Sam Shields facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sam Shields

Shields with the Green Bay Packers in 2011
No. 37
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1987-12-08) December 8, 1987 (age 37) Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	178 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High school:	Booker (Sarasota, Florida)
College:	Miami (FL) (2006–2009)
Undrafted:	2010
Career history
Green Bay Packers (2010–2016) Los Angeles Rams (2018)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLV) Pro Bowl (2014)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 265 Sacks: 1.0 Pass deflections: 70 Interceptions: 19 Forced fumbles: 1
Player stats at PFR

Samuel George Shields III (born December 8, 1987) is a former American football player. He played the cornerback position in the National Football League (NFL). A cornerback's main job is to stop the other team's receivers from catching the ball.

Shields played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. Even though he wasn't chosen in the NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers signed him as a free agent in 2010. He helped the Packers win Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Early Life and High School Career

Sam Shields grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and went to Booker High School. He was a star athlete who played football, baseball, and ran track. In football, he played as a wide receiver, the position that catches passes from the quarterback.

During his senior year, he was amazing on the field. He caught 67 passes for 1,201 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. His great performance helped his team reach the state championship game. Because he was so good, many top colleges offered him scholarships to play for them.

Shields was also a very fast runner. He was one of the best sprinters in Florida, with a personal best time of 10.47 seconds in the 100-meter dash.

College Career at Miami

Shields chose to play for the University of Miami. As a freshman, he started seven games and caught 37 passes, which was a record for a new player at Miami. He even scored a touchdown on a trick play, catching a pass from a teammate who was a defensive player.

Over the next two years, he continued to play as a receiver and on special teams, which are the players on the field during kicking plays. He was even named Miami's Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior.

For his final season, Shields made a big change. He switched from playing offense as a wide receiver to playing defense as a cornerback. This move showed how versatile he was. He quickly learned the new position and had a game with seven tackles and a forced fumble.

Professional NFL Career

After college, Shields was not selected in the 2010 NFL draft. This can be disappointing for a player, but Shields didn't give up. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent.

Green Bay Packers (2010–2016)

Shields guarding Michael Crabtree in a game against the San Francisco 49ers, 2012

Shields joined the Packers in 2010 and quickly proved he belonged in the NFL. He earned a starting spot as a rookie, which is very impressive for an undrafted player.

Super Bowl Champion Rookie

In his first season, Shields started six games and made two interceptions. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for the other team's offense.

The Packers made it to the playoffs that year. In the NFC Championship game against the Chicago Bears, Shields had an incredible performance. He had two interceptions, a sack, and forced a fumble. His final interception sealed the 21–14 victory and sent the Packers to the Super Bowl.

On February 6, 2011, Shields and the Packers won Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a score of 31–25. Winning the Super Bowl in his first year was a dream come true.

Key Player for the Packers

For the next several years, Shields was a key part of the Packers' defense. In 2011, he had four interceptions, including one he returned for 60 yards.

In 2012, he scored his first career touchdown in a playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. He intercepted a pass and ran it back 52 yards into the end zone.

By 2014, Shields was recognized as one of the best cornerbacks in the league. He was selected for the Pro Bowl, which is the NFL's all-star game. He finished his time with the Packers having recorded 19 interceptions in the regular season.

Unfortunately, Shields suffered several concussions during his career. A serious concussion in the first game of the 2016 season ended his year early. The Packers released him in February 2017.

Los Angeles Rams (2018)

After taking the 2017 season off to recover, Shields made a comeback. He signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.

He played in all 16 games for the Rams, mostly on special teams. He even had an interception in a game against the Arizona Cardinals.

One of his most memorable plays came in the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints. The Rams ran a fake punt, and Shields caught a pass for a key first down. This play helped the Rams score and eventually win the game, sending them to Super Bowl LIII. The Rams lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots, but Shields' comeback was an inspiring story.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Postseason