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{{Short description|American football player (born 1987)}}
{{Infobox NFL player
| name = Sam Bradford
{{About|the quarterback|musician|Sam Bradford (musician)}}
{{good article}}
| image = SamBradford.jpg
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
| image_size = 275
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
| alt =
{{Infobox NFL biography
| caption = Sam Bradford before a game in Denver in 2010.
| name = Sam Bradford
| currentteam = St. Louis Rams
| image = Rams quarterback Sam Bradford at the coaching clinic.jpg
| number = 8
| image_size =
| position = [[Quarterback]]
| alt =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|11|8|mf=y}}
| caption = Bradford with the St. Louis Rams in 2012
| birth_place = [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]
| number = 8, 7, 9
| death_date =
| position = [[Quarterback]]
| death_place =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|11|8|mf=y}}
| heightft = 6
| birth_place = [[Oklahoma City|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]], U.S.
| heightin = 4
| weight = 224
| death_date =
| death_place =
| highschool = [[Putnam City North High School]],<br>Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| height_ft = 6
| college = [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]]
| draftyear = 2010
| height_in = 4
| draftround = 1
| weight_lb = 224
| high_school = [[Putnam City North High School|Putnam City North]] <br> (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
| draftpick = 1
| college = [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]] (2006–2009)
| debutyear = 2010
| debutteam = St. Louis Rams
| draftyear = 2010
| finalteam =
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = [[List of first overall NFL draft picks|1]]
| finalyear =
| pastteams =
| pastteams =
* [[St. Louis Rams]] ({{NFL Year|2010}}–present)
* [[St. Louis Rams]] ({{NFL Year|2010|2014}})
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|2015}})
| status = Active
* [[Minnesota Vikings]] ({{NFL Year|2016|2017}})
| highlights =
* [[Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|2018}})
* [[NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year|AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year]] (2010)
| highlights =
* [[St. Louis Rams awards#Carroll Rosenbloom Memorial Award|Rams Rookie of the Year]] (2010)
* [[NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award|NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year]] (2010)
* NFL record for most consecutive passes without an interception by a rookie (169)
* [[List of NFL annual pass completion percentage leaders|NFL completion percentage leader]] (2016)
* NFL record for most attempts by a rookie (590)
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] (2010)
* NFL record for most completions by a rookie (354)
* [[Heisman Trophy]] (2008)
* [[Heisman Trophy]] (2008)
* [[Davey O'Brien Award]] (2008)
* Consensus [[All-American]] ([[2008 College Football All-America Team|2008]])
* First-team All-[[Big 12 Conference|big 12]] (2008)
* [[Sammy Baugh Trophy]] (2008)
* [[Associated Press College Football Player of the Year|AP College Football Player of the Year]] (2008)
* [[#Awards and honors|College awards and honors]]
* [[Sporting News College Football Player of the Year|''SN'' Player of the Year]] (2008)
| statweek = 17
* [[Chic Harley Award]] (2008)
| statseason = 2011
* [[Touchdown Club of Columbus#Kellen Moore Award|Quarterback of the Year]] (2008)
| statlabel1 = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception (football)|INT]]
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[2008 College Football All-America Team|2008]])
| statvalue1 = 24–21
* [[Big 12 Conference football individual awards#Offensive Player of the Year|Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year]] (2008)
| statlabel2 = Passing yards
* First-team All-[[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]] ([[2008 All-Big 12 Conference football team|2008]])
| statvalue2 = 5,676
* American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 28, 2023|title=American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2023|url=https://famok.org/aiahof-2023-induction-ceremony/|access-date=April 29, 2023|website=famok.org}}</ref>
| statlabel3 = [[Passer rating|QB Rating]]
| statlabel1 = Passing attempts
| statvalue3 = 74.2
| statvalue1 = 2,967
| nfl = BRA101548
| statlabel2 = Passing completions
| statvalue2 = 1,855
| statlabel3 = Completion percentage
| statvalue3 = 62.5%
| statlabel4 = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4 = 103–61
| statlabel5 = Passing yards
| statvalue5 = 19,449
| statlabel6 = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6 = 84.5
| pfr = BradSa00
}}
}}
'''Samuel Jacob Bradford''' (born November 8, 1987) is an [[American football]] [[quarterback]] for the [[St. Louis Rams]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He was the first overall pick in the [[2010 NFL Draft]], after playing [[college football]] for the [[University of Oklahoma]]. In 2008, as a [[redshirt (college sports)|redshirt]] [[sophomore]], Bradford became the second sophomore to win a [[Heisman Trophy]]. He also holds the NCAA record for most touchdown passes by a freshman quarterback, with 36. In 2010, Bradforn bought a pet chihuahua in which he named KILLA!!!


'''Samuel Jacob Bradford''' (born November 8, 1987) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[quarterback]] for eight seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL).
In his first season in the [[NFL]], Bradford set the record for most completions by a rookie in NFL history, which helped earn him the [[NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year]] award.


Bradford attended [[Putnam City North High School]], where he starred in football, basketball and golf. As a senior quarterback in 2005, he threw for 2,029 yards and 17 [[touchdown]]s in 12 games. Bradford was not highly recruited coming out of high school, but he received a scholarship offer from the [[University of Oklahoma]], which he accepted. After a [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirt season]] in 2006, Bradford threw for 3,121 yards and 36 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman with the [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma Sooners]]. In 2008, Bradford became only the second sophomore to win the [[Heisman Trophy]] as he led the highest-scoring offense in NCAA history, passing for 4,720 yards with 50 touchdowns and just eight [[interception]]s. He again led the nation in passing and also added five rushing touchdowns as the Sooners went 12–1 and advanced to the [[BCS National Championship Game|BCS national title game]].
==Early years==
Bradford was born in [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]].<ref name="soonersports.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/football-depth-chart.html |title=Official Site of the Oklahoma Sooners |publisher=SoonerSports.com |date=2010-09-22 |accessdate=2010-09-27}}</ref> He attended [[Putnam City North High School]] in Oklahoma City, where he starred in football, [[basketball]] and [[golf]]. As a senior [[quarterback]] for his high school football team in 2006, he threw for 2,029 yards and 17 touchdowns in 12 games.<ref name="SS_Bio">{{cite web | title=14 Sam Bradford | publisher=SoonerSports.com | url=http://soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bradford_sam00.html | accessdate=2007-09-11 }}</ref> His senior year in basketball, he averaged a [[double-double]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=3134076|title=Oklahoma's rookie QB makes college game looks easy|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2007-11-30|date=2007-11-30|first=Ivan|last=Maisel}}</ref>


Bradford declared for the NFL draft following the 2009 season and was selected by the [[St. Louis Rams]] with the [[List of first overall NFL draft picks|first overall]] selection in the [[2010 NFL draft]]. That year, Bradford set the record for most completions by a rookie in NFL history, which helped earn him the [[NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award|NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year]] award. Prior to the start of the 2015 season, the Rams traded Bradford along with a 2015 fifth round pick to the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in exchange for quarterback [[Nick Foles]], a 2015 fourth-round pick, and a 2016 second-round pick. Following his 2015 campaign with the Eagles, in which he set career-highs in passing yards (3,725), completion percentage (65%) and yards per attempt (7.0), the [[Minnesota Vikings]] acquired Bradford after their starting quarterback [[Teddy Bridgewater]] was lost to a season-ending knee injury before the start of the season. Bradford signed with the [[Arizona Cardinals]] in 2018 and started three games, but was replaced by rookie [[Josh Rosen]] and eventually released.
Bradford was a three-star recruit not that highly ranked among the high school class of 2006,<ref>{{cite news |first=Pete |last=Thamel |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Bradford Wins Heisman, but the Top Prize Awaits |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/sports/ncaafootball/14heisman.html |work=[[New York Times]] |publisher= |date=2008-12-13 |accessdate= }}</ref> with his highest ranking being No. 12 among only pro-style quarterbacks by recruiting source ''[[Rivals.com]]'', behind [[Pat Devlin (American football)|Pat Devlin]], [[Juice Williams]], [[Josh Freeman]], and being overshadowed by the likes of five-star recruits [[Mitch Mustain]], [[Matthew Stafford]] and [[Tim Tebow]].<ref name="SS_Bio"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=4&pid=10&yr=2006 | title=Football Recruiting – Quarterback | accessdate=2007-09-11 | publisher=Scout.com }}</ref>


==College career==
==Early life==
Bradford was born to Kent and Martha Bradford in [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]].<ref name="soonersports.com">{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2010 |title=Football Depth Chart |url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/football-depth-chart.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925221001/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/football-depth-chart.html |archive-date=September 25, 2010 |access-date=September 27, 2010 |website=SoonerSports.com}}</ref> He attended [[Putnam City North High School]] in Oklahoma City, where he starred in [[high school football|football]], [[basketball]], [[baseball]], and [[golf]] for the Putnam City North Panthers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tomasson |first=Chris |date=September 24, 2016 |title=Vikings QB Sam Bradford was an all-everything athlete until football won out |url=https://www.twincities.com/2016/09/24/vikings-qb-sam-bradford-was-an-all-everything-athlete-until-football-won-out/ |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=Twin Cities}}</ref> Bradford played as a [[pitcher]] in baseball, but gave up baseball after his freshman year. He earned All-City honors as a junior [[quarterback]] in football by ''The Oklahoman''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2004 |title=The Oklahoman's Big All-City Football team: Roster and player profiles |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2878373/the-oklahomans-big-all-city-football-team-roster-and-player-profiles? |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=The Oklahoman}}</ref> Following his senior season in which he threw for 2,029 [[Passing yards|yards]] and 17 [[touchdown]]s in 12 games, Bradford was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Team and was a Second-Team All-State pick by ''[[The Oklahoman]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2005 |title=Boys All-state Roster |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2891825/boys-all-state-roster? |access-date=May 23, 2017 |website=The Oklahoman}}</ref><ref name="SS_Bio">{{Cite web |title=14 Sam Bradford |url=http://soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bradford_sam00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070920101805/http://soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bradford_sam00.html |archive-date=September 20, 2007 |access-date=September 11, 2007 |website=SoonerSports.com}}</ref>
Bradford received an [[athletic scholarship]] to attend the [[University of Oklahoma]], where he played for coach [[Bob Stoops]]' [[Oklahoma Sooners football]] team from 2007 to 2009.


