UNC Football: Sam Howell Making History In the NFL

Former UNC Football quarterback Sam Howell is earning his spot in the National Football League and doing something that has never been done before.

Former UNC Football quarterback Sam Howell didn’t get his chance in the National Football League until Week 18 of his rookie season when the Washington Commanders faced the Dallas Cowboys. The Commanders were already eliminated from playoff contention and decided to give Howell his chance.

In that game, Howell was 11-19 passing for 169 yards and a touchdown, as well as 35 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Commanders won the game, 26-6. Now, ten games into his second season, Howell is putting up numbers the NFL has never seen before through the first eleven games of a quarterback’s career.

I think it’s safe to say that the Commanders have found the franchise quarterback they’ve been looking for. Of course, UNC football fans knew this when Howell entered the draft. We knew he was a winner and would be successful wherever he landed. When he was falling in the 2022 NFL Draft to the fifth round, we knew one franchise was going to get a steal. And man, Washington got one heck of a steal.

Howell has been sacked 47 times (in one more game played) than the next closest quarterback, Zach Wilson of the New York Jets, who has only been sacked 33 times. Despite being the most sacked quarterback in the NFL, Howell has found a way to still make plays, leading the Commanders to a 4-6 record.

That record isn’t on Howell, though, as he has put them in a position to win games time and time again. The Commanders defense currently ranks 29th out of 32 teams in the NFL in yards per game allowed with 380.9 yards allowed and 31st in scoring defense, allowing 27.4 points per game (Denver is last with 27.6 points per game allowed).

Howell’s dual-threat ability makes him great at escaping the pressure, but no franchise wants its quarterback running for their life. While Howell continues to dominate the NFL this season, Tar Heel fans can hope the Commanders add some protection for him along the offensive line this offseason and get him some defensive help to put him in a position to win games going forward in his career.

For now, UNC Football fans can continue to watch Howell make winning plays in the final minute on NFL Sundays.

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