacker and also playing on special teams. He recorded nine solo tackles and six assists while recovering one fumble.
In 2000 Samuel would appear in all 16 games for the Bears, primarily on special teams.
Samuel would start 2001 with Chicago but was cut after just one game.
Detroit Lions
Samuel would quickly be signed by the Detroit Lions and played in nine games, again playing on special teams. At the end of the season he was cut from the Lions active roster.Houston Texans
In 2002 Samuel signed a contract with the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to attempt to make the team in training camp. Samuel would be cut by the Texans on August 31, 2002.