Bradford was also a Division I-caliber basketball player. As a senior, he averaged 18.6 [[Point (basketball)|points]] and 10.5 [[Rebound (basketball)|rebounds]] per game and played on the same elite [[Amateur Athletic Union|AAU]] team as fellow [[Oklahoma City]] native and [[NBA]] star [[Blake Griffin]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maisel |first=Ivan |date=November 30, 2007 |title=Oklahoma's rookie QB makes college game looks easy |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=3134076 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> In golf, Bradford defeated future [[PGA Tour|PGA]] touring pros [[Kevin Tway]] and [[Robert Streb]] during his high school career. In addition to the aforementioned sports, Bradford also played [[ice hockey]] in his youth. In 1999, when Bradford was 12, his [[Traveling team|travel team]], the Junior Blazers, won a regional championship, beating a team from Houston. He quit the sport that same year, and according to his former hockey coach [[Mike McEwen (ice hockey)|Mike McEwen]], who played on three [[Stanley Cup]] championship teams with the [[New York Islanders]], Bradford had the talent to make it in the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]. McEwen also said that Bradford was one of the best players he ever coached.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Domowitch |first=Paul |date=June 11, 2015 |title=Sam Bradford: All-American everything |url=https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/inq/sam-bradford-20150610.html |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref>
===Freshman season===
In 2006, Oklahoma's starting quarterback [[Rhett Bomar]], then a sophomore, was dismissed from the team for violating [[NCAA]] rules. [[Paul Thompson (football)|Paul Thompson]], a senior quarterback-turned-wide receiver, converted back to quarterback and led the [[2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team]] to win the [[Big 12 Football Championship Game|Big 12 Championship Game]]. His departure left a void at the quarterback position at Oklahoma. Six players on the roster tried out for the starting position during the following off-season, including three [[Walk-on (sport term)|walk-on]] quarterbacks,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfbstats.com/2007/team/522/roster.html|title=2007 Oklahoma Sooners Roster}}</ref> [[true freshman]] Keith Nichol (a [[Rivals.com]] 4-star recruit and 6th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2007 recruiting class, who later transferred to [[Michigan State University]]), junior [[Joey Halzle]] (the only one with game experience), and Bradford, a [[redshirt freshman]]. On August 21, 2007, Bradford won the starting quarterback role for the [[2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team|2007 team]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082107aaa.html | publisher=SoonerSports.com | title=Bradford Gets Nod at Quarterback | accessdate=2007-08-21 }}</ref>


In the spring of 2005, by the end of Bradford's junior season, he garnered interest from several Division I football programs, including [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]], [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]], [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech]], and nearby Oklahoma. Following his senior season, Bradford was viewed as a two-to-three-star recruit (out of five) and was not that highly ranked among the high school class of 2006, with his highest ranking being No. 12 among only pro-style quarterbacks by recruiting source ''[[Rivals.com]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thamel |first=Pete |author-link=Pete Thamel |date=December 13, 2008 |title=Bradford Wins Heisman, but the Top Prize Awaits |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/sports/ncaafootball/14heisman.html |access-date=November 8, 2022 |website=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> Bradford was ranked behind [[Pat Devlin (American football)|Pat Devlin]], [[Isiah Williams|"Juice" Williams]], and [[Josh Freeman]], and was overshadowed by five-star recruits such as [[Mitch Mustain]], [[Matthew Stafford]], and [[Tim Tebow]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Football Recruiting – Quarterback |url=http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=4&pid=10&yr=2006 |access-date=September 11, 2007 |website=Scout.com}}</ref>
[[File:OUSoonersQBs-April2007.jpg|thumb|left|Bradford (left)

Joey Halzle(center) and Hays McEachern (right) during spring practice in April 2007]]
{{College athlete recruit start|40=yes|collapse=no|year=2006}}
{{College athlete recruit entry
| recruit = Sam Bradford
| position = [[Quarterback|QB]]
| hometown = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| highschool = [[Putnam City North High School]]
| feet = 6
| inches = 4
| weight = 200
| 40 = 4.78
| commitdate = December 2, 2005
| scout stars = 3
| rivals stars = 3
| espn grade = 79
}}
{{College athlete recruit end
| 40 = yes
| year = 2006
| rivals ref title = 2006 Oklahoma Football Commitment List
| scout ref title = 2006 Oklahoma College Football Recruiting Commits
| espn ref title =
| rivals school = oklahoma
| scout s = 146
| espn schoolid =
| scout overall = 18 ([[Quarterback|QB]])
| rivals overall = 12 (QB), 1 (Oklahoma)
| espn overall = 16 (QB)
| access-date = September 21, 2016
}}

==College career==
===Freshman season===
{{See also|2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team}}
Bradford received an [[athletic scholarship]] to attend the [[University of Oklahoma]], where he played for coach [[Bob Stoops]]'s [[Oklahoma Sooners football]] team. He [[Redshirt freshman|redshirted as a freshman]] in 2006. The same year, Oklahoma's starting quarterback [[Rhett Bomar]], then a sophomore, was dismissed from the team for violating [[NCAA]] rules.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 3, 2006 |title=Bomar, Quinn dismissed from OU football team |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2824545/bomar-quinn-dismissed-from-ou-football-team |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=The Oklahoman}}</ref> [[Paul Thompson (American football)|Paul Thompson]], a senior quarterback-turned-[[wide receiver]], converted back to quarterback and led the [[2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team]] to win the [[Big 12 Championship Game]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 Oklahoma Sooners Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/oklahoma/2006.html |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 Oklahoma Sooners Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/oklahoma/2006-schedule.html |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> His departure left a void at the quarterback position at Oklahoma. Six players on the roster tried out for the starting position during the following off-season, including three [[Walk-on (sports)|walk-on]] quarterbacks,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007 Oklahoma Sooners Roster |url=http://www.cfbstats.com/2007/team/522/roster.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926023405/http://www.cfbstats.com/2007/team/522/roster.html |archive-date=September 26, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2020 |website=CFB Stats}}</ref> [[true freshman]] Keith Nichol (a Rivals.com 4-star recruit and 6th-ranked [[dual-threat quarterback]] in the 2007 recruiting class, who later transferred to [[Michigan State University]]), junior Joey Halzle (the only one with game experience), and Bradford. On August 21, 2007, Bradford won the starting quarterback role for the [[2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team|2007 team]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bradford Gets Nod at Quarterback |url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082107aaa.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007165746/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082107aaa.html |archive-date=October 7, 2007 |access-date=August 21, 2007 |website=SoonerSports.com}}</ref>


[[File:OUSoonersQBs-April2007.jpg|thumb|left|Bradford (left), Joey Halzle (center), and Hays McEachern (right) during spring practice in April 2007]]
In his first game for the Sooners, against the [[University of North Texas]], Bradford completed 21 of 23&nbsp;attempts for 363&nbsp;yards and three touchdowns in a little over two quarters, breaking the school record for passing yards in a half, held by his quarterback coach [[Josh Heupel]], with 350.<ref name="Sooner newbies">{{cite news | title=Sooner newbies Bradford, Murray debut with monster games | first=Jenni | last=Carlson | publisher=NewsOK.com | url=http://newsok.com/article/3116419 | accessdate=2007-09-04 | date=2007-09-02 }}</ref> The very next game, Bradford broke [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[Jason White (American football)|Jason White]]'s school record for most consecutive pass completions with 22 (18 came in the first half and four at the start of the second).<ref name="NOK1_OUUM">{{cite news | title=Sooners' Bradford proves that he belongs | publisher=NewsOK.com | first=Jake | last=Trotter | url=http://newsok.com/article/3121288 | date=2007-09-09 | accessdate=2007-09-10 }}</ref>


In his first game for the Sooners, against the [[University of North Texas]], Bradford completed 21 of 23&nbsp;passing attempts for 363&nbsp;yards and three touchdowns in a little over two quarters, breaking the school record for passing yards in a half, held by his [[Quarterbacks Coach|quarterback coach]] [[Josh Heupel]], with 350.<ref name="Sooner newbies">{{Cite news |last=Carlson |first=Jenni |date=September 2, 2007 |title=Sooner newbies Bradford, Murray debut with monster games |publisher=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3116419/backfield-of-dreamsbrspan-classhl2sooner-newbies-bradford-murray-debut-with-monster-gamesspan |access-date=February 10, 2022}}</ref> The very next game, Bradford broke [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[Jason White (American football)|Jason White]]'s school record for most consecutive pass completions with 22 (18 came in the first half and 4 at the start of the second).<ref name="NOK1_OUUM">{{Cite web |last=Trotter |first=Jake |date=September 9, 2007 |title=Sooners' Bradford proves that he belongs |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3121288/sooners-bradford-proves-that-he-belongsbrspan-classhl2quarterback-sets-ous-consecutive-completion-recordspan? |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=The Oklahoman}}</ref>
In the second week of the 2007 season, Bradford was named the national offensive player of the week by the [[Walter Camp Foundation]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Bradford Captures Camp Honor | url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090907aab.html | publisher=SoonerSports.com | accessdate=2007-09-10 | date=2007-09-09 }}</ref> after tying the school record for most touchdown passes in a game with five.<ref>{{cite web | title=Oklahoma Rocks Miami, 51–13 | url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090807aaa.html | publisher=SoonerSports.com | accessdate=2007-09-10 }}</ref> Having thrown 25 touchdowns through his first nine games, Bradford was on pace to break the [[NCAA]] freshman record of 29&nbsp;touchdowns set by [[David Neill]] in 1998 and tied by [[Colt McCoy]] in 2006.


In the second week of the 2007 season, Bradford was named the college national offensive player of the week by the [[Walter Camp Football Foundation]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 9, 2007 |title=Bradford Captures Camp Honor |url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090907aab.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204060416/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090907aab.html |archive-date=December 4, 2008 |access-date=September 10, 2007 |website=SoonerSports.com}}</ref> after tying the school record for most touchdown passes in a game with five.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oklahoma Rocks Miami, 51–13 |url=http://oklahoma.sidearmsports.com/news/2007/9/8/208367220.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013141054/http://soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090807aaa.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=Oklahoma Sooners}}</ref> Having thrown 25 touchdowns through his first nine games, Bradford was on pace to break the NCAA freshman record of 29&nbsp;touchdowns set by [[David Neill]] in 1998 and tied by [[Colt McCoy]] in 2006.
In the November 17, 2007 game against [[Texas Tech Red Raiders|Texas Tech]], Bradford suffered a concussion of unknown severity. He was removed from the game and replaced by back-up quarterback [[Joey Halzle]]. The Sooners lost the game, 27–34.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Sports Network I-A College Football | url = http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=/cfoot/news/AFN4113246.htm | publisher = The Sports Network | accessdate = 2007-11-18}}</ref> Bradford was able to play in the [[Bedlam Series|Bedlam]] game against [[Oklahoma State Cowboys|Oklahoma State]] on November 24.<ref>{{cite web | title = ESPN – Sooners QB Bradford to be reevaluated this week – College Football | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3117799 | publisher = ESPN | accessdate = 2007-11-21}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/11118296 Bradford's early exit in '07 means Tech still has to size up Sam]</ref>


During the November 24, 2007 game against the [[Oklahoma State Cowboys football|Oklahoma State Cowboys]], Bradford broke the NCAA freshman record of 29 touchdowns by passing his 30th touchdown to [[Joe Jon Finley]] during the second quarter.<ref>{{cite news | title=Patrick runs for career-best 202 yards, 2 TDs as OU rolls | publisher=ESPN | accessdate=2007-11-24 | date=2007-11-24 | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273280201 }}</ref> At the [[Missouri Tigers]] game, Bradford threw for 209&nbsp;yards and 0&nbsp;interceptions. He was 18–26 and threw for two touchdowns.
In the November 17, 2007, game against [[Texas Tech Red Raiders|Texas Tech]], Bradford suffered a [[concussion]]. He was removed from the game and replaced by back-up quarterback Joey Halzle. The Sooners lost the game, 27–34. Bradford was able to play in the [[Bedlam Series|Bedlam]] game against [[Oklahoma State Cowboys|Oklahoma State]] a week later.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2007 |title=Sooners QB Bradford to be reevaluated this week |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3117799 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> During the game against the [[Oklahoma State Cowboys football|Oklahoma State Cowboys]], Bradford broke the NCAA freshman record of 29 touchdowns by passing his 30th touchdown to [[Joe Jon Finley]] during the second quarter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 24, 2007 |title=Patrick runs for career-best 202 yards, 2 TDs as OU rolls |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=273280201 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117070153/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=273280201 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 17, 2017 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> At the [[Missouri Tigers]] game, Bradford threw for 209&nbsp;yards and 0&nbsp;interceptions. He was 18–26 and threw for two touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Missouri at Oklahoma Box Score, October 13, 2007 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2007-10-13-oklahoma.html |access-date=January 13, 2018 |website=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref>


The Sooners won the [[Big 12 Championship Game|Big 12 Championship]] after defeating Missouri for the second time in a season. The Sooners played the [[West Virginia Mountaineers]] in the [[Fiesta Bowl]] on January 2, 2008 and lost 48–28. It was Bradford's first [[BCS bowl]] game as a starter.
The Sooners won the Big 12 Championship after defeating Missouri for the second time in a season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oklahoma vs Missouri Box Score, December 1, 2007 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2007-12-01-missouri.html |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> The Sooners played the [[West Virginia Mountaineers]] in the [[Fiesta Bowl]] on January 2, 2008, and lost 48–28.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fiesta Bowl West Virginia vs Oklahoma Box Score, January 2, 2008 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2008-01-02-oklahoma.html |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref>


===Sophomore season===
===Sophomore season===
{{See also|2008 Oklahoma Sooners football team}}
{{See also|2008 Oklahoma Sooners football team}}
[[File:OklahomaSooners-SamBradford (cropped 1).jpg|thumb|180 px|Sam Bradford during the 2008 NCAA season.]]
[[File:OklahomaSooners-SamBradford (cropped 1).jpg|thumb|180 px|Sam Bradford during the 2008 NCAA season.]]
In week 8 of the following season against [[2008 Kansas Jayhawks football team|Kansas]], Bradford surpassed quarterback coach [[Josh Heupel]]'s school record for passing yards in a single game with 468 yards. Bradford led the Sooners to their third straight Big 12 Championship and defeated Missouri 62–21. In the process, the Sooners broke Hawaii's 2006 record for the most points in a single season with 702 points. Also, the Sooners were the first team in NCAA history who had scored 60 or more points in five straight games. Oklahoma finished the 2008 regular season with a 12–1 record, ranking #2 in the AP Poll and #1 in the BCS Standings. The Sooners earned a trip to play [[University of Florida|Florida]] at the [[2009 BCS National Championship Game]].
The following season Bradford surpassed quarterback coach Josh Heupel's school record for passing yards in a single game with 468 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carlson |first=Jenni |date=October 19, 2008 |title=Jenni Carlson exclusive: Bradford blossoms under Heupel's helping hand |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3313297/jenni-carlson-exclusive-bradford-blossoms-under-heupels-helping-hand |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=The Oklahoman}}</ref> Bradford led the Sooners to their third straight Big 12 Championship and defeated Missouri 62–21.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oklahoma vs Missouri Box Score, December 6, 2008 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2008-12-06-missouri.html |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> In the process, the Sooners broke [[Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football|Hawaii]]'s 2006 record for the most points in a single season with 702 points. Also, the Sooners were the first team in NCAA history to score 60 or more points in five straight games. Oklahoma finished the 2008 regular season with a 12–1 record, ranking #2 in the AP Poll and #1 in the BCS Standings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008 Oklahoma Sooners Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/oklahoma/2008.html |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> The Sooners earned a trip to play [[University of Florida|Florida]] at the [[2009 BCS National Championship Game]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BCS Championship – Oklahoma vs Florida Box Score, January 8, 2009 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2009-01-08-florida.html |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> Bradford turned in one of the best seasons ever by a quarterback, passing for 4,720 yards with 50 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Bradford 2008 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/sam-bradford-1/gamelog/2008/ |access-date=January 13, 2018 |website=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref>


After the regular season, Bradford captured the [[Davey O'Brien Award]]<ref name=OBrien08>{{cite news|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20081212_92_B1_Olhmur200895|title=Bradford is winner of O'Brien QB award}}</ref> and the [[Heisman Trophy]].<ref>[http://www.heisman.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121308aaa.html SAM BRADFORD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SELECTED AS THE 2008 HEISMAN WINNER ]</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsok.com/heisman-u-sam-bradford-is-latest-in-impressive-r-ou-q/article/3328676?custom_click=lead_story_title|title=Heisman U? Sam Bradford is latest in impressive run of OU signal-callers}}</ref> He is the second sophomore, after 2007 winner [[Tim Tebow]] of the University of Florida, to receive the Heisman; he also became the fifth University of Oklahoma player, as well as the first person of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] descent to capture the trophy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot/news/news.aspx?id=4197477|title= Bradford wins 2008 Heisman Trophy}}</ref> Bradford received 1,726 total points while the other finalists, [[Colt McCoy]], of the University of Texas, and Tim Tebow, received 1,604 and 1,575, respectively. Tebow, however, collected more first-place votes, 309, while Bradford got 300. Bradford got the most points thanks to the help of his 315 second-place votes. A total of 926 voters participated in the balloting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20081213_297_0_NWYRut498164|title=OU's Sam Bradford wins 74th Heisman Trophy}}</ref>
After the regular season, Bradford captured the [[Davey O'Brien Award]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hofeld |first=M. |date=December 11, 2008 |title=Sam Bradford Wins O'Brien Award |url=https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2008/12/11/690280/sam-bradford-wins-o’brien |access-date=July 12, 2020 |website=Crimson And Cream Machine}}</ref> and the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the best player in college football.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Bradford of the University of Oklahoma Selected as the 2008 Heisman Winner |url=http://www.heisman.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121308aaa.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217034536/http://www.heisman.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121308aaa.html |archive-date=December 17, 2008 |access-date=May 23, 2017 |website=heisman.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Trotter |first=Jake |date=December 9, 2008 |title=Heisman U? Sam Bradford is latest in impressive run of OU signal-callers |work=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3328676/heisman-u-sam-bradford-is-latest-in-impressive-run-of-ou-signal-callers |access-date=February 10, 2022}}</ref> He is the second sophomore, after 2007 winner Tim Tebow of the University of Florida, to receive the Heisman; he also became the fifth University of Oklahoma player, as well as the second person of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] descent to capture the trophy after [[Jim Plunkett]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 13, 2008 |title=Bradford wins 2008 Heisman Trophy |work=The Sports Network |url=http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot/news/news.aspx?id=4197477 |access-date=July 12, 2020}}</ref> Bradford received 1,726 total points while the other finalists, Colt McCoy, of the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]], and Tim Tebow, received 1,604 and 1,575, respectively. Tebow, however, collected more first-place votes, 309, while Bradford got 300. Bradford got the most points thanks to the help of his 315 second-place votes. A total of 926 voters participated in the balloting.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoover |first=John |date=December 14, 2008 |title=OU's Bradford wins Heisman |work=Tulsa World |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/ou/ous-bradford-wins-heisman/article_3f06a8ad-7c45-5c29-8836-749b95f79686.html |access-date=February 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215061224/http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20081213_297_0_NWYRut498164 |archive-date=December 15, 2008}}</ref>


When combined with Blake Griffin's [[Naismith College Player of the Year|Naismith Award]], [[Oklahoma Sooners|Oklahoma]] became the first school to have a winner in both top basketball and football individual awards in the same year. Bradford was also voted [[Associated Press College Football Player of the Year]]. Bradford received 27 votes, again beating McCoy (17 votes) and Tim Tebow (16 votes). Bradford is the third Oklahoma Sooner to win the award, joining Josh Heupel (2000) and Jason White (2003). Heupel and White were also quarterbacks, with Heupel being the current quarterbacks coach for Oklahoma.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Eric |date=December 9, 2017 |title=OU football: A look at the Sooners' Heisman Trophy winners and runners-up |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/ousportsextra/ou-football-a-look-at-the-sooners-heisman-trophy-winners-and-runners-up/article_e5020eb2-0055-5b8f-8f99-724f3e63f7ea.html |access-date=September 14, 2020 |website=Tulsa World}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
|+2008 Heisman Trophy Finalist Voting<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6163533.html|title=Oklahoma QB Bradford wins Heisman Trophy}}</ref>
! Finalist
! First place votes<br />(3 pts. each)
! Second place votes<br />(2 pts. each)
! Third place votes<br />(1 pt. each)
! Total points
|-
| Sam Bradford
| 300
| 315
| 196
| 1,726
|-
| [[Colt McCoy]]
| 266
| 288
| 230
| 1,604
|-
| [[Tim Tebow]]
| 309
| 207
| 234
| 1,575
|}

When combined with [[Blake Griffin]]'s [[Naismith College Player of the Year|Naismith Award]], [[Oklahoma Sooners|Oklahoma]] became the first school to have a winner in both top basketball and football individual awards in the same year. Bradford was also voted [[Associated Press College Football Player of the Year Award|the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year]]. Bradford received 27 votes, again beating McCoy (17 votes) and Tim Tebow (16 votes).<ref>[http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-applayeroftheyear&prov=ap&type=lgns SAM BRADFORD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SELECTED AS THE 2008 AP College Football Player of the Year]</ref> Bradford is the third Oklahoma Sooner to win the award, joining [[Josh Heupel]] (2000) and [[Jason White (American football)|Jason White]] (2003). Heupel and White were also quarterbacks, with Heupel being the current quarterbacks coach for Oklahoma.


Bradford faced [[2008 Florida Gators football team|Florida]], led by Tebow, in the [[2009 BCS National Championship Game]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-dufresne5-2009jan05,0,6538839.column|title=
Bradford faced [[2008 Florida Gators football team|Florida]], led by Tebow, in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dufresne |first=Chris |date=January 5, 2009 |title=Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow are Heismans apart |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jan-05-sp-dufresne5-story.html |access-date=February 10, 2022}}</ref> He threw 26-of-41 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, as Florida won the game 24–14.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma Sooners Box Score, January 8, 2009 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=290080201 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow are Heismans apart | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Chris | last=Dufresne | date=January 5, 2009 | accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref> He threw 26-of-41 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Florida ended up beating Oklahoma 24–14.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=290080201|title=Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma Sooners Box Score, January 8, 2009}}</ref>


===Junior season===
===Junior season===
{{See also|2009 Oklahoma Sooners football team}}
{{See also|2009 Oklahoma Sooners football team}}
Bradford announced that he would forgo the [[2009 NFL draft]] to return to Oklahoma for his junior season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2009 |title=Sam Bradford Will Return to Oklahoma |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/01/14/bradford.ap/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121141013/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/01/14/bradford.ap/index.html |archive-date=January 21, 2009 |website=SI.com}}</ref> In the Sooners' first game of the season (against [[2009 BYU Cougars football team|Brigham Young]]), Bradford suffered a third-degree [[AC joint]] sprain one play after becoming Oklahoma's all-time passing leader. Playing without Bradford for the second half of the game, Oklahoma went on to lose 14–13.<ref name="Hall">{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2009 |title=BYU vs. Oklahoma – Game Recap – September 5, 2009 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=292480201 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025131944/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=292480201 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Bradford was scheduled to return in about three to six weeks.<ref name="Hall" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Baldwin |first=Mike |date=September 21, 2009 |title=OU's Bob Stoops: Sam Bradford still questionable for Miami |work=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3402852/ous-bob-stoops-sam-bradford-still-questionable-for-miami |access-date=February 10, 2022}}</ref> After missing three weeks, Bradford returned to the field during the [[2009 Baylor Bears football team|Baylor]] game, and completed 27 of 49 passes for 389 yards and one touchdown, leading the Sooners to a 33–7 victory.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 10, 2009 |title=Big 12: Even with Bradford, Sooners beatable |work=Omaha World Herald |url=http://www.omaha.com/article/20091010/SPORTS/710109763 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012094449/http://www.omaha.com/article/20091010/SPORTS/710109763 |archive-date=October 12, 2009}}</ref> Bradford re-injured his right shoulder on October 17, 2009, in the [[Red River Rivalry]] against [[2009 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]] on the second drive of the game. It was later announced that he would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery and enter the [[2010 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2009 |title=QB Bradford's surgery called a success |url=http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-t25-oklahoma-bradford&prov=ap&type=lgns |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091117200318/http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-t25-oklahoma-bradford&prov=ap&type=lgns |archive-date=November 17, 2009 |access-date=November 4, 2009 |website=Rivals.Yahoo.com}}</ref>

