Sam Howell describes it as the "greatest blessing" to be a member of the Washington Commanders. He was selected as a quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft, chosen in the fifth round as the 114th overall pick. In May of that year, he signed a four-year rookie contract with the team.
Howell surprised himself by playing a significant role in his first season on the team, making the most of his time on the field despite not expecting to. Making his NFL debut in January 2023 against the Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders won 26 to 6. In that same month, Coach Ron Rivera named Howell the starting quarterback for the upcoming offseason.
During an offseason press conference ahead of the 2023 NFL season, Howell expressed, "I feel like I learned a lot last year, and I was able to get an opportunity the last game to go out there and show what I’m capable of doing. [I] tried to carry that momentum into the offseason and come back here this spring and show that I can really be the guy to lead this franchise back to where we want to be."
Sam Howell Michael Owens/Getty Images
From Rivera’s point of view, Howell seems to have proven himself on the field.
Get ready to learn everything about Howell as we continue scrolling.
1. Where Did Sam Howell Go to College?
Howell attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played football for three years before entering the NFL draft.
In 2019, he became the first freshman to become the UNC starting quarterback.
2. Who Are Sam Howell’s Parents?
Sam Howell gets a hug from his mother, Amy Howell. Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Howell's parents are Duke and Amy Howell. The football star has kept his family life private, but he did pay tribute to his Korean heritage in November 2022 after his grandmother's passing.
"I'm extremely interested in my Korean heritage, and I'm even more curious now that my grandma is gone, because she was my main link to it, and I always relied on her to teach me about it," Howell said in an interview for the Commanders' website in March 2023. "I take great pride in my background and origins, and I believe it's a wonderful part of me that I want people to be aware of."
3. What Is Sam Howell’s Diet?
Howell’s diet has made some major headlines because he “only” eats chicken.
"People criticise me, but the only meat I consume is chicken," Howell confessed during an interview at UNC. "It's always been that way for me. I don't really know why. I started doing it when I was young, and I just stuck with it throughout my life."
4. Does Sam Howell Have a Girlfriend?
Howell appears to be in a relationship with Chloe Barbu.
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While Howell last posted with Barbu in May 2022, she’s often sharing social media posts from Commanders games.
5. What Are Sam Howell’s NFL Statistics?
Howell's tenure as the Commanders' starting quarterback has been marked by remarkable achievements in the NFL. In November 2023, he was acclaimed as the quarterback with the highest number of passing yards in the league.