Samaje Perine Bio
Samaje Perine is an American professional football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Jackson, Alabama, and raised in Pflugerville, Texas, Perine played college football for the University of Oklahoma Sooners from 2014 to 2016. He was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the 114th overall pick. Perine currently holds the NCAA FBS record for most rushing yards in a single game, having rushed for 427 yards against Kansas as a true freshman in 2014. Throughout his NFL career, he has played for the Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals (three separate stints), Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs before returning to the Bengals in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Samaje Perine was born on September 16, 1995, in Jackson, Alabama. He later moved with his family to Pflugerville, Texas, where he attended Hendrickson High School. At Hendrickson, Perine was a three-year starter at running back for the Hawks football team while also competing in track and field. As a junior, he rushed for 1,993 yards and 16 touchdowns, and as a senior, he recorded 1,492 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. In track and field, he excelled in sprints and jumps, earning first-place finishes in the triple jump and long jump at the 2011 Manor Relay while also anchoring relay squads.
Perine was highly regarded as a high school prospect, earning a four-star recruit ranking and being rated as the No. 13 running back in the nation by Rivals.com. In March 2013, he committed to play college football at the University of Oklahoma. He also received scholarship offers from several major programs including Alabama, Nebraska, TCU, and Tennessee.
Path to Professional Football
At Oklahoma, Perine immediately made an impact as a true freshman in the 2014 season. He burst onto the scene with his record-setting performance against Kansas on November 15, 2014, when he rushed for 427 yards on 34 carries with five touchdowns. This performance broke the Football Bowl Subdivision single-game rushing record that had been set by Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon just one week earlier. Perine finished his freshman season with 1,713 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, earning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors and Second-team All-American recognition.
Perine continued his success in the 2015 season, rushing for 1,349 yards and 16 touchdowns while helping Oklahoma reach the College Football Playoff. He earned First-team All-Big 12 honors for the second consecutive year. In the 2016 season, he accumulated 1,060 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and on January 2, 2017, he broke the school career rushing yard record by surpassing Billy Sims with a total of 4,122 yards during the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Auburn. After the 2016 season, Perine declared for the NFL Draft, forgoing his senior year of college eligibility.
Samaje Perine Career
Washington Redskins (2017-2018)
The Washington Redskins selected Perine in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft, making him the ninth running back selected in that year’s draft. He signed a four-year, $3.05 million contract with the team on May 11, 2017. In his NFL debut against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2, Perine rushed for 67 yards on 21 carries. He earned his first career start in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints, where he recorded his first 100-yard rushing game with 117 yards on 23 carries and scored his first rushing touchdown.
Perine followed that performance with another 100-yard game against the New York Giants, becoming the first Redskins player to have consecutive 100-yard rushing games since Alfred Morris in 2013. He finished his rookie season with 603 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with 22 receptions for 182 yards and a receiving touchdown. In the 2018 season, Perine saw limited action behind Adrian Peterson and was waived prior to the 2019 regular season on August 31, 2018.
Cincinnati Bengals First Stint (2019)
On September 1, 2019, Perine was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals. He was waived on October 17 of that year but was re-signed to the team’s practice squad the following day. His tenure with the Bengals during this period was brief as he was signed by the Miami Dolphins in December 2019.
Miami Dolphins (2019-2020)
The Miami Dolphins signed Perine off the Bengals practice squad on December 24, 2019. He appeared in limited action during the remainder of the 2019 season. The Dolphins waived Perine on April 26, 2020, after which he was claimed off waivers by the Bengals for his second stint with the franchise.
Cincinnati Bengals Second Stint (2020-2022)
Perine returned to the Cincinnati Bengals on April 28, 2020. In the 2020 season, he appeared in 15 games with limited carries, finishing with 301 rushing yards and three touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He re-signed with the Bengals on a two-year contract on March 24, 2021. During the 2021 season, Perine served as a backup to Joe Mixon while contributing on special teams and in the passing game.
The 2021 season proved memorable for Perine as he played a significant role in the Bengals’ run to Super Bowl LVI. In the AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs, he caught a 41-yard touchdown reception from Joe Burrow that helped spark a comeback victory. In Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams, Perine recorded two carries in the 23-20 loss. The 2022 season saw Perine continue his backup role before stepping in as a starter for two games following Joe Mixon’s concussion. He finished the season with a career-high 287 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.
