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Sam LaPorta

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Sam LaPorta

Samuel Joseph LaPorta (born January 12, 2001) is an American professional football tight end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was named the Big Ten Tight End of the Year in 2022. He was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. As a rookie, LaPorta was named a second-team All-Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl. He also broke the NFL record for receptions by a rookie tight end (since broken by 2024 rookie Brock Bowers), along with setting Detroit franchise records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns by a tight end.

Infobox

Position
Tight end
Roster status
Injured reserve
Born
(2001-01-12) January 12, 2001 (age 24)Highland, Illinois, U.S.
Height
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight
245 lb (111 kg)
High school
Highland
College
Iowa (2019–2022)
NFL draft
2023: 2nd round, 34th overall pick
Receptions
186
Receiving yards
2,104
Receiving touchdowns
20

Tables

· College career › College statistics
Season
Season
Iowa Hawkeyes
Season
Iowa Hawkeyes
GP
Iowa Hawkeyes
Receiving
Rec
Rec
Iowa Hawkeyes
Rec
Iowa Hawkeyes
Yds
Iowa Hawkeyes
Avg
Iowa Hawkeyes
TD
2019
2019
Iowa Hawkeyes
2019
Iowa Hawkeyes
12
Iowa Hawkeyes
15
Iowa Hawkeyes
188
Iowa Hawkeyes
12.5
Iowa Hawkeyes
0
2020
2020
Iowa Hawkeyes
2020
Iowa Hawkeyes
8
Iowa Hawkeyes
27
Iowa Hawkeyes
271
Iowa Hawkeyes
10.0
Iowa Hawkeyes
1
2021
2021
Iowa Hawkeyes
2021
Iowa Hawkeyes
14
Iowa Hawkeyes
53
Iowa Hawkeyes
670
Iowa Hawkeyes
12.6
Iowa Hawkeyes
3
2022
2022
Iowa Hawkeyes
2022
Iowa Hawkeyes
12
Iowa Hawkeyes
58
Iowa Hawkeyes
657
Iowa Hawkeyes
11.3
Iowa Hawkeyes
1
Career
Career
Iowa Hawkeyes
Career
Iowa Hawkeyes
46
Iowa Hawkeyes
153
Iowa Hawkeyes
1,786
Iowa Hawkeyes
11.7
Iowa Hawkeyes
5
Iowa Hawkeyes
Season
GP
Receiving
Rec
Yds
Avg
TD
2019
12
15
188
12.5
0
2020
8
27
271
10.0
1
2021
14
53
670
12.6
3
2022
12
58
657
11.3
1
Career
46
153
1,786
11.7
5
Pre-draft measurables · Professional career
mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- 6 ft 3+1⁄4 in(1.91 m)
mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- 6 ft 3+1⁄4 in(1.91 m)
Height
mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- 6 ft 3+1⁄4 in(1.91 m)
Weight
245 lb(111 kg)
Arm length
32+1⁄8 in(0.82 m)
Hand span
10+1⁄4 in(0.26 m)
40-yard dash
4.59 s
10-yard split
1.59 s
20-yard split
2.61 s
20-yard shuttle
4.25 s
Three-cone drill
6.91 s
Vertical jump
35.0 in(0.89 m)
Broad jump
10 ft 3 in(3.12 m)
Bench press
16 reps
Sources:
Sources:
Height
Sources:
Height
Weight
Arm length
Hand span
40-yard dash
10-yard split
20-yard split
20-yard shuttle
Three-cone drill
Vertical jump
Broad jump
Bench press
mw- .mw- 6 ft 3+1⁄4 in(1.91 m)
245 lb(111 kg)
32+1⁄8 in(0.82 m)
10+1⁄4 in(0.26 m)
4.59 s
1.59 s
2.61 s
4.25 s
6.91 s
35.0 in(0.89 m)
10 ft 3 in(3.12 m)
16 reps
Sources:
· NFL career statistics
Bold
Bold
Legend
Bold
Legend
Career high
Legend
Lions franchise record (for tight ends)
Led the league (for tight ends)
Bold
Career high
· NFL career statistics › Regular season
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Rec
Games
Yds
Receiving
Avg
Receiving
Lng
Receiving
TD
Receiving
Att
Receiving
Yds
Rushing
Avg
Rushing
Lng
Rushing
TD
Rushing
Fum
Rushing
Lost
2023
2023
Year
2023
Team
DET
Games
17
Games
14
Receiving
86
Receiving
889
Receiving
10.3
Receiving
48
Receiving
10
Rushing
1
Rushing
4
Rushing
4.0
Rushing
4
Rushing
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0
2024
2024
Year
2024
Team
DET
Games
16
Games
16
Receiving
60
Receiving
726
Receiving
12.1
Receiving
52
Receiving
7
Rushing
0
Rushing
0
Rushing
0.0
Rushing
0
Rushing
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0
2025
2025
Year
2025
Team
DET
Games
9
Games
9
Receiving
40
Receiving
489
Receiving
12.2
Receiving
40
Receiving
3
Rushing
0
Rushing
0
Rushing
0.0
Rushing
0
Rushing
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
42
Games
39
Games
186
Receiving
2,104
Receiving
11.3
Receiving
52
Receiving
20
Receiving
1
Rushing
4
Rushing
4.0
Rushing
4
Rushing
0
Rushing
0
Fumbles
0
Year
Team
Games
Receiving
Rushing
Fumbles
GP
GS
Rec
Yds
Avg
Lng
TD
Att
Yds
Avg
Lng
TD
Fum
Lost
2023
DET
17
14
86
889
10.3
48
10
1
4
4.0
4
0
0
0
2024
DET
16
16
60
726
12.1
52
7
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
2025
DET
9
9
40
489
12.2
40
3
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
Career
42
39
186
2,104
11.3
52
20
1
4
4.0
4
0
0
0
· NFL career statistics › Postseason
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Rec
Games
Yds
Receiving
Avg
Receiving
Lng
Receiving
TD
Receiving
Fum
Receiving
Lost
2023
2023
Year
2023
Team
DET
Games
3
Games
3
Receiving
21
Receiving
176
Receiving
8.4
Receiving
16
Receiving
1
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0
2024
2024
Year
2024
Team
DET
Games
1
Games
1
Receiving
6
Receiving
51
Receiving
8.5
Receiving
14
Receiving
1
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
4
Games
4
Games
27
Receiving
227
Receiving
8.4
Receiving
16
Receiving
2
Receiving
0
Fumbles
0
Year
Team
Games
Receiving
Fumbles
GP
GS
Rec
Yds
Avg
Lng
TD
Fum
Lost
2023
DET
3
3
21
176
8.4
16
1
0
0
2024
DET
1
1
6
51
8.5
14
1
0
0
Career
4
4
27
227
8.4
16
2
0
0

