Samson Ebukam

Nnamka Samson Ebukam (born May 9, 1995) is a Nigerian-American professional football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Eastern Washington Eagles and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Ebukam has competed for four NFL franchises and established himself as a reliable pass rusher throughout his career. Ebukam was born in Onitsha, Nigeria, and moved to the United States at the age of nine, settling in Portland, Oregon. He attended David Douglas High School, where he played for the Scots and earned First Team All-Mount Hood Conference honors as a senior defensive end. Despite receiving only two Division I scholarship offers coming out of high school, he chose Eastern Washington University over Portland State to continue his football career. Ebukam emerged as a three-year starter for the Eastern Washington Eagles from 2013 to 2016, accumulating 188 tackles, 44 tackles for loss, and 24 sacks across 38 career starts. As a senior in 2016, he recorded 15 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks while earning FCS All-American honors and First-team All-Big Sky recognition. He was not selected to participate in the 2017 NFL Combine but did participate in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl before the draft. The Los Angeles Rams selected Ebukam in the fourth round with the 125th overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft. He signed a four-year contract worth $3.01 million in June 2017 and made his professional debut in the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, recording three solo tackles in the 46-9 victory. Ebukam forced his first career fumble and recorded his first career sack during a game against the Houston Texans in November 2017. He earned his first career start in Week 13 against the Arizona Cardinals and finished his rookie season with 31 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble in 16 games with two starts. The Rams finished the 2017 season with an 11-5 record and earned a playoff berth, with Ebukam appearing in the Wild Card Round against the Atlanta Falcons. In 2018, Ebukam competed for a starting outside linebacker role during training camp and earned the starting job alongside Matt Longacre to begin the regular season. His breakthrough moment came in Week 11 on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he scored two defensive touchdowns off turnovers and forced another interception, earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He finished the 2018 season with 40 tackles, one interception, and three forced fumbles. The Rams reached Super Bowl LIII that year, where Ebukam recorded four tackles in the loss to the New England Patriots. In 2019, he appeared in 16 games with five starts and recorded 48 tackles, four and a half sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and four pass deflections. In 2020, Ebukam started 14 of 16 games and recorded 31 tackles and four and a half sacks. He delivered a critical performance in the Week 17 win over the Arizona Cardinals that secured the Rams a playoff berth, recording two sacks including one on Kyler Murray for an eight-yard loss. He also forced a key fumble in the Wild Card Round against the Seattle Seahawks that helped preserve a Rams victory. On March 19, 2021, Ebukam signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. In his first season with the 49ers, he recorded 4.5 sacks, 38 total tackles, one pass defended, and one forced fumble in 17 appearances with 11 starts. In the 2022 season, he had five sacks, 36 total tackles, one pass defended, and one forced fumble in 15 appearances and starts. On March 17, 2023, Ebukam signed a three-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts. In his first season with the Colts, he led the team with a career-high 9.5 sacks and also set career highs with 57 tackles and three forced fumbles. On July 29, 2024, it was announced that Ebukam would miss the entire 2024 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during training camp. He returned from his injury in 2025 and recorded two sacks, 33 tackles, and one fumble recovery in 14 games. On March 16, 2026, Ebukam signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Ebukams most notable career moment came in Week 11 of the 2018 season when he recorded two defensive touchdowns off turnovers on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He appeared in Super Bowl LIII with the Rams and delivered a critical two-sack performance in the Rams Week 17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in 2020 that secured a playoff spot. He led the Indianapolis Colts with a career-high 9.5 sacks during the 2023 season, representing the best statistical year of his professional career. Through the 2025 NFL season, Ebukam has played in 127 career games with 84 starts and recorded 314 total tackles, 35 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 9 pass deflections, 1 interception, and 2 defensive touchdowns.