Denver Broncos (2023-2024)
On March 16, 2023, Perine signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos. In the 2023 season, he appeared in 17 games with one start, finishing with 238 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown while also contributing 50 receptions for 455 receiving yards. The Broncos released Perine on August 27, 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs (2024)
On August 28, 2024, Perine signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. During the 2024 season, he appeared in games with 20 carries for 92 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, along with 28 receptions for 322 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. He played in Super Bowl LIX, recording one carry for eight yards in the 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Cincinnati Bengals Third Stint (2025-Present)
On March 13, 2025, Perine officially signed a two-year contract worth $3.8 million to return to the Cincinnati Bengals for his third stint with the franchise. In Week 8 against the New York Jets, he delivered a standout performance with nine carries for 94 yards and a touchdown, adding one reception for six yards. Perine finished the 2025 season with 382 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 15 games and two starts.
Driving Style and Strengths
Perine is known for his powerful running style and exceptional physical strength. During his time at Oklahoma, he reportedly maxed at 440 pounds on the bench press, 540 pounds on the squat, 380 pounds on the power clean, and 315 pounds on the incline bench. His combination of size, strength, and elusiveness allows him to be effective as both a between-the-tackles runner and a receiver out of the backfield. He has demonstrated the ability to break tackles and gain extra yards after contact throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Perine’s most celebrated career milestone remains his NCAA FBS single-game rushing record of 427 yards set against Kansas in 2014. He also broke the University of Oklahoma’s career rushing yard record during the 2017 Sugar Bowl, surpassing the previous mark held by Billy Sims. In the NFL, his memorable moments include his pivotal 41-yard touchdown reception in the 2021 AFC Championship that helped propel the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI.
Samaje Perine Career Statistics
Throughout his NFL career spanning from 2017 to 2025, Perine has established himself as a reliable complementary back capable of contributing in multiple facets of the game. He has amassed over 2,300 career rushing yards along with nearly 1,600 receiving yards, demonstrating his value as an all-around running back in offensive schemes.
Career NFL Statistics Highlights
Perine has appeared in multiple games across his NFL career with teams including the Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs. He has demonstrated consistency as a runner with a career average of 4.1 yards per carry while also contributing significantly as a receiver out of the backfield with nearly 200 career receptions. His ability to score both on the ground and through the air has made him a valuable depth piece for every team he has played for.
College Career Records
At Oklahoma, Perine set the NCAA FBS single-game rushing record with 427 yards against Kansas in 2014, a record that still stands. He finished his three-year college career with 4,122 career rushing yards, breaking Billy Sims’ school record. His 49 career rushing touchdowns ranked him among the most prolific scorers in Oklahoma history.
| Competition Level | Games | Rushing Yards | Rushing Avg | Rushing TD | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Career (2017-2025) | Multiple | 2,304 | 4.1 | 12 | 196 | 1,600 | 7 |
| College Oklahoma (2014-2016) | 39 | 4,122 | 5.6 | 49 | 38 | 245 | 2 |
Samaje Perine Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Perine comes from a football family with deep roots in the sport. His cousin, La’Mical Perine, also pursued a career in football, playing college football for the Florida Gators before being selected by the New York Jets in the 2020 NFL Draft. Additionally, Perine is a cousin of NFL linebacker Myles Jack, who played collegiately at UCLA and was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016.
Personal Life
Throughout his high school and college careers, Perine was noted for extraordinary acts of physical strength. One notable story from his time at Oklahoma involved him helping lift a car to assist a fellow student who needed to change a flat tire but did not have a jack. Oklahoma strength coach Jerry Schmidt praised Perine’s physical capabilities, noting that he could often out-bench press most of the team’s linemen and that no one else on the team matched his strength numbers in various lifts.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Perine’s return to the Cincinnati Bengals, signing a two-year contract worth $3.8 million in March. He quickly demonstrated his value to the team during the season, with his standout performance coming in Week 8 against the New York Jets when he rushed for 94 yards on just nine carries, averaging over 10 yards per attempt, and scored a touchdown while also contributing in the passing game. Perine appeared in 15 games with two starts throughout the season, finishing with 382 rushing yards and three touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
Perine’s presence in the Bengals’ backfield provided valuable depth and experience behind the featured running back. His versatility as both a runner and receiver remained an asset for the team’s offensive versatility. The Bengals valued his veteran leadership and consistency, which helped stabilize their running game rotation throughout the season. Looking ahead, Perine’s two-year contract through 2027 suggests the organization views him as an important piece of their roster construction for the foreseeable future.