References

  1. STLtoday.com
    https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/detroit-makes-highlands-sam-laporta-the-latest-iowa-tight-end-taken-in-nfl-draft/article_1f16b528-e608-11ed-b68f-b7b8f9cad4f2.html
  2. Hawk Central
    https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/2020/10/28/iowa-football-sam-laporta-overlooked-high-school-quickly-risen-top-depth-chart-hawkeye-tight-end/6057268002/
  3. Belleview News-Democrat
    https://www.bnd.com/sports/nfl/article274715976.html
  4. STLtoday.com
    https://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/recruiting/football/highlands-laporta-taking-his-talents-to-iowa/article_a6f782c8-039b-11e9-a366-9be54ec1d92c.html
  5. Hawk Central
    https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/football-recruiting/2018/12/18/iowa-lands-third-three-star-illinois-tight-end-sam-laporta-national-signing-day/2357822002/
  6. The Spun
    https://thespun.com/big-ten/iowa-hawkeyes/iowa-football-preseason-depth-chart
  7. Hawkeye Nation
    https://www.hawkeyenation.com/news/iowa-football-position-preview-tight-end-group-should-be-more-involved-in-20/article_c80ebf03-7e92-5e9c-9f88-e3f6c84e9d7d.html
  8. The Quad-City Times
    https://qctimes.com/sports/college/football/hawkeyes-laporta-follows-a-successful-path/article_2abe98d7-a8b3-532f-84fc-d557549afb44.html
  9. The Athletic
    https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2165263/2020/10/28/iowa-football-sam-laporta-tight-end-big-ten-development/
  10. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401247337
  11. Hawk Central
    https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/football/2021/04/20/sam-laporta-embraces-idea-iowa-football-next-great-tight-end-tj-hockenson-george-kittle-noah-fant/7300134002/
  12. The Gazette
    https://www.thegazette.com/hawkeye-football/is-sam-laporta-the-next-great-iowa-tight-end-sure-looks-like-hes-on-his-way-there/
  13. Phil Steele
    https://plus.philsteele.com/All_Conference/2020/2020_FBS_Postseason/BigTen.html
  14. B1G
    https://web.archive.org/web/20201216190400/https://bigten.org/news/2020/12/16/big-ten-unveils-football-all-conference-teams-for-defense-and-select-individual-honors.aspx
  15. Hawks Fanatic
    https://hawkfanatic.com/2021/06/22/phil-steele-names-11-hawkeyes-preseason-all-big-ten/
  16. IndyStar
    https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2021/09/04/three-reasons-indiana-football-lost-iowa-hawkeyes-score-michael-penix-iu-hoosiers-tom-allen/8252796002/
  17. The Mercury
    https://www.pottsmerc.com/2021/09/20/1010-laporta-has-career-day-against-kent-state/
  18. Iowa Rivals
    https://iowa.rivals.com/news/laporta-learns-lesson-with-touchdown-celebrations
  19. Hawks Central
    https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/football/2022/01/01/iowa-football-score-kentucky-citrus-bowl-live-updates-watch-uk/9067338002/
  20. Hawk Central
    https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/football/2021/10/07/iowa-football-tight-end-sam-laporta-vital-against-penn-state-2021-hawkeyes-fox/6019231001/
  21. The Gazette
    https://www.thegazette.com/hawkeye-football/iowa-football-summer-check-in-sam-laporta-leads-inexperienced-tight-ends/
  22. Phil Steele
    https://plus.philsteele.com/All_Conference/2021%20FBS/2021_FBS_Postseason/BigTen.html
  23. B1G
    https://web.archive.org/web/20211201183105/https://bigten.org/news/2021/12/1/big-ten-announces-football-all-conference-teams-for-offense-and-select-individual-honors.aspx
  24. Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics
    https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2022/03/11/iowa-football-awards-announced-7/
  25. Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics
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  26. Hawks Central
    https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/football/2022/10/08/iowa-football-vs-illinois-live-updates-scores-analysis-highlights-big-ten-west/69538783007/
