Quick Info
| Profession | American football safety |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 02/02/1996 |
| Age | 30 years |
| Birthplace | Crystal River, Florida, United States |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
Latest News about Sam Franklin Jr.
The NFL suspended Buffalo Bills safety Sam Franklin Jr. for one game without pay for spitting at a Las Vegas Raiders player during the Week 6 win. He is set to miss the Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens and can return after that matchup. The suspension came the same week as a separate spitting suspension for teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Franklin appealed a fine he received from the NFL for a blindside block in the Bills' Week 1 season-opening win over the Detroit Lions. The fine was part of the league's new three-strike suspension framework, which could affect his future discipline.
The Buffalo Bills re-signed Franklin to a three-year contract worth up to $7.5 million, with $5 million guaranteed in the first two seasons. He was described as a core special teams player who played over 75 percent of the team's special teams snaps in 2025.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Samuel Lamar Franklin Jr. is a professional American football safety who plays for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He went undrafted out of Temple University and began his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. He re-signed with the Bills in February 2026 on a three-year contract and is known for his special teams role. |
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Physical Stats & More
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Jersey Number | 28 |
| Position | Safety |
Educational Qualification(s)
| High School | Citrus High School, Florida |
|---|---|
| College | Temple University |
Career
| College Career | Played four seasons for the Temple Owls, starting as a defensive back before moving to linebacker, and finished with 194 tackles and eight sacks in 53 games. |
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| NFL Draft Status | Undrafted free agent |
| Carolina Panthers | Signed as an undrafted free agent in May 2020 and played for the team from 2020 to 2024, appearing in 74 games with 105 tackles and a career interception. |
| Denver Broncos | Signed in April 2025 on a one-year deal; released at the end of the 2025 preseason roster cuts. |
| Buffalo Bills | Signed to the practice squad in August 2025, elevated to the active roster in September 2025, and re-signed on a three-year deal in February 2026. |
| Notable Contributions | Known primarily as a special teams contributor. |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Was not selected in the 2020 NFL Draft and joined the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted rookie who made the roster out of training camp. | |
| 2. Moved from linebacker to safety in 2022 with the Panthers. | |
| 3. Played 84 percent of Carolina's special teams snaps in 2024 across the 10 games he appeared in. | |
| 4. Played 329 special teams snaps for the Bills in 2025, one of the highest totals on the team. |
