Curtis Samuel

Curtis Samuel was born on August 11, 1996, in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Erasmus Hall High School, where he excelled in football as a running back and in track. During his junior year, Samuel averaged 11.5 yards per carry, rushing for 1,047 yards and 13 touchdowns, and was named New York Daily News City Player of the Year in 2012. His senior year saw him average 15.8 yards per rush, accumulating 1,461 yards and 17 touchdowns, earning him the 2013 New York Gatorade Player of the Year. He committed to Ohio State, playing college football from 2014 to 2016. In 2014, he recorded 383 rushing yards and six touchdowns, along with 95 receiving yards. His 2015 season included 132 rushing yards and one touchdown, plus 289 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The 2016 season was a standout year, with 771 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, and 865 receiving yards with seven touchdowns, earning him First-team All-Big Ten and All-American honors. Samuel is the only player in Ohio State history to achieve over 1,000 career yards in both rushing and receiving.

Samuel was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round (40th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft after transitioning to wide receiver during the NFL Combine. He signed a four-year, $6.45 million contract. His rookie season in 2017 was cut short due to an ankle injury, but he recorded 15 receptions for 115 yards and 64 rushing yards in nine games. In 2018, he secured his first career touchdown and finished the season with 39 receptions for 494 yards and five touchdowns, plus 84 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The 2019 season saw him with 54 receptions for 627 yards and six touchdowns, alongside 130 rushing yards and one touchdown. His most productive season with the Panthers was in 2020, where he had 77 receptions for 851 yards and three touchdowns, complemented by 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

In 2021, Samuel signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract with the Washington Football Team (later Commanders), reuniting with college roommate Terry McLaurin. His 2021 season was affected by a groin injury, limiting his playing time. He had a notable 2022 season, playing all 17 games, recording 64 receptions for 656 yards and four touchdowns, plus 187 rushing yards and one touchdown. For the 2023 season, he changed his uniform number to 4, finishing with 62 receptions for 613 yards and four touchdowns, including a 100-yard receiving game. On March 14, 2024, Samuel signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Buffalo Bills. In the 2024 season, he recorded 31 receptions for 253 yards and one touchdown. He made his postseason debut in the Wild Card round game for the Bills, scoring his first career postseason touchdown on a 55-yard reception and later scoring another touchdown in the AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs.