The star, Samuel Davis Mills Jr., was an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints and the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. From an aspiring middle linebacker that a single NFL team did not want to hire to the five-time Pro Bowl player, Sam Mills had an inspiring and tear-jerking story.
Mills played for the United States Football League before making his debut in the NFL. He considers himself a fighter who does not give up. He is someone who “keeps pounding” despite any problem that he might face in the world.
Quick Facts Sam Mills:
| Full Name | Samuel Davis Mills, Jr. |
| Birth Date | June 3, 1959 |
| Birth Place | Neptune City, New Jersey, USA |
| Nick Name/Known As | Sam Mills |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Education | Long Branch High School Montclair State College |
| Horoscope/Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Father’s Name | Sam Mills I |
| Mother’s Name | Juanita Mills |
| Siblings | Yes, an older brother |
| Age | 63 Years Old |
| Height | 5ft 9 inches (1.75 cm) |
| Weight | 105kgs (232 lbs) |
| Death | April 18, 2005 |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Measurement | Unknown |
| Figure | Athletic |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Melanie Mills |
| Children | Sam Mills III |
| Profession | American football player |
| Net Worth | $15 million |
| Salary | N/A |
| Currently Works At | N/A |
| Affiliations | NFL, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints |
| Active Since | 1982-2005 |
| Social Media | N/A |
| Merch | Autograph, Football Card |
| Last Update | August, 2022 |
Sam Mills is from where? the early years, growing up, and college
Former Saints’ Mills was born on June 3, 1959, to Juanita Mills and Sam Mills Sr. in Neptune City, New Jersey.
In Long Branch, New Jersey, he was raised. Mills, who has always been a sports enthusiast, used to play tag with his older brother all the time.
Sam was frequently observed playing pickup football with the neighborhood’s older lads. Despite retiring, he continued to be involved in sports as a coach, demonstrating that his love of sports did not fade over the course of his life. Sam Mills attended Long Branch High School and excelled in both football and wrestling.
There, he was acknowledged and was undoubtedly the finest in his high school because of his abilities in the ring and on the football field. Notably, his high school hung his NFL jersey in the gym as a mark of respect and admiration for him and his prowess in football. You may also like to know about Patty Mills
What is the height. Age, height of Sam Mills?
Sam Mills, a remarkable and incredibly inspirational person, was on the shorter side of average height.
Mills, who is little under 5 feet 10 inches tall, was frequently passed over because he was thought to have a fault due to his height.
Even though his huge frame of 105 kg would seem excessive, it was ideal for a defensive linebacker in the USFL and NFL.
Later in life, he overcome the height barrier with outstanding gameplay and lightning-fast movement, which won him numerous awards during his career. You may also like to know about Marcus Morris
Education
Sam Mills studied at Montclair State College, now Montclair State University, from 1977 to 1980.
With an astounding 501 lifetime tackles, Mills holds the record for the most tackles ever.
He won the New Jersey Collegiate Writers Defensive Player of the Year award three times in a row, from 1978 to 1980, and was selected to the NJAC First Team All-Star team three times.
Despite his outstanding performance throughout college, the NFL scouts did not pay much attention to him due to his relatively modest size of 5 feet 9 inches.
Mills joined the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1981. But after their preseason was up, the Browns cut him loose.
Sam Mills | Work Experience
Mills wore jersey number 41 for the Cleveland Browns. Only twice did he not wear his distinctive jersey number 51, including this occasion.
Mills also signed a contract with the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts in 1982, but he was released prior to the start of the season.
Due to his diminutive stature, Mills experienced significant ignorance from scouts and NFL draft clubs early in his career.
People would be impressed by his skill, but as soon as they learned about his diminutive size, they lost all interest in him.
In order to sustain himself, Mills got work helping the football coach at East Orange High School and teaching photography.
Sam Rutigliano, the Cleveland Browns’ head coach, put in a few calls and got Mills a tryout with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL.
Sam Mills shone with his outstanding performance at the training camp, and because of his stature and unbelievable speed, he earned the nickname “Field Mouse.” He rose to the top of the league swiftly.
Sam Mills appears in “The Stars”
Sam Mills was with the Stars for a good three years during which time he developed into a key member of the group.
He gained popularity for his toughness on the field and his leadership qualities both on and off it. The Philadelphia Stars (who relocated to Baltimore in 1985) won two championships with Mills’ assistance.
