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 an American former professional football player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). Shields played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. The Green Bay Packers signed him in 2010. He helped the team win Super Bowl XLV.

Early Life and Sports Talents

Sam Shields grew up in Sarasota, Florida. He went to Booker High School. There, he was a talented athlete in many sports. He played football, baseball, and ran track.

Football at Booker High

In high school football, Sam played as a wide receiver. During his last year, he caught 67 passes. He gained 1,201 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. His amazing plays helped his team reach the Class 3A Championship game. Experts ranked him as one of the best wide receivers coming out of high school.

Track and Field Achievements

Sam was also a top sprinter in track and field. He ran the 100-meter dash in a very fast 10.47 seconds. He was also part of the 4 × 100 meters relay team. This team won the state title.

College Football Journey

Sam decided to play college football for the University of Miami. He started seven games in his first year. He caught 37 passes, which was a lot for a new player.

Key Moments at Miami

• In his first start, he caught three passes for 63 yards.
• He scored his first touchdown on a trick play.
• He also scored two touchdowns in a game against Duke.
• In the MPC Computers Bowl, he caught a 78-yard touchdown pass to win the game.
• His great performance earned him honors as a top freshman.

During his second year, Sam played in ten games. He had a career-high 117 yards in one game. He finished that season with 27 catches and three touchdowns.

In his third year, Sam played in all 13 games. He played as a receiver and on special teams. He was even voted Miami's Special Teams Player of the Year.

For his final season, Sam made a big change. He switched from wide receiver to cornerback. This was a new challenge for him. He quickly adapted to his new role. He made six tackles in one game. In another, he had seven tackles and forced a fumble. He won an award for being the most improved defensive player.

Professional Football Career

Sam Shields was not chosen in the 2010 NFL Draft. However, many teams wanted to sign him. The Green Bay Packers signed him to a contract. He joined the team as an undrafted free agent.

Green Bay Packers (2010–2016)

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

Sam quickly became an important player for the Packers. He started his first game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He and another rookie became the first new defensive backs to start for the Packers in many years.

Rookie Season Highlights (2010)

Sam had a strong first year. He made his first career interception against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the season with 29 tackles and two interceptions. The Packers made it to the playoffs.

In the playoffs, Sam played a key role. He had two interceptions in the NFC Championship game against the Chicago Bears. One of these interceptions sealed the win for the Packers. This sent them to Super Bowl XLV. The Packers then won Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sam helped his team become champions.

Continued Success (2011–2014)

In 2011, Sam continued to play well. He had 45 tackles and four interceptions. He suffered a concussion during a game, which sidelined him for a short time.

In 2012, Sam became a starting cornerback. He had a controversial play against the Seattle Seahawks. It was called the "Fail Mary" and highlighted issues with replacement officials. He finished the season with 28 tackles and three interceptions. In the playoffs, he scored his first career touchdown. He returned an interception 52 yards against the San Francisco 49ers.

In 2013, Sam had his best season for tackles. He made 61 tackles and had four interceptions. In 2014, the Packers signed him to a new, big contract. He continued to be a key player for the team.

Concussion Issues and Release (2015–2017)

In 2016, Sam suffered another concussion. This was his fourth known concussion in the NFL. Due to his injuries, the Packers placed him on injured reserve. In 2017, the Packers released him from the team.

Los Angeles Rams (2018)

After sitting out the 2017 season to recover, Sam signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018. He mainly played on special teams for the Rams. In the NFC Championship Game, he made a big play on a fake punt. This helped the Rams score their first points. The Rams won that game and went to Super Bowl LIII. They lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Images for kids

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  Shields with the Green Bay Packers in 2011

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