Sam LaPorta

American football player (born 2001)

Samuel Joseph LaPorta is an American professional football tight end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was named the Big Ten Tight End of the Year in 2022. He was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. As a rookie, LaPorta was named a second-team All-Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl. He also broke the NFL record for receptions by a rookie tight end, along with setting Detroit franchise records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns by a tight end.