During the brief existence of the league, Mills was lauded as one of its top defensive players.
He was a member of the USFL All-Time team as well as the All-USFL teams.
Sam Mills decided to follow in the footsteps of his mentor and go up with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints after Jim Mora, the coach of the Philadelphia Stars, was hired by the team.
Mills played a significant role in the defense for the Saints throughout his tenure there.
Coach Mora created the “Dome Patrol,” a fierce line of defense, with Mills as a member. Under coach Mora, he spent nine seasons playing for the Saints.
The defense was led by Mills, who served as the team’s captain and signal-caller, to become one of the NFL’s inaugural four playoff teams.
At the conclusion of the 1994 NFL season, Mills was a free agent. The Carolina Panthers extended Mills a two-year, $2.8 million contract. The same thing was provided to Mills by the New Orleans Saints.
To the Panthers now
Mills ultimately decided on the Carolina Panthers because he was dissatisfied with the New Orleans Saints’ failure to make a non-solicited offer.
Mills was regarded as a highly seasoned player in the Carolina Panthers, a youthful squad overall. Sam Mills started each game for the Panthers throughout the team’s first three seasons.
Sam Mills’ 1995 game for the Carolina Panthers against the New York Jets ranks among his most memorable contests.
A shovel pass was guarded by Mills, who then scored a 36-yard touchdown. The Carolina Panthers earned their first victory in NFL history with this triumph.
At 37 years old, Mills became the oldest defense to be invited to the Pro Bowl as he made his fifth pro bowl participation with the Carolina Panthers. After the following season, Sam Mills ceased playing.
Career Stats Summary
| Summary | G | AV | Sk | Solo | FF |
| Career | 181 | 127 | 20.5 | 1142 | 2 |
Sam Mills | Highlights and Awards
- 1987: Pro Bowl
- 1988: Pro Bowl
- 1991: Pro Bowl, Second-team All-Pro
- 1992: Pro Bowl, Second-team All-Pro
- 1996: Prow Bowl, First-team All-Pro
- 1983–1985: 3× All-USFL, 2× USFL champion
- USFL All-Time Team, Carolina Panthers No. 51 retired, Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor, New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
Sam Mills: A Legacy, Last Moments, and Cancer
While serving as the linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers in August 2003, NFL player Mills received a diagnosis of intestinal cancer.
He only had a few months to live, the doctors determined. Despite this, Mills continued to lead the club as coach.
To extend his life, he began receiving treatments including radiation and chemotherapy. The Panthers were motivated by Sam Mills to win Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Everyone will always remember the passionate statement he gave before the Panthers’ game against the Dallas Cowboys, in which he implored everyone to “keep hammering.”
Will Witherspoon said of Mills, a linebacker with the Panthers,
“He’s definitely the best coach I’ve ever had. I spoke with him a few weeks ago and I knew he wasn’t doing well, but he never wanted to bring it up.
“HE WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN HOW I WAS DOING. Nothing is better than the realization that he placed more emphasis on others than on himself.
He coached the Panthers during his approximately two-year battle with cancer. He passed away early on April 18, 2005, in his Charlotte, North Carolina, home.
Panthers’ Memorial
The Carolina Panthers retired renowned Jersey No. 51 in honor of Mills. The team had retired that particular number for the first time in its history.
Nike was motivated by Mills’ remark to “keep pounding,” so when they had the chance to create jerseys for the NFL beginning with the 2012 season, they stitched “Keep Pounding” on the interior of the Panther’s Jersey.
The Carolina Panthers pay respect to “Keep Pounding” by playing the drumbeats before each home game.
Stephen Curry, a basketball star, Panthers supporter, and native of Charlotte, used to play the drums.
“When I found out I had cancer, there were two things I could do: quit or keep pounding. I’m a fighter. I kept pounding. You’re fighters, too. Keep pounding!” -Sam Mills quotes.
FAQs:
What is the value of a Sam Mills rookie card?
The cost of a rookie card of Sam Mills ranges from $0.34 to $4.53.
Who played the position Sam Mills played?
Sam Mills played linebacker for a team of professional football players.
Sam Mills was enshrined in the Hall of Fame when?
In 2009, Sam Mills was admitted to the “College Football Hall of Fame.” Sam will reportedly be inducted into the “Pro Football Hall of Fame” in 2022 as well.
Does Sam Mills have a documentary?
A Football Life is a Sam Mills documentary, and it exists.