Bradford announced that he would forgo the [[2009 NFL Draft]] to return to Oklahoma for his junior season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/01/14/bradford.ap/index.html|title=Sam Bradford Will Return to Oklahoma|publisher=SI.com|date=2009-01-14}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> In the Sooners' first game of the season (against [[2009 BYU Cougars football team|Brigham Young]]), Bradford suffered a 3rd degree [[AC joint]] sprain one play after becoming Oklahoma's all-time passing leader. Playing without Bradford for the second half of the game, Oklahoma went on to lose 13–14. Bradford was originally scheduled to return in about three to six weeks,<ref name="Hall's TD">{{cite news | title=Hall's TD pass with 3:03 remaining lifts Cougars over No. 3 Sooners | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=292480201 | agency=Associated Press | publisher=ESPN.com | date=2009-09-05 | accessdate=2009-09-05}}</ref> but head coach Bob Stoops initially refused to either confirm or deny that timetable.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsok.com/ous-bob-stoops-sam-bradford-still-questionable-for-miami/article/3402852 |title=OU's Bob Stoops: Sam Bradford still questionable for Miami |newspaper=The Oklahoman |first=Mike |last=Baldwin |date=September 21, 2009 |accessdate=2010-12-19}}</ref> After missing three weeks, Bradford returned to the field during the [[Baylor Bears football|Baylor]] game, and completed 27-of-49 passes for 389 yards and one touchdown, leading the Sooners to a 33–7 victory.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.omaha.com/article/20091010/SPORTS/710109763|title=Big 12: Even with Bradford, Sooners beatable}}</ref> Bradford re-injured his right shoulder on October 17, 2009 in the [[Red River Rivalry]] against [[2009 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]] on the second drive of the game. It was later announced that he would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery and enter the [[2010 NFL Draft]].<ref>[http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-t25-oklahoma-bradford&prov=ap&type=lgns]{{dead link|date=December 2010}}</ref>


===Awards and honors===
===Awards and honors===
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*2007 ''[[Sporting News]]'' Freshman of the Year<ref name=TSN07>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/exclusives/20071207/971576-p.html|title=SN's 2007 college football All-Americans}}</ref>
*2007 Second-team All-American by ''Sporting News''<ref name=TSN07/>
*2007 Honorable mention All-American by ''[[Pro Football Weekly]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/College+Football/College+Football+Extras/2007/allamerica.htm|title=Nolan Nawrocki’s All-America team}}</ref> ''College Football News'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/710932.html|title=2007 CFN All-America Teams}}</ref> and ''Sports Illustrated''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/12/10/all.americas/index.html|title=SI.com's 2007 All-Americas | work=CNN | date=December 11, 2007 | accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref>
*2007 All-[[Big 12]] honorable mention by the league's coaches<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=106181&SPID=13139&DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=1522092|title=2007 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced}}</ref>
*2007 All-Big 12 Academic Team<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/oldsite/photos/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/07_AAB12_TEAM.pdf?SPSID=106181&SPID=13139&DB_OEM_ID=10410|title=2007 AcaAdemic All-Big 12 FootbaBAllTteaAm Announced}}</ref>
*2008 Second-team Academic All-American by ''[[ESPN The Magazine]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/documents/08CoSIDAAAA(FB).pdf|title=2008 ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-America}}</ref>
*2008 All-Big 12 Academic Team<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/pdf5/353968.pdf?ATCLID=3623034&SPSID=106181&SPID=13139&DB_OEM_ID=10410|title=2008 Academic All-Big 12 Football Team Announced}}</ref>
*2008 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year as named by the league's coaches, who also selected him to the All-Big 12 first team<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=3626465|title=2008 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced}}</ref>
*2008 First-team [[2008 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] by [[CBS Sports]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/11167903|title=CBSSports.com 2008 All-America Team}}</ref> [[Rivals.com]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=887528|title=Rivals.com 2008 All-America Teams}}</ref> [[ESPN]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/flash/2008/allamerican|title=2008 ESPN All-Americans}}</ref> [[Associated Press]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ncaafootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=34&url_article_id=15445&change_well_id=2|title=Associated Press names 2008 All-America Team}}</ref> and ''Sporting News''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=497803|title= Sporting News' college football All-American First Team}}</ref>
*2008 [[Davey O'Brien Award]] winner<ref name=OBrien08/>
*2008 [[Heisman Trophy]] winner<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121203921.html|title=Heisman Finalists | work=The Washington Post | date=December 13, 2008 | accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref>
*2008 [[Associated Press College Football Player of the Year Award|Associated Press College Football Player of the Year]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=6510947|title=AP College Football Player of the Year Winner}}</ref>
*2008 [[Sammy Baugh Trophy]]
*2008 co-[[Sporting News College Football Player of the Year|''Sporting News'' Player of the Year]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/12/texas-tech-qb-harrell-named-co-national.html
|title=Texas Tech QB Harrell named co-national player of the year}}</ref>
*2008 [[Chic Harley Award|Harley Award]] <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com/Awards.htm
|title=Touchdown Club News, Awards|date=March 27, 2009}}</ref>
*2008 [[Touchdown Club of Columbus#Quarterback of the Year|Touchdown Club of Columbus Quarterback of the Year]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com/PastHonorees.htm | title=NCAA Quarterback of the Year | work=Touchdown Club of Columbus | date=April 6, 2009}}</ref>
}}
*2010 [[NFL Draft]] First overall pick
*2010 Carroll Rosenbloom Memorial Award (St. Louis Rams' rookie of the year award)


* 2007 ''[[Sporting News]]'' Freshman of the Year<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2007 |title=SN's 2007 college football All-Americans |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/exclusives/20071207/971576-p.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212012610/http://www.sportingnews.com/exclusives/20071207/971576-p.html |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=SportingNews.com}}</ref>
===Statistics===
* 2007 Second-team All-American by Sporting News<ref name=":1" />
{| class="wikitable"
* 2007 Honorable mention All-American<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nolan |first=Nawrocki |date=December 13, 2007 |title=Nolan Nawrocki's All-America team |url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/College+Football/College+Football+Extras/2007/allamerica.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516000822/http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/College+Football/College+Football+Extras/2007/allamerica.htm |archive-date=May 16, 2008 |access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
* 2007 All-[[Big 12 Conference football|Big 12]] honorable mention by the league's coaches<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2007 |title=2007 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced |url=http://big12sports.com/news/2007/11/27/1522092.aspx |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=big12sports.com}}</ref>
* 2007 All-Big 12 Academic Team<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 20, 2007 |title=2007 Academic All-Big 12 FootballTeam Announced |url=https://static.big12sports.com/custompages/oldsite/photos/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/07_aab12_team.pdf |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Big 12}}</ref>
* 2008 Second-team Academic All-American by ''[[ESPN The Magazine|ESPN the Magazine]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008 ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-America |url=http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/documents/08CoSIDAAAA(FB).pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327055432/http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/documents/08CoSIDAAAA(FB).pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=IvyLeagueSports.com}}</ref>
* 2008 All-Big 12 Academic Team<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2008 |title=2008 Academic All-Big 12 Football Team Announced |url=https://bigtwelve_ftp.sidearmsports.com/custompages/pdf5/359244.pdf |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Big 12}}</ref>
* 2008 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year as named by the league's coaches<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2008 |title=2008 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced |url=http://big12sports.com/news/2008/12/2/3626465.aspx |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=big12sports.com}}</ref>
* 2008 First-team All-American<ref>{{Cite web |title=CBSSports.com 2008 All-America Team |url=http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/11167903 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215095643/http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/11167903 |archive-date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=CBSSports.com}}</ref>
* 2008 [[Davey O'Brien Award]] Winner<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trotter |first=Jake |date=December 11, 2008 |title=OU Sooner's Sam Bradford wins O'Brien Award as nation's top quarterback |url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3329487/ou-sooners-sam-bradford-wins-obrien-award-as-nations-top-quarterback/ |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Oklahoman.com}}</ref>
* 2008 [[Heisman Trophy]] winner<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2008 |title=2008 Heisman Trophy Voting |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-2008.html |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=[[Sports Reference]] |language=en |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
* 2008 [[Associated Press College Football Player of the Year]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Murray |date=December 22, 2008 |title=Sam Bradford named AP Player of the Year |url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3332109/sam-bradford-named-ap-player-of-the-year/ |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Oklahoman.com}}</ref>
* 2008 [[Sammy Baugh Trophy]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2008 |title=Sam Bradford Wins Baugh Award |url=https://soonersports.com/news/2008/12/7/208398775.aspx |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=University of Oklahoma}}</ref>
* 2008 co-[[Sporting News College Football Player of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' Player of the Year]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=George |first=Brandon |date=December 17, 2008 |title=Texas Tech QB Harrell named co-national player of the year |url=http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/12/texas-tech-qb-harrell-named-co-national.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118050035/http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/12/texas-tech-qb-harrell-named-co-national.html |archive-date=January 18, 2010 |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Dallasnews.com}}</ref>
* 2008 [[Chic Harley Award|Harley Award]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2008 |title=OU Football Notebook: Sam Bradford, Jermaine Gresham earn honors |url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3330607/ou-football-notebook-sam-bradford-jermaine-gresham-earn-honors/ |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Oklahoman.com}}</ref>
* 2008 [[Touchdown Club of Columbus|Touchdown Club of Columbus Quarterback of the Year]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Honoreess :: Touchdown Club of Columbus |url=http://www.tdccolumbus.com/honorees.html |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=www.tdccolumbus.com}}</ref>
* 2023 American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee, Class of 2023<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2023 |title=American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2023 |url=https://famok.org/aiahof-2023-induction-ceremony/ |access-date=April 29, 2023 |website=famok.org}}</ref>

===College statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
! colspan="2" |
! rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"| Passing
! rowspan="2"| {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Rushing
! colspan="7"| Passing
! colspan="3"| Rushing
|-
|-
! {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} !! {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} !! {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} !! {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} !! {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} !! {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} !! {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}}
! Season !! Team !! GP !! Rating !! Att !! Comp !! Pct !! Yds !! TD !! Int !! Att !! Yds !! TD
|-
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]] || [[2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma Sooners]]
! colspan="16" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Oklahoma Sooners}};"| Oklahoma Sooners
| 14 || 176.52 || 341 || 237 || 69.5 || 3,121 || 36 || 8 || 31 || 7 || 0
|-
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2008]] || [[2008 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma Sooners]]
! [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]] || [[2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
| colspan="11"|[[File:Redshirt.svg|15px|Redshirt]] ''[[Redshirt (college sports)|Redshirt]]''
| 14 || 180.86 || 483 || 328 || 67.9 || 4,721 || 50 || 8 || 42 || 47 || 5
|-
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2009]] || [[2009 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma Sooners]]
! [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]] || [[2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
| 3 || 133.9 || 69 || 39 || 58.7 || 562 || 2 || 0 || 3 || −5 || 0
| 14 || 237 || 341 || 69.5 || 3,121 || 36 || 8 || 176.52 || 31 || 7 || 0
|-
! [[2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2008]] || [[2008 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
| 14 || 328 || 483 || 67.9 || 4,721 || 50 || 8 || 180.86 || 42 || 47 || 5
|-
! [[2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2009]] || [[2009 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
| 3 || 39 || 69 || 56.5 || 562 || 2 || 0 || 134.5 || 4 || −18 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/sam-bradford-1.html Career] || 31 || 604 || 893 || 67.6 || 8,403 || 88 || 16 || 175.6 || 77 || 36 || 5
|}
|}

Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/stats?playerId=188934|title=Sam Bradford #14 QB}}</ref>


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
===2010 NFL Draft===
Although he likely would have been one of the first quarterbacks taken in the [[2009 NFL Draft]], Bradford decided to return to Oklahoma for his junior season in January 2009.<ref>{{Citation |last= |first= |date=January 14, 2009 |title=Sam Bradford announces he'll return to Sooners |newspaper=The Sporting News |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-01-14/sam-bradford-announces-hell-return-sooners }}</ref> Shortly after the 2009 draft, he was projected as the No. 1 prospect for the [[2010 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andrew_perloff/04/28/2010/index.html |first=Andrew |last=Perloff |date=April 28, 2009 |title=(Way early) 2010 NFL Mock Draft |work=SI.com }}</ref> On October 25, 2009, Bradford announced he would forgo his final year at Oklahoma and enter the draft.<ref name="EvansNYT">{{Citation |last=Evans |first=Thayer |date=October 26, 2009 |title=Oklahoma’s Bradford Chooses Season-Ending Surgery and Will Try for Draft |newspaper=New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/sports/ncaafootball/26bradford.html }}</ref> Commonly considered one of the top prospects available, Bradford was projected as high as the No. 1 overall pick for most of the preseason and the early part of the regular season.<ref name="McShayESPN">{{cite news |first=Todd |last=McShay |authorlink=Todd McShay |title=QBs Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy are high in Todd McShay's early 2010 mock draft |url=http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=4110478&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft09%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dmcshay_todd%26id%3d4110478 |work=ESPN.com |publisher= |date=April 30, 2009 |accessdate= }}</ref><ref name="PerloffSI">{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Perloff |title=Sam Bradford goes No.1 to St. Louis Rams in 2010 NFL Mock Draft |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andrew_perloff/04/28/2010/index.html |work=Sports Illustrated |publisher= |date=April 28, 2009 |accessdate= }}</ref><ref name="RangCBS">{{Citation |last=Rang |first=Rob |date=October 23, 2009 |title=2009 NFL Mock Draft |work=CBSSports.com |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfldraftscout-RobRang }}</ref>


===Pre-draft===
Due to his shoulder injury, Bradford did not throw at the 2010 NFL Combine, however he was measured and participated in interviews and medical examinations. He was measured at 6–4¼ and 236 pounds, about 15 pounds above his college playing weight.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jeremiah |first=Daniel |date=February 26, 2009 |title=Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford measured at 6'4{{frac|1|4}}, 236 pounds at Friday's weigh-in |work=Rotoworld.com |http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=5161}}</ref> Bradford scored 36 out of 50 on the [[Wonderlic]] test, well above the average of 28.5 for the 30 NFL quarterbacks slated to start in 2010.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/wonderlic-scores-of-2010-nfl-starting-quarterbacks-and-339905.html |title=Wonderlic scores of 2010 NFL starting quarterbacks and NFL draft QB prospects |newspaper=[[Palm Beach Post]] |date=March 10, 2010 |first=Edgar |last=Thompson }}</ref>
Although he likely would have been one of the first quarterbacks taken in the 2009 NFL Draft, Bradford decided to return to Oklahoma for his junior season in January 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2009 |title=Bradford's Choice Shows Risks In Returning |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bradfords-choice-shows-risks-in-returning/ |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=CBS News}}</ref> Shortly after the 2009 draft, he was projected as the No. 1 prospect for the 2010 NFL Draft.<ref name="PerloffSI">{{Cite news |last=Perloff |first=Andrew |date=April 28, 2009 |title=(Way early) 2010 NFL Mock Draft |work=SI.com |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andrew_perloff/04/28/2010/index.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501152019/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andrew_perloff/04/28/2010/index.html |archive-date=May 1, 2009}}</ref> On October 25, 2009, Bradford announced he would forgo his final year at Oklahoma and enter the draft.<ref name="EvansNYT">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Thayer |date=October 26, 2009 |title=Oklahoma's Bradford Chooses Season-Ending Surgery and Will Try for Draft |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/sports/ncaafootball/26bradford.html |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Commonly considered one of the top prospects available, Bradford was projected as high as the No. 1 overall pick for most of the [[NFL preseason|preseason]] and the early part of the [[Regular season (NFL)|regular season]].<ref name="McShayESPN">{{Cite news |last=McShay |first=Todd |author-link=Todd McShay |date=April 30, 2009 |title=Oklahoma dominates 2010 mock draft |work=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft09/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=4110478 |access-date=February 10, 2022}}</ref><ref name="PerloffSI" /><ref name="RangCBS">{{Cite web |last=Rang |first=Rob |date=October 23, 2009 |title=2009 NFL Mock Draft |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfldraftscout-RobRang |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413062026/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfldraftscout-RobRang |archive-date=April 13, 2010 |website=CBS Sports}}</ref>


Because of his shoulder injury, Bradford did not throw at the 2010 [[NFL Combine]], however he was measured and participated in interviews and medical examinations. He was measured at {{cvt|6|ft|4+1/4|in}} and 236&nbsp;lb (107&nbsp;kg), about 15&nbsp;lb (6.8&nbsp;kg) above his college playing weight.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeremiah |first=Daniel |date=February 26, 2009 |title=Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford measured at 6'4 1/4", 236 pounds at Friday's weigh-in |work=Rotoworld.com |url=http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=5161 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024032328/http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=5161 |archive-date=October 24, 2009}}</ref> Bradford scored 36 out of 50 on the [[Wonderlic test]], well above the average of 28.5 for the 30 NFL quarterbacks slated to start in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Edgar |date=March 10, 2010 |title=Wonderlic scores of 2010 NFL starting quarterbacks and NFL draft QB prospects |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/wonderlic-scores-of-2010-nfl-starting-quarterbacks-and-339905.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313165114/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/wonderlic-scores-of-2010-nfl-starting-quarterbacks-and-339905.html |archive-date=March 13, 2010 |website=[[Palm Beach Post]]}}</ref>
On March 19, Bradford met with [[St. Louis Rams]] general manager [[Billy Devaney]] and offensive coordinator [[Pat Shurmur]] in [[Pensacola, Florida]], where he has been training and rehabbing since undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/A94CC5B1861CBED0862576EB000DE5E4?OpenDocument |title=Rams meet with Sam Bradford |first=Jim |last=Thomas |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=March 19, 2010 }}</ref>

On March 19, Bradford met with the [[St. Louis Rams]], who held the first overall pick, general manager [[Billy Devaney]] and [[offensive coordinator]] [[Pat Shurmur]] in [[Pensacola, Florida]], where he had been training and [[Physical medicine and rehabilitation|rehabbing]] since undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Jim |date=March 19, 2010 |title=Rams meet with Sam Bradford |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/A94CC5B1861CBED0862576EB000DE5E4?OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100320044935/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/A94CC5B1861CBED0862576EB000DE5E4?OpenDocument |archive-date=March 20, 2010 |website=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]}}</ref>

{{ external media
| video1 = [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x151j33_sam-bradford-at-the-nfl-combine_sport Sam Bradford at the NFL Combine]
| video2 = [http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d817b5576/Rams-take-Sam-Bradford Bradford gets drafted by St. Louis]
}}


{{nfl predraft
{{nfl predraft
| height ft = 6
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4¼
| height in = 4+1/4
| weight = 236
| weight = 236
| dash = 4.90
| dash = 4.70
| ten split =
| twenty split =
| shuttle =
| cone drill =
| vertical =
| broad ft =
| broad in =
| bench =
| wonderlic = 36
| wonderlic = 36
| arm span = 34⅜
| arm span = 34+3/8
| hand span = 9½
| hand span = 9+1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/sam-bradford?id=497095 |title=Sam Bradford Combine Profile |work=NFL.com |accessdate=February 27, 2010 }}</ref>
| note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Bradford Combine Profile |url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/sam-bradford?id=497095 |access-date=February 27, 2010 |website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=*Sam Bradford QB – Oklahoma – 2010 Draft Scout/NCAA College Football |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=64631&DraftYear=2010 |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=draftscout.com}}</ref>
}}
}}


===St. Louis Rams===
===St. Louis Rams===
On April 22, 2010, Bradford was selected by the [[St. Louis Rams]] as the [[List of first overall National Football League draft picks|first overall pick]] in the [[2010 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/around-the-horns/around-the-horns/2010/04/its-finally-official-rams-take-bradford |title=It's finally official: Rams take Bradford |publisher=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=April 22, 2010}}</ref> It was the first time the Rams selected a quarterback in the first round of a draft since the selection of [[Bill Munson]] in the [[1964 NFL Draft]]. Bradford is the first No. 1 pick out of Oklahoma since [[Billy Sims]] was selected top overall by the [[Detroit Lions]] in the [[1980 NFL Draft]]. Bradford chose the #8 in honor to [[Troy Aikman]] who also attended OU before transferring to UCLA.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/04/rams-qb-sam-bradford-to-wear-no-8-as-homage-to-troy-aikman/1 |title=Bradford changes jersey number to honor Aikman |publisher=[[USA Today]] |date=April 25, 2010}}</ref>


====2010 season====
On July 30, 2010, Bradford signed a six-year, $78 million deal, which has $50 million of guarantees and has a maximum value of $86 million making it the largest contract ever for an NFL rookie.<ref>[http://fantasyknuckleheads.com/breaking-st-louis-rams-sign-sam-bradford/ fantasyknuckleheads.com]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5425041 |first=Adam |last=Schefter |title=Bradford, Rams Agree On Record-Breaking Deal |publisher=ESPN.com news services |date=July 31, 2010|accessdate=September 11, 2010}}</ref>
In early spring, Bradford met with Thom Goudy, a professional development coach in St. Louis, Missouri. Goudy helped Bradford with his pocket technique. Bradford spent three weeks in his training camp before starting the summer conditioning camp. On April 22, 2010, Bradford was selected by the St. Louis Rams as the [[List of first overall National Football League draft picks|first overall pick]] in the 2010 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coats |first=Bill |date=April 22, 2010 |title=It's finally official: Rams take Bradford |url=http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/around-the-horns/around-the-horns/2010/04/its-finally-official-rams-take-bradford |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425055817/http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/around-the-horns/around-the-horns/2010/04/its-finally-official-rams-take-bradford |archive-date=April 25, 2010 |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Stltoday.com |publisher=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]}}</ref> It was the first time the Rams selected a quarterback in the first round of a draft since the selection of [[Bill Munson]] in the [[1964 NFL draft]]. Bradford was the first No. 1 pick out of Oklahoma since [[Billy Sims]] was selected first overall by the [[Detroit Lions]] in the [[1980 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oklahoma Drafted Players/Alumni |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/oklahoma/drafted.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Bradford chose the #8 in honor to [[Troy Aikman]] who also attended Oklahoma before transferring to UCLA.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Nate |date=April 25, 2010 |title=Bradford changes jersey number to honor Aikman |work=USA Today |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/04/rams-qb-sam-bradford-to-wear-no-8-as-homage-to-troy-aikman/1 |access-date=July 12, 2020}}</ref> On July 30, 2010, Bradford signed a six-year, $78 million deal, which had $50 million of guarantees and a maximum value of $86 million which made it the largest contract ever for an NFL rookie.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Kurt |date=July 30, 2010 |title=BREAKING: St. Louis Rams Sign Sam Bradford |url=http://fantasyknuckleheads.com/breaking-st-louis-rams-sign-sam-bradford/ |access-date=May 23, 2017 |website=fantasyknuckleheads.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schefter |first=Adam |date=July 31, 2010 |title=Rams give Bradford $50M guaranteed |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5425041 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>