  27. ESPN
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401405130
  28. Hawkeyes Wire
    https://hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/30/iowa-hawkeyes-football-sam-laporta-named-kwalick-clark-big-ten-tight-end-of-the-year/
  29. NFL.com
    https://www.nfl.com/prospects/sam-laporta/32004c41-5064-0235-3970-b5e5514839fc
  30. DraftScout.com
    https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1031313&DraftYear=2023
  31. DetroitLions.com
    https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-draft-tight-end-sam-laporta
  32. Pride of Detroit
    https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/9/24/23888397/lions-sam-laporta-breaks-several-rookie-tight-end-records
  33. Des Moines Register
    https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa/football/2023/09/26/how-former-iowa-football-players-did-in-week-3-of-nfl-action-hawkeyes-buffalo-bills-detroit-lions/70969794007/
  34. Pro Football Focus
    https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-3-game-recap-detroit-lions-20-atlanta-falcons-6
  35. Clutch Points
    https://clutchpoints.com/lions-news-sam-lapaporta-barges-te-territory-not-even-rob-gronkowski-travis-kelce-reached
  36. RotoBaller.com
    https://www.rotoballer.com/player-news/sam-laporta-scores-pair-of-touchdowns-in-win/1250628
  37. Sideline Nation Lions
    https://sidelionreport.com/posts/detroit-lions-week-8-report-card-turnovers-red-zone-woes-barely-hinder-dominant-effort-versus-raiders/2
  38. 5th Down Fantasy
    https://5thdownfantasy.com/news/sam-laporta-finds-the-end-zone-in-week-8/
  39. The Detroit News
    https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2023/11/23/sam-laporta-establishes-best-season-rookie-tight-end-detroit-lions-history/71686370007/
  40. CBS Sports
    https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/lions-sam-laporta-sets-franchise-rookie-record-earns-praise-from-teammates-and-saints-tyrann-mathieu
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  42. WLNS
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  43. CBSSports.com
    https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/lions-sam-laporta-having-one-of-the-best-rookie-te-seasons-in-nfl-history-after-three-td-night/
  44. detroitlions.com
    https://www.detroitlions.com/team/players-roster/sam-laporta/
  45. ESPN.com
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  46. Yahoo Sports!
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  47. Pro Football Reference
    https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaPoSa01/gamelog/2023/
  48. Heavy.com
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  49. Pro Football Reference
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  50. NFL.com
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  51. Lions Wire
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  52. Pro Football Reference
    https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2023.htm
  53. Pro Football Reference
    https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202401140det.htm
  54. Lions Wire
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  55. Pro-Football-Reference.com
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  56. Pro-Football-Reference.com
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  57. detroitlions.com
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  58. NFL.com
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  59. espn.com
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46978284/lions-te-sam-laporta-back-placed-ir-next-four-games
  60. Sideline Report
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  61. CBSSports
    https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/lions-sam-laporta-sets-franchise-rookie-record-earns-praise-from-teammates-and-saints-tyrann-mathieu/
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