Sam LaPorta Biography

Samuel Joseph LaPorta, born on January 12, 2001, is an American professional football tight end who has played in the National Football League. He earned recognition as the Big Ten Tight End of the Year during his senior season in 2022 while representing the Iowa Hawkeyes. LaPorta was chosen by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. He committed to the University of Iowa to pursue his college football career. During his freshman year in 2019, he was positioned behind Nate Wieting and Shaun Beyer on the depth chart. During the Week 8 matchup against Northwestern, LaPorta recorded his first two career receptions for a total of 43 yards in a 20–0 win. That same year, he appeared in 12 games with two starts, recording 15 receptions for 188 yards.