Quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s parents each other while studying at Houston University.
Sam Ehlinger, 26, born Samuel George Ehlinger, is an American professional football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL).
Highlights
- Sam Ehlinger was born to his father, Ross Herbert Ehlinger, and his mother, Jena Ehlinger.
- His father, Ross, took his last breath on March 3, 2013, due to Heart Arrhythmia.
- Sam’s brother Jake Ehlinger passed away at 20 due to an accidental overdose of Xanax laced with fentanyl.
He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, leading the team to the 2018 Big 12 Championship and two bowl games.
The Colts selected Ehlinger in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
On October 15, 2022, Ehlinger was promoted to backup quarterback, with incumbent Nick Foles slipping down to third-string.
He was named the Colts starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2022 season, replacing Matt Ryan.
On January 2, 2023, Ehlinger was announced as the Colts’ starting quarterback for Week 18, with Ryan set to serve as the backup.
Sam Ehlinger’s Father Suffered A Heart Arrhythmia While Swimming In The San Francisco Bay
Sam Ehlinger’s father, Ross, was a standout football player in high school.
He remained committed to an active lifestyle and had completed several marathons, triathlons worldwide and Half-Ironmans.
After graduating from San Antonio Churchill High School, Ross earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
Later, he started working as an Austin trial lawyer. He was a Delta Tau Delta fraternity member and the prestigious Silver Spurs service organization.
Ross met his wife, Jena Ehlinger, at Houston University and tied the knot in 1993.
They were blessed with three children: Samuel George Ehlinger, Jacob McAdams Ehlinger, and Morgen Adeline Ehlinger.
Sadly, Ross Herbert Ehlinger passed away on March 3, 2013, at 47, while swimming in the San Francisco Bay from a heart arrhythmia.
A man who loves coaching youth sports and always helping either was gone way too soon.
After losing his father at a young age, Ehlinger wanted to make sure he made his father proud. While speaking to The Dallas Morning News in 2017, he said,
“It’s just like I want to make him proud and I want to do the things he wanted me to do, exceed his expectations,”. “I know he’s watching. That’s kind of how it plays into my motivation, that if he was here, what would he be making me do and how could I get better?”
Sam Ehlinger
During the funeral service, Sam bravely spoke in front of everybody about his love for his father and the time they shared. He said his father taught him everything about life and sports.
Ross was never Sam’s head coach but was always coaching him up. Sam said he learned from his father to value ambition and humility.
Consistency and hard work were always at the heart of what his father wanted him to understand.
Moreover, Sam is following in his father’s footsteps and grabbing the more considerable achievements in the NFL.
Sam Ehlinger’s Brother, Jake Ehlinger, Died Of An Accidental Overdose
Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s brother Jake Ehlinger was a linebacker at the University of Texas.
Unexpectedly, Jake Ehlinger passed away in May 2021 at 20 by an accidental overdose of what was believed to be Xanax laced with fentanyl.
He was found unresponsive on May 6, 2021. In the statement, his family said,
“Today we are sad to share that we have learned that Jake was a victim of an accidental overdose of what was believed to be Xanax laced with toxic drugs including deadly Fentanyl,” “The spread of counterfeit pills is an ongoing and significant issue throughout our country, particularly in schools, colleges, and universities.”As our family continues to process Jake’s death, we felt it was important to share these details with the hope that Jake will not have died in vain. We pray that sharing Jake’s story will help shed light on this problem and prevent other families from also tragically losing a loved one.”
Ehlinger Family
Jake Ehlinger will always and forever be a part of the Longhorn family 🧡 pic.twitter.com/nptALhn7IC
— Barstool Longhorn (@UTBarstool) November 30, 2024
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian called Jake’s death “a tragedy beyond measure.”
His mother, Jena Ehlinger, was at a friend’s wedding in Mexico when she received a phone call from an Austin police officer.
The officer said that her 20-year-old son, Jake, had been found unresponsive in a house in West Austin that he was renting with three friends.
She quickly flew home to be with her two other children, Morgen and Sam Ehlinger. Jena expressed her feelings about losing a son. She said,
Jake just wasn’t the type of person who would get caught up in something like fentanyl. Yes, he would drink at college parties. But he was like his older brother, a devoted athlete who took care of his body. And he was crazy smart. Jake came from an athletic and health-conscious family. He was full of life and joy and wasn’t going to screw up his life.
Jena Ehlinger
Additional Information
- Sam Ehlinger is married to his wife, Cami Jo Ehlinger, who he met at Texas University. Cami is serving as an intern at HPI Real Estate Services & Investments.
- The Indianapolis Colts drafted Ehlinger in the sixth round, 218th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft.
- He joined the Texas Longhorns under new head coach Tom Herman, who inherited an offense led by sophomore starting quarterback Shane Buechele.
