Sam Ponder: Quick Facts
| Full Name | Samantha Sainte-Claire Steele |
| Birth Date | December 11, 1985 |
| Birth Place | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Nick Name | Sam |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Education |
|
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Name of Father | Jerry Steele |
| Name of Mother | Cindi Steele |
| Siblings |
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| Age | 36 years old |
| Height | 5’6″ (168 cm) |
| Weight | 58 kg (128 lbs) |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Body Measurement | 35-25-36 inches |
| Figure | Lean |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | Christian Ponder (2012) |
| Children |
|
| Profession | Commentator, Sideline Reporter, Host |
| Net Worth | $12.5 million |
| Salary | $4.9 million |
| Affiliations | ESPN, NFL, FOX Sports |
| Active Since | 2006 |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Last Update | July, 2022 |
Sam Ponder is a young, strong, ambitious woman: a perfect example of “Hard work pays off.” For those unknown, Ponder is an American sports commentator, and host for ESPN and NFL Sunday Countdown.
Indeed, it hasn’t always been easy for her; she struggled and faced many problems initially. But Sam did not let her doubts, struggles, and obstacles come in her way to success.
No wonder Samantha is an inspiration to many young girls who want to do something in their life.
Today, in this article, we will dive into the life of Sam Ponder and discuss her early life, career, love life, achievements, education, and many more.
But before we start, let us have an instant glance at the quick facts.
Sam Ponder | Childhood, Parenting, and Education
Samantha Sainte-Claire Steele, better known as Sam Ponder, was born on December 11, 1985, in Pheonix, Arizona, USA. Jerry Steele (father) and Cindy Steele (mother) gave birth to her (mother).
Her parents were both professional basketball players and retired coaches, and her mother was a housewife. As a result, she developed a strong interest in sports at a young age.
Furthermore, Sam was born in the United States. In addition, according to her horoscope, she is a Sagittarius.
She attended Central High School in her neighborhood for her primary education.
Sam moved to New York for further studies after finishing high school, and then to The King’s College, where her real journey began.
She applied for a hostess job at ESPN while in college, where she made many connections that helped her in the future.
She later transferred to Liberty University in the middle of the year and worked as a sideline reporter. Sam finally graduated in 2009, and her professional career took off from there.
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Sam Ponder’s Age, Height, and Body Dimensions
Sam Ponder is currently 36 years old. Samantha’s birthday is a few days before Christmas. Sam’s body measurements are 35-25-36 inches. The ESPN reporter stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs around 58 kilograms.
Her eyes are a deep, magnificent blue, and her blonde hair complements her appearance.
Sam, as an influential person, is constantly learning new things and is committed to her work. Her communication skills and sports knowledge are also exceptional.
She is without a doubt one of FOX’s most attractive reporters. Samantha also possesses a charm that can entice any soul.
Sam Ponder | Work
Samantha, as we all know, worked as an ESPN host during her college years. She was studying and hosting at the same time, and she managed both her education and her work life admirably.
While working there, Sam met Ben Keeperman, who was anything but ordinary. Ben, in fact, worked at ABC Sports Radio as a college football researcher and manager.
Because of her sensible enthusiasm, Sam landed an internship at the network and later advanced to the position of ABC-TV assistant researcher inside the studio.
Ponder, however, left that job with the change in college. Ponder joined the Liberty Flames as a sideline reporter shortly after leaving ESPN.
All of this occurred after Producer Bruce Carey personally contacted Ponder and offered her the contract.
Fox Sports’ host
As a result, her time at Liberty came to an end with graduation. Soon after, the Arizona native began working for FOX Sports Net and FOX College Sports, primarily as a sideline reporter.
She was unquestionably a fantastic reporter, and as a result, she landed two of the most prestigious events to host at the start of her career.
She also had the opportunity to cover Pac-10 and Big 12 conference games.
Furthermore, Sam’s time at FOX was sufficient to sharpen her professional skills. So, in 2007, ESPN hired Sam and gave her the opportunity to report for the Longhorn Network.
Sam collaborated with fellow recruits Kevin Dunn and Lowell Galindo while at ESPN. Ponder also worked as an on-site host for college football games after relocating to Austin, Texas.
Along with hosting the studio, Sam also covered Thursday Night College Football from the sidelines on a regular basis, collaborating with Jesse Palmer, David Pollack, and Rece Davis.
Sam Ponder’s Net Worth | Salary and Earnings
Sam has undoubtedly earned a substantial sum of money as a result of her years of hard work.
Sam’s net worth is currently estimated to be $15 million.
Yes, you read that correctly: $15 million! It is, indeed, a reasonable sum of money. Samantha also reportedly earns $4.9 million per year. Aside from that, her husband, Christian, has a substantial net worth. Christian has a net worth of $10 million as a result of his successful football career.
Furthermore, this wonderful couple lives a lavish life in their $2.2 million mansion in Arizona.
Who Is Sam Ponder’s Wife?
Samantha is happily married to Christian Ponder, and this lovely couple has three children. Sam and Christian’s romance began when the former quarterback messaged her privately on Twitter. Even though Christian initially asked her out on a casual date, he had a feeling Sam was the one he had been looking for.
Furthermore, Sam realized after a few dates that Christian was the perfect guy for her.
After a few years of dating, Christian proposed to Sam with Christmas lights spelling out “Marry Me.” Sam was on his knees, clutching a 4-carat cushion-cut diamond ring.
Samantha undoubtedly said yes; who wouldn’t say yes to such a fantastic proposal?
Following that, on December 17, 2012, this wonderful couple married.
In terms of the wedding, it was held in a courthouse in Hudson. It was a small, private wedding with only a few guests.
Children
Sam announced her pregnancy after two years of marriage, and they soon welcomed their first child, Bowden Saint-Claire Ponder. Sam’s daughter was given the name Bowden in honor of Christian’s coach, Bobby Bowden. Scout is also a nickname used by Sam and Christian.
Similarly, this couple welcomed another child in 2017. Sam and Christian were blessed with a baby boy named Robinson True this time. The name was chosen to honor Jackie and David Robinson. Price Anne-Drew, their third child and second daughter, was born the following year.
Social Media Presence
Sam is a frequent social media user. Her professional activities are visible on her social media accounts.
Aside from that, if you want to learn more about this wonderful mother and wife, you can do so by visiting various websites.
Instagram: 545k Followers
Twitter: 481k Followers
Facebook: 17k Followers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Has Samantha Ponder retired?
No, she hasn’t. Sam is still working as a sideline reporter for Longhorn Network and host for ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown.
What happened to Sam in 2018 during a flight?
In 2018, while Sam was traveling from Phoenix to New York, she had a seizure. As a result, she was forced to sit out of the NFL countdown show on Sunday, December 30th, 2018.
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