Chris Samuels

Chris Samuels (born July 28, 1977 in Mobile, Mobile County) is a former offensive tackle for the Alabama Crimson Tide and Washington Redskins. He played ten seasons in the National Football League and went to six Pro Bowls. He is currently the offensive coordinator at Prichard's Mattie T. Blount High School.

Samuels graduated from John S. Shaw High School in Mobile, playing on offense and defense. He helped the Screaming Eagles reach the AHSAA playoffs as a senior. He joined the Crimson Tide in 1996 and quickly earned a spot on the interior of the offensive line, starting 46 games. He did not allow a single sack in his career and specialized in opening holes for tailback Shaun Alexander from the left tackle spot. Samuels won the 1999 Outland Trophy and was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and a First Team All-American selection as the 1999 team won a Southeastern Conference championship.

Samuels was rated the top offensive tackle in the 2000 NFL draft, but missed the NFL combine because of an injury to his right knee. The Redskins drafted him with their third overall pick and named him their starter at left tackle before the 2000 season began. He was named co-Offensive Rookie of the Month in October. He suffered a neck injury in the first quarter of the Redskins' last regular-season game.

In 2001 Samuels started all 16 games for the Redskins and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. He returned in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. He missed three games with a knee injury in 2003, but played the entire 2004 season. In 2005, Samuels signed a 7-year $47 million contract with a $16 million signing bonus to remain in Washington. He started all 16 games that year and helped the Redskins reach the playoffs for the first time since 1999. The Seahawks won the Divisional round without Samuel's former teammate, Shaun Alexander.

Samuels was fined for an illegal chop block which injured Chicago tackle Antonio Garay in November 2007. He apologized to Garay and Bears coach Lovie Smith for the play. He was accused of dirty play by Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka the next season. Samuels' streak of 73 consecutive starts ended when he missed a game against Detroit in October 2008 due to knee cartilage irritation. He tore his triceps in December of that year and missed the final three games of the season, and bowed out of the Pro Bowl.

A helmet-to-helmet hit Samuels sustained in the October 11, 2009 game against the Carolina Panthers caused temporary upper-body paralysis. His injury was aggravated by spinal stenosis, which he had been diagnosed with as a child. Because of the increased risk of more severe injuries, Samuels retired on March 4, 2010.

In February 2011, Samuels accepted the position of offensive coordinator for the Blount Leopards in Pritchard, Mobile County. Samuels was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in the Class of 2016.

References

• "Chris Samuels" (February 3, 2011) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia - accessed February 8, 2011
• Bean, Josh (February 8, 2011) "Alabama All-American Chris Samuels joins coaching staff at Mobile's Blount High School." Mobile Press-Register

External links

• Chris Samuels at redskins.com