In the preseason opener against the [[Minnesota Vikings]] on August 14, Bradford went 6-of-13 for 57 yards and was also sacked 3 times in a Rams loss.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mortensen, Chris |title=Sam Bradford not pressing to start |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp10/columns/story?columnist=mortensen_chris&id=5464360 |work=[[ESPN.com]] |date=August 15, 2010 |accessdate=2010-08-15}}</ref> After another unimpressive showing against the Browns in his second game, Bradford bounced back in a big way against the Patriots in the third game of the preseason. He got his first start in place of the injured [[A. J. Feeley]], throwing two first half touchdowns and helping lead the Rams to a 36–35 victory.
In the preseason opener against the [[Minnesota Vikings]] on August 14, Bradford went 6-of-13 for 57 yards and was also sacked 3 times in a Rams loss.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mortensen, Chris |date=August 15, 2010 |title=Sam Bradford not pressing to start |work=[[ESPN.com]] |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/trainingcamp10/columns/story?columnist=mortensen_chris&id=5464360 |access-date=February 10, 2022}}</ref> After another unimpressive showing against the Browns in his second game, Bradford had a better performance against the Patriots in the third game of the preseason. He got his first start in place of the injured [[A. J. Feeley]], throwing two first half touchdowns and helping lead the Rams to a 36–35 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch St. Louis Rams vs. New England Patriots [08/26/2010] |url=https://www.nfl.com/games/rams-at-patriots-2010-pre-3#menu=gameinfo |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>


He competed for the starting quarterback position with Feeley and on September 4, Bradford was named the starting quarterback for the 2010 season opener.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maske |first=Mark |date=September 4, 2010 |title=Sam Bradford named Rams' starter |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2010/09/sam-bradford-named-rams-starter.html |url-status=dead |access-date=September 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907024911/http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2010/09/sam-bradford-named-rams-starter.html |archive-date=September 7, 2010}}</ref> On September 12, 2010, in his first regular season game as the starting quarterback for the Rams, Bradford completed 32 of 55 passes for 253 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions in a 17–13 loss to the [[Arizona Cardinals]]. His first NFL touchdown came on a 1-yard pass to [[Laurent Robinson]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – September 12th, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201009120ram.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Two weeks later, he then achieved his first victory as an NFL starter when the Rams defeated the [[Washington Redskins]] in an upset by a score of 30–16, which snapped a 13-game overall home losing streak.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Washington Redskins at St. Louis Rams – September 26th, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201009260ram.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> The next week, he passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Rams over the Seahawks, 20–3. This was their first win in a division game since November 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams – October 3rd, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201010030ram.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>
He competed for the starting quarterback position with Feeley and on September 4, Bradford was named the starting quarterback for the 2010 season opener.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2010/09/sam-bradford-named-rams-starter.html |title=Sam Bradford named Rams' starter|publisher=Washington Post |first=Mark |last=Maske| date=September 4, 2010|accessdate=September 11, 2010}}</ref>


In Week 8 against the [[2010 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina Panthers]], Bradford completed 25 of 32 passes, two of them for touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carolina Panthers at St. Louis Rams – October 31st, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201010310ram.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In his first eight games, he scored eleven touchdowns, which tied an NFL record—held by [[Dan Marino]] ({{NFL Year|1983}}), [[Peyton Manning]] ({{NFL Year|1998}}), and [[Ben Roethlisberger]] ({{NFL Year|2004}})—for over that span by a rookie since the [[AFL–NFL merger]] in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2010 |title=Rams at .500 as Sam Bradford tosses two TDs |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=301031014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218144330/http://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=301031014 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 18, 2017 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Bradford went 3–2 as a starter in October, passing for 1,019 yards and 7 touchdowns against 3 interceptions. He was named the NFL's offensive rookie of the month.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coats |first=Bill |date=November 4, 2010 |title=Bradford named rookie of the month |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/bradford-named-rookie-of-the-month/article_3d694fbc-e83d-11df-b6eb-00127992bc8b.html |access-date=September 14, 2020 |website=STLtoday.com}}</ref>
On September 12, 2010, in his first regular season game as the starting quarterback for the Rams, Bradford completed 32/55 passes for 253 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions.The [[Arizona Cardinals]] won 17–13. His first NFL touchdown came on a 1-yard pass to Laurent Robinson. Two weeks later, he then achieved his first victory as an NFL starter when the Rams defeated the [[Washington Redskins]] in an upset by a score of 30–16, which snapped a 13-game overall home losing streak. The next week, he passed for 289 yards and two TDs in leading the Rams over the Seahawks, 20-3. This was their first win in a division game since November 2007.


During October and November, he established a record for most consecutive passes without an interception for a rookie (169), which ended with an interception by [[William Moore (American football)|William Moore]] in a home game against the [[2010 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] on November 21.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 21, 2010 |title=NFL Game Center: Atlanta Falcons at St. Louis Rams – 2010 Week 11 |work=NFL.com |url=https://www.nfl.com/games/falcons-at-rams-2010-reg-11 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120010747/http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010112110/2010/REG11/falcons@rams |archive-date=November 20, 2010}}</ref> On November 28, 2010, against the [[Denver Broncos]], Bradford became the first rookie in NFL history to pass for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions during a road victory.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sando |first=Mike |date=November 29, 2010 |title=Sam Bradford's performance in perspective |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/28399/sam-bradfords-performance-in-perspective |access-date=February 10, 2022}}</ref> He capped November by becoming the first rookie quarterback to win two consecutive Offensive Rookie of the Month awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Dan |date=December 3, 2010 |title=Sam Bradford NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Month In November, Too |url=https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2010/12/3/2325616/sam-bradford-nfl-offensive-rookie-of-the-month-in-november-too |access-date=September 14, 2020 |website=SB Nation St. Louis}}</ref>
In week 8 against the [[2010 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina Panthers]], Bradford connected on 25 of 32 passes, two of them for touchdowns. In his first eight games he scored eleven TDs, which tied an NFL record—held by [[Dan Marino]] ({{NFL Year|1983}}), [[Peyton Manning]] ({{NFL Year|1998}}), and [[Ben Roethlisberger]] ({{NFL Year|2004}})—for over that span by a rookie since the [[AFL–NFL merger]] in 1970.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=301031014 |title=Rams at .500 as Sam Bradford tosses two TDs |work=ESPN.com |date=October 31, 2010 }}</ref> Bradford went 3-2 as a starter in October, passing for 1019 yards and 7 TDs against 3 INTs. He was named the NFL's offensive rookie of the month.


On December 26, Bradford surpassed [[Peyton Manning]]'s record for most completed passes by an NFL rookie quarterback (326). Bradford finished the season with 354 completions out of 590 attempts, surpassing Manning's record of 575 for most attempts by an NFL rookie quarterback. Bradford became just the third rookie quarterback to start all 16 regular season games and pass over 3,000 passing yards, joining Peyton Manning and [[Matt Ryan (American football)|Matt Ryan]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Jim |date=December 30, 2010 |title=The Rams' rock at quarterback |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/article_581748de-673e-53f2-b505-335c5248d43d.html |access-date=July 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Farmer |first=Sam |date=January 1, 2011 |title=Rams' Sam Bradford has displayed an unexpected quality: durability |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-jan-01-la-sp-nfl-sunday-spotlight-20110102-story.html |access-date=July 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Bradford 2010 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradSa00/gamelog/2010/ |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> He was named to the [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]], becoming the fourth Rams quarterback to claim this award, joining [[Dieter Brock]] (1985), [[Jim Everett]] (1986), and [[Tony Banks (American football)|Tony Banks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2010s All-Rookie Teams |url=https://www.profootballwriters.org/on-field-awards/2010s-pfwa-all-rookie-teams/ |access-date=September 14, 2020 |website=PFWA}}</ref>
During October and November, he established a record for most consecutive passes without an interception for a rookie (169), which ended with an interception by [[William Moore (American football)|William Moore]] in a home game against the [[2010 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] on November 21.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010112110/2010/REG11/falcons@rams |work=NFL.com |date=November 21, 2010 }}</ref> On November 28, 2010, against the [[Denver Broncos]], Bradford became the first rookie in NFL history to pass for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions during a road victory.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sando |first=Mike |date=November 29, 2010 |url=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/28399/sam-bradfords-performance-in-perspective |title=Sam Bradford's performance in perspective |work=ESPN.com |accessdate=2010-11-29 }}</ref> He capped November by becoming the first rookie QB to win two consecutive Offensive Rookie of the Month awards.


====2011 season====
On December 26, Bradford surpassed Peyton Manning's record for most completed passes by an NFL rookie quarterback (326). Bradford finished the season with 354 completions out of 590 attempts, surpassing Manning's record of 575 for most attempts by an NFL rookie quarterback. Bradford became just the third rookie quarterback to start all 16 regular season games and pass over 3000 passing yards, joining [[Peyton Manning]] and [[Matt Ryan]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/article_581748de-673e-53f2-b505-335c5248d43d.html |title=The Rams' rock at quarterback |first=Jim |last=Thomas |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 30, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/01/sports/la-sp-nfl-sunday-spotlight-20110102 |title=Rams' Sam Bradford has displayed an unexpected quality: durability |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |first=Sam |last=Farmer |date=January 1, 2011 }}</ref>
Coming into the 2011 season, expectations were high for the St. Louis Rams and Bradford. After going 4–0 in the preseason, it appeared as if they would be fulfilled, but once the regular season happened injuries ravaged the roster. A high ankle sprain bothered Bradford for the majority of the year and he finished with 2,164 passing yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions. The team went 1–9 in games he appeared in and had a 2–14 record overall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Bradford 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradSa00/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 St. Louis Rams Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/2011.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>


====2012 season====
Bradford regressed in the eyes of many football pundits during his second season as he only threw six touchdown passes in 10 starts, winning only one game. He was sacked 36 times in these ten starts. He missed six games due to the lingering effects of a high ankle sprain.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
During the off-season, there was much speculation that the Rams would select Heisman Trophy winner and former [[Baylor Bears football|Baylor]] quarterback [[Robert Griffin III]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collier |first=Jamal |date=December 1, 2012 |title=RGIII vs. Sam Bradford: Why St. Louis Rams Made the Wrong Decision at QB |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1428701-rgiii-vs-sam-bradford-why-st-louis-rams-made-the-wrong-decision-at-qb |access-date=March 24, 2020 |website=Bleacher Report}}</ref> But new head coach [[Jeff Fisher]] instilled hope that Bradford was still the Rams franchise quarterback, solidifying this hope when the Rams later reached a deal with the Washington Redskins for the 2nd overall selection in the [[2012 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schefter |first=Adam |date=March 9, 2012 |title=Redskins get No. 2 pick from Rams |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/7668243/washington-redskins-acquire-no-2-overall-pick-st-louis-rams |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
[[File:Sbradford.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Bradford throwing against the [[2012 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] in [[2012 St. Louis Rams season|2012]].]]
The Rams were not expected to make much of a leap following their dismal campaign the year before, but behind strong play by Bradford and rookies stepping up to the challenge, the Rams finished 7–8–1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/ |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In Week 2, against the Washington Redskins, he finished with 310 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the 31–28 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Washington Redskins at St. Louis Rams – September 16th, 2012 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201209160ram.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In Week 15, against the Minnesota Vikings, he had 377 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the 36–22 loss.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams – December 16th, 2012 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201212160ram.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Bradford finished the season with career best numbers: 3,702 passing yards, 21 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions and an 82.6 passer rating to go along with 59.5 completion percentage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Bradford 2012 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradSa00/gamelog/2012 |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>


===Statistics===
====2013 season====
After adding players in the offseason including offensive tackle [[Jake Long]], tight end [[Jared Cook]], receiver [[Tavon Austin]], and linebacker [[Alec Ogletree]], some analysts expected the Rams and Bradford to excel in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bibber |first=Ryan Van |date=September 4, 2013 |title=Rams to the Super Bowl! |url=https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/4/4694944/2013-nfl-season-predictions-st-louis-rams-super-bowl |access-date=March 24, 2020 |website=Turf Show Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 29, 2013 |title=2013 NFL predictions: Falcons, Packers, 49ers will reign in NFC |work=NFL.com |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2013-nfl-predictions-falcons-packers-49ers-will-reign-in-nfc-0ap2000000235438 |access-date=February 26, 2021}}</ref> However, other analysts believed that they would finish with a record close to .500.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stein |first=Matt |date=June 10, 2013 |title=2013 NFL Predictions: Win–loss records for Every Team |work=Bleacher Report |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1665648-2013-nfl-predictions-win-loss-records-for-every-team |access-date=February 26, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kirwan |first=Pat |date=August 22, 2013 |title=2013 NFL team-by-team record predictions |work=CBSSports.com |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2013-nfl-team-by-team-record-predictions/ |access-date=February 26, 2021}}</ref> The season started off on a positive note with a 27–24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – September 8th, 2013 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201309080ram.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In the game, Bradford had 299 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. In the next game against the Atlanta Falcons, he had 352 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception as the Rams fell 31–24.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis Rams at Atlanta Falcons – September 15th, 2013 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201309150atl.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> After two losses to the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, he had 222 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 34–20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacksonville Jaguars at St. Louis Rams – October 6th, 2013 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201310060ram.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> For the second straight game, he threw for three touchdowns in a 38–13 victory over the Houston Texans.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis Rams at Houston Texans – October 13th, 2013 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201310130htx.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> However, during the Rams' Week 7 game against the [[Carolina Panthers]], Bradford tore his left [[Anterior Cruciate Ligament|ACL]] on a run out of bounds after a hit from safety [[Mike Mitchell (safety)|Mike Mitchell]], ending his season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wagoner |first=Nick |date=October 20, 2013 |title=Source: Sam Bradford has torn ACL |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/9855679/sam-bradford-st-louis-rams-suffers-torn-acl-source-says |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> On the 2013 season, Bradford passed for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns to 4 interceptions and 90.9 passer rating.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Bradford 2013 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradSa00/gamelog/2013 |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> The Rams missed the playoffs with a 7–9 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 St. Louis Rams Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/2013.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>
====Regular season====

====2014 season====
[[File:Sam Bradford 2014.jpg|thumb|180px|Bradford in 2014]]
Bradford suffered an injury to the same ACL after being sacked during a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns and missed the entire 2014 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sessler |first=Marc |date=August 23, 2014 |title=Sam Bradford out for season with torn ACL |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/sam-bradford-out-for-season-with-torn-acl-0ap3000000382460 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>

===Philadelphia Eagles===
[[File:Sam Bradford 2015.jpg|200px|thumb|Bradford with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015]]

On March 10, 2015, Bradford was traded to the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] along with a 2015 fifth-round pick, in exchange for [[Nick Foles]], a 2015 fourth-round pick, and a 2016 second-round pick.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sessler |first=Marc |date=March 10, 2015 |title=Rams trading Sam Bradford to Eagles for Nick Foles |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/rams-trading-sam-bradford-to-eagles-for-nick-foles-0ap3000000477790 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Florio |first=Mike |date=March 10, 2015 |title=Eagles give up 2016 second-rounder for Bradford, too |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/10/eagles-give-up-2016-second-rounder-for-bradford-too/ |access-date=March 11, 2015 |website=ProFootballTalk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheridan |first=Phil |date=March 10, 2015 |title=QBs Bradford, Foles swap teams |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12456228/sam-bradford-st-louis-rams-traded-philadelphia-eagles-nick-foles |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> In his first game as a Philadelphia Eagle, Bradford completed 36 out of 52 passes for a touchdown and two interceptions in a season opening 26–24 loss to the [[Atlanta Falcons]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons – September 14th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201509140atl.htm |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In Week 4, he threw three touchdowns with zero interceptions, and although his completion percentage was lower than 55% in both games, he still mustered a 122.6 passer rating in a loss to the Redskins, his only passer rating above 90 for the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins – October 4th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201510040was.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In Week 6, he threw three interceptions, but the Eagles still gained a 27–7 win over the New York Giants to move Philadelphia to 3–3 and first place in the NFC East, mainly thanks to the defense and run game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles – October 19th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201510190phi.htm |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Bradford had his worst game by far in a loss against the Panthers, where he completed only 56.5% of his passes with zero touchdowns, one interception, and a quarterback rating of 58.7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Eagles at Carolina Panthers – October 25th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201510250car.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Against the [[Miami Dolphins]] on November 15, Bradford suffered a left shoulder injury as well as a concussion, which would keep him out of the next two games against [[2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay]] and a Thanksgiving Day game against [[2015 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheridan |first=Phil |date=November 15, 2015 |title=Sam Bradford injures shoulder, gets concussion; X-rays negative |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14137917/sam-bradford-philadelphia-eagles-injures-shoulder-ruled-vs-miami-dolphins-x-rays-negative |access-date=July 12, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> In his first season, Bradford would go 7–7 as a starter and his play began to improve after Week 9 against the [[Dallas Cowboys]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Bradford 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradSa00/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Before Week 9, Bradford had been playing poorly through his first seven games, but Eagles coach [[Chip Kelly]] would not bench him, and during Week 9, Bradford threw a game-winning touchdown in overtime to [[Jordan Matthews]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys – November 8th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201511080dal.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In Week 13, Bradford led the Eagles to a 35–28 upset over the [[New England Patriots]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots – December 6th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201512060nwe.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In Week 15, Bradford threw for 361 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 40–17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles – December 20th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201512200phi.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In Week 16, he threw for 380 yards and a touchdown in a 38–24 loss to the Washington Redskins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles – December 26th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201512260phi.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In the regular season finale against the New York Giants, he threw for 320 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the 35–30 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants – January 3rd, 2016 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201601030nyg.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> The Eagles finished with a 7–9 record and missed the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2015 Philadelphia Eagles Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/2015.htm |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

On March 1, 2016, Bradford signed a 2-year, $36 million ($26 million guaranteed) contract extension with the Eagles. However, the Eagles traded with the [[Cleveland Browns]] for the number two pick in the [[2016 NFL draft]], in order to draft a new quarterback. This led to speculation that Bradford would be traded or used as a stopgap while [[Chase Daniel]] educated the newly drafted quarterback in new head coach [[Doug Pederson]]'s offensive scheme. On April 25, 2016, it was reported that Bradford wanted to be traded and that he would no longer attend the team's off-season activities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2016 |title=Sam Bradford demands trade after Eagles' move for No. 2 pick |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/15353852/sam-bradford-demanding-trade-philadelphia-eagles |access-date=April 25, 2016 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> The Eagles selected quarterback [[Carson Wentz]] with the second overall pick in the 2016 draft on April 28. Bradford returned to the team in May 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patra |first=Kevin |date=May 9, 2016 |title=Sam Bradford reports for Eagles voluntary workouts |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/sam-bradford-reports-for-eagles-voluntary-workouts-0ap3000000660779 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>

===Minnesota Vikings===
[[File:Sam Bradford behind center 2016 vs. Redskins.jpg|thumb|180px|Bradford (No. 8) with the Vikings in 2016]]

====2016 season====
On September 3, 2016, following his appearance in the Eagles' preseason games, Bradford was traded to the Minnesota Vikings for a first-round pick in the [[2017 NFL draft]] (later used to select [[Derek Barnett]]) and a conditional fourth-round pick in the [[2018 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orr |first=Conor |date=September 3, 2016 |title=Sam Bradford traded to Vikings for two draft picks |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/sam-bradford-traded-to-vikings-for-two-draft-picks-0ap3000000694979 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Alex |date=September 3, 2016 |title=Sam Bradford Traded To Minnesota |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Sam-Bradford-Traded-To-Minnesota/390017a6-3441-4a43-b39b-eeb1a65dbe64 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521010249/https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Sam-Bradford-Traded-To-Minnesota/390017a6-3441-4a43-b39b-eeb1a65dbe64 |archive-date=May 21, 2017 |access-date=July 12, 2020 |website=Philadelphia Eagles}}</ref> The trade was made after Vikings quarterback [[Teddy Bridgewater]] suffered a season-ending ACL tear during team practice on August 30, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goessling |first=Ben |date=August 30, 2016 |title=Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater dislocates knee, tears ACL in drill |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17424174/teddy-bridgewater-suffers-serious-knee-injury-minnesota-vikings-practice |access-date=August 30, 2016 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

Fifteen days after being traded, Bradford made his first start for the Vikings in Week 2 against the [[Green Bay Packers]], despite not having much time to learn the offense. Bradford ended up hurting his left hand in the first half due to a hit by [[Clay Matthews III|Clay Matthews]]. Bradford finished the game completing 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead the Vikings to their first win in their [[U.S. Bank Stadium|new stadium]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – September 18th, 2016 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201609180min.htm |access-date=January 13, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> His first touchdown as a Viking came in the second quarter on an eight-yard pass to tight end [[Kyle Rudolph]] in the back of the end zone, while the second touchdown of the night was a 25-yarder to [[Stefon Diggs]] late in the third quarter that gave the Vikings a 17–7 lead. The connection between both players resulted in 182 yards on 9 catches for Diggs, a career-high for him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Ryan |date=September 19, 2016 |title=Dominant Sam Bradford outplays Aaron Rodgers in Vikings debut: 8 takeaways |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/dominant-sam-bradford-outplays-aaron-rodgers-in-vikings-debut-8-takeaways/ |access-date=May 23, 2017 |website=CBS Sports}}</ref> Bradford received high praise from the media, with many calling it one of the best games of his career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Lindsey |date=September 19, 2016 |title=Peter King on Sam Bradford's Performance vs. Packers: 'Best Night as a Pro' |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/peter-king-on-sam-bradford-s-performance-vs-packers-best-night-as-a-pro-17719886 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110005804/https://www.vikings.com/news/lunch-break/article-1/Peter-King-on-Sam-Bradfords-Performance-vs-Packers-Best-Night-as-a-Pro/c3f2e11a-e90d-489c-949f-77dada5f9f3e |archive-date=November 10, 2017 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=Minnesota Vikings}}</ref> The following week, Bradford threw for 171 yards and one touchdown in a 22–10 win against the Carolina Panthers, thanks to a strong Vikings' defense that sacked [[Cam Newton]] eight times and intercepted him three times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers – September 25th, 2016 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201609250car.htm |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In the Vikings' win over the [[2016 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] in Week 4, Bradford threw a touchdown pass and did not throw an interception for the third straight game. The only other Vikings player to do that in each of his first three games of a season was [[Randall Cunningham]] in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2018 |title=Elias Says |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/elias?date=20161004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005203335/http://www.espn.com/espn/elias?date=20161004 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 5, 2016 |access-date=May 23, 2017 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> With both starting tackles and Stefon Diggs (Vikings' leading receiver) out for a Week 5 game against the [[Houston Texans]], Bradford delivered another strong performance, completing 22 of 30 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns and, for the fourth straight start, not a single interception. In the opening drive, he connected with [[Adam Thielen]] on a 36-yard touchdown strike.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krammer |first=Andrew |date=October 10, 2016 |title=Sam Bradford stands out for Vikings despite loss of another starting lineman |url=http://www.startribune.com/sam-bradford-stands-out-for-vikings-despite-loss-of-another-starting-lineman/396471861/ |access-date=May 23, 2017 |website=startribune.com}}</ref> During the first quarter of a Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions, Bradford achieved the statistical oddity of completing a pass to himself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – November 6th, 2016 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201611060min.htm |access-date=February 16, 2021 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> His throw was batted into the air by Lions defensive tackle [[Tyrunn Walker]], but Bradford caught the ball and ran towards the sideline, gaining five yards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Thomas |date=November 6, 2016 |title=Vikings QB Sam Bradford Catches Batted Pass and Runs for 5 Yards |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2674388-vikings-qb-sam-bradford-has-pass-batted-back-catches-it-and-runs-for-5-yards |access-date=September 14, 2020 |website=Bleacher Report}}</ref>

During a three-game losing streak, Bradford threw only three touchdowns and an interception with 725 yards and a 66% completion percentage, poor in comparison with the previous four games, in which he threw for 990 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions, and had a 70% completion percentage. The Vikings would finish the season with an 8–8 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Minnesota Vikings Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2016.htm |access-date=January 13, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

Bradford started 15 games in 2016, completing 395 of 552 passes for 3,877 yards and 20 touchdowns with five interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Bradford 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradSa00/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> His 71.6 completion percentage set a single season NFL record, passing [[Drew Brees]]'s 2011 mark of 71.2.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graf |first=Dan |date=January 1, 2017 |title=Sam Bradford – Sam Bradford! – is the most accurate QB in NFL history |url=http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/sam-bradford-sam-bradford-accurate-qb-nfl-history-010117 |access-date=January 1, 2017 |website=foxsports.com}}</ref> Brees later finished the 2017 season with a 72.0 completion percentage, retaking the record. Bradford's 395 completions set a franchise record for completions in a season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Lindsey |date=January 1, 2017 |title=Sam Bradford Breaks NFL Record, Team Records in Season Finale |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/sam-bradford-breaks-nfl-record-team-records-in-season-finale-18373996 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103162516/https://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Sam-Bradford-Breaks-NFL-Record-Team-Records-in-Season-Finale/bf5f32ae-be3a-4005-8c55-8f64f8480c94 |archive-date=January 3, 2018 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=Minnesota Vikings}}</ref>

====2017 season====
In Week 1, Bradford completed 27 of 32 pass attempts for 346 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 29–19 win over the [[2017 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]], earning him his first NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lam |first=Quang M. |date=September 13, 2017 |title=Alex Smith, Sam Bradford among Players of the Week |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/alex-smith-sam-bradford-among-players-of-the-week-0ap3000000844276 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> He was inactive for the Week 2 game against the [[2017 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]], the first of three games missed due to a knee injury.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patra |first=Kevin |date=September 17, 2017 |title=Sam Bradford won't play Sunday due to sore knee |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/sam-bradford-won-t-play-sunday-due-to-sore-knee-0ap3000000845963 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> In Week 5, Bradford made his second and final start of the season, going 5-for-11 for 36 yards before being relieved by [[Case Keenum]] late in the second quarter of a 20-17 Vikings victory over the [[2017 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]. One day later, on October 10, it was revealed that Bradford was diagnosed with wear and tear on his knee after two previous ACL surgeries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Nick |date=October 10, 2017 |title=Sam Bradford dealing with wear and tear to knee |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/sam-bradford-dealing-with-wear-and-tear-to-knee-0ap3000000859835 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> On November 7, Bradford underwent a knee scope, putting his season in jeopardy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Nick |date=November 8, 2017 |title=Sam Bradford undergoes knee scope, could land on IR |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/sam-bradford-put-on-ir-teddy-bridgewater-activated-0ap3000000874009 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> He was placed on [[Injured reserve list|injured reserve]] the next day, ending his season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=November 8, 2017 |title=Vikings Activate Teddy Bridgewater, Place Sam Bradford on Injured Reserve |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-activate-teddy-bridgewater-place-sam-bradford-on-injured-reserv-19727266 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213030903/https://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-Activate-Teddy-Bridgewater-Place-Sam-Bradford-on-Injured-Reserve/7204244f-a32d-475c-ab84-20e9241c2d2d |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |access-date=July 12, 2020 |website=Minnesota Vikings}}</ref> On January 13, 2018, Bradford was activated off injured reserve to the active roster for the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the New Orleans Saints. [[Case Keenum]], who had gone 10-1 as the Vikings' quarterback since relieving Bradford a second time, remained the starter for the postseason. Bradford did not see action in either of Minnesota's two playoff games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=January 13, 2018 |title=Vikings Activate Sam Bradford |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-activate-sam-bradford-20244589 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202223100/https://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-Activate-Sam-Bradford/9b8f5965-2a58-4899-add6-42f8f6f04d37 |archive-date=February 2, 2018 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=Minnesota Vikings}}</ref>

===Arizona Cardinals===
[[File:Sam Bradford (50120926503).jpg|thumb|right|Bradford with the Cardinals in 2018]]
On March 16, 2018, Bradford signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals worth up to $20 million the first year with $15 million guaranteed with a potential out after 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=March 16, 2018 |title=Sam Bradford Officially Joins Cardinals |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/sam-bradford-officially-joins-cardinals-20458962 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317092351/https://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Sam-Bradford-Officially-Joins-Cardinals/1ec5358c-ef06-4232-ac1f-70eed65d3ff1 |archive-date=March 17, 2018 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=Arizona Cardinals}}</ref> Bradford wore number 9 with the Cardinals, since the number 8 was retired in honor of [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] safety [[Larry Wilson (American football)|Larry Wilson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weinfuss |first=Josh |date=March 30, 2018 |title=Sam Bradford to wear No. 9 as Cardinals newcomers get numbers |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/29767 |access-date=January 23, 2019 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> After ineffective performances in the first two games, both blowout losses, Bradford was pulled in favor of rookie [[Josh Rosen]] in the final moments of a Week 3 loss to the [[2018 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patra |first=Kevin |date=September 23, 2018 |title=Josh Rosen replaces Sam Bradford late in Cards loss |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/josh-rosen-replaces-sam-bradford-late-in-cards-loss-0ap3000000965850 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> As the Cardinals decided to keep Rosen as their starting quarterback, Bradford was inactive for the next five weeks before ultimately being released on November 3, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Nick |date=November 3, 2018 |title=Cardinals release Sam Bradford after eight weeks |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/cardinals-release-sam-bradford-after-eight-weeks-0ap3000000983649 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|-
! rowspan="2"|Year !! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|G !! rowspan="2"|GS !! colspan="8" |Passing !! colspan="4" |Rushing !! colspan="2" |Sacked !! colspan="2" |Fumbles
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
! colspan="2"| Sacks
! colspan="2"| Fumbles
|-
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} !! {{abbr|Record|Record as a starter}} !! {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} !! {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} !! {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} !! {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per passing attempt}} !! {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} !! {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} !! {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Yards per rushing attempt}} !! {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Sck|Times sacked}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Yards lost due to sacks}} !! {{abbr|Fum|Fumbles}} !! {{abbr|Lost|Fumbles lost}}
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 7–9 || 354 || '''590''' || 60.0 || 3,512 || 6.0 || 18|| '''15''' || 76.5 || 27|| 63 || 2.3 || '''1''' || 34 || 244 || 7 || 2
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
| 10 || 10 || 1–9 || 191 || 357 || 53.5 || 2,164 || 6.1 || 6 || 6 || 70.5 || 18 || 26 || 1.4 || 0 || 36 || 248 || '''10''' || '''7'''
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
|| '''16''' || '''16''' || 7–8–1 || 328 || 551 || 59.5 || 3,702 || 6.7 || '''21''' || 13 || 82.6 || '''36''' || '''124''' || 3.4 || '''1''' || 35 || 233 || 7 || 1
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
| 7 || 7 || 3–4 || 159 || 262 || 60.7 || 1,687 || 6.4 || 14|| 4 || 90.9 || 15 || 31 || 2.1 || 0 || 15 || 97 || 3 || 1
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
| 0 || 0 || — || colspan="16"| ''did not play due to injury''
|-
! [[2015 NFL season|2015]] !! [[2015 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 14 || 14 || '''7–7''' || 346 || 532 || 65.0 || 3,725 || 7.0 || 19 || 14 || 86.4 || 26 || 39 || 1.5 || 0 || 28 || 200 || '''10''' || 3
|-
! [[2016 NFL season|2016]] !! [[2016 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 15 || 15 || 7–8 || '''395''' || 552 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 71.6 || '''3,877''' || 7.0 || 20 || 5 || 99.3 || 20 || 53 || 2.7 || 0 || '''37''' || '''276''' || '''10''' || 5
|-
! [[2017 NFL season|2017]] !! [[2017 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 2 || 2 || 2–0 || 32 || 43 || '''74.4''' || 382 || '''8.9''' || 3 || 0 || '''124.4''' || 2 || −3 || −1.5 || 0 || 5 || 40 || 0 || 0
|-
|-
! [[2018 NFL season|2018]] !! [[2018 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
! Att !! Comp !! Pct !! Yds !! Y/A !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Sack !! YdsL !! Fum !! FumL
| 3 || 3 || 0–3 || 50 || 80 || 62.5 || 400 || 5.0 || 2 || 4 || 62.5 || 2 || 7 || '''3.5''' || 0 || 6 || 33 || 3 || 2
|-
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradSa00.htm Career] || 83 || 83 || 34–48–1 || 1,855 || 2,967 || 62.5 || 19,449 || 6.6 || 103 || 61 || 84.5 || 146 || 340 || 2.3 || 2 || 196 || 1,371 || 50 || 21
![[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[St. Louis Rams|STL]]
|| 16 || 16 || 590 || 354 || 60.0 || 3512 || 6.0 || 18 || 15 || 76.5 || 27|| 63 || 2.3 || 1 || 34|| 244 || 7 || 2
|- 65.4 9. 97.4 2.4
![[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[St. Louis Rams|STL]]
|| 10 || 10 || 357 || 191 || 53.5 || 2164 || 6.1 || 6 || 6 || 70.5 || 18 || 26 || 1.4 || 0 || 36|| 248 || 10 || 7
|- 65.4 9. 97.4 2.4
!colspan="2"|Total !! 26 !! 26 !! 947 !! 545 !! 57.6 !! 5676 !! 6.0 !! 24 !! 21 !! 74.2 !! 45 !! 89 !! 2.0 !! 1 !! 70 !! 492 !! 17 !! 9
|}
|}


==Personal==
===Records===
;Philadelphia Eagles records
Bradford is 1/16th [[Cherokee]] and listed as an official citizen on the [[Cherokee Nation]] tribe's [[Dawes Rolls|rolls]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsok.com/bcs-national-championship-ou-quarterback-sam-bradford-inspiration-to-american-indians/article/3335545|title=BCS National Championship: OU quarterback Sam Bradford inspiration to American Indians}}</ref><ref name=USAToday2>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/big12/2008-12-09-bradford-cover_N.htm|title=Native son: Okla. QB Bradford brings pride to Cherokees | work=USA Today | first=Steve | last=Wieberg | date=December 9, 2008 | accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref> Bradford is the first person of identified Cherokee descent to start at [[quarterback]] for a [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] university since [[Sonny Sixkiller]], a full-blooded Cherokee, who played for the [[University of Washington]] during the 1970–1972 seasons.<ref name=AP1-7-09>{{cite news|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gWdF_TVFQf_vyJfjzsUhCruWtU1QD95I7EUO0|title=Sam Bradford 'a role model' among Native Americans}}</ref>
*Most pass completions, game (37, tied with [[Mark Sanchez]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Most pass completions in