Texas A&M Football · SEC
Faith, Football, and Showing Up Fully.
Sam Salz made history as the first known Orthodox Jewish player in NCAA Division I football — walking on at Texas A&M with no prior football experience, through sheer persistence and faith. Today he shares that story of conviction, consistency, and showing up fully, wherever the stakes are highest.
“You don’t have to sacrifice your faith to be successful.”
As Seen On
Meet Sam
Sam Salz grew up in the Philadelphia area and attended Kohelet Yeshiva, a Modern Orthodox high school with no football team. He had never played organized football — but determined to chase the game, he trained on his own near the Texas A&M practice field for nearly a year, showing up day after day until the coaches gave a 5-foot-6 walk-on with no experience a spot on the roster.
In doing so, he became the first known Orthodox Jewish player in NCAA Division I football. He wears number 39 — for the 39 categories of work forbidden on Shabbat — a kippah under his helmet and tzitzit under his jersey, and he kept Shabbat even when it meant sitting out games, making his Division I debut for the Aggies in 2024.
Today, Sam speaks to teams, campuses, communities, and organizations about faith, perseverance, and showing up fully for the people around you. His message is raw, practical, and deeply human—rooted in lived experience on the field and at the Shabbat table.
Core Themes
- Holding conviction without isolation
- Building inclusive, high-performance teams
- Shabbat, boundaries, and mental health
- Identity, courage, and showing up
Audiences
- College + high school teams
- Jewish + interfaith communities
- Leadership and student groups
- Corporate + nonprofit gatherings
By the Numbers
Where Sam Has Spoken
Sam travels across the country — and around the world — to share his message.
Sam has spoken in 18 U.S. states — most often New York, California, and Texas — plus Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia in Canada, and in Mexico.
Watch Sam Speak
See Sam in action — faith, football, and showing up fully.
Podcasts & Interviews
Sam's conversations on faith, football, and resilience.
Booking & Contact
Ready to bring Sam to your campus, community, or organization? Use the calendar to schedule a time to discuss your event directly.
What we’ll cover
- Your event goals and audience
- Logistics, dates, and setup
- How Sam can best serve your group
Partnerships & Inquiries
For brand partnerships, media requests, or other inquiries, please reach out directly:
partnerships@samsalz.org
Brands: see partnership details & reach →
Join the Community
Follow Sam for daily insights on faith, football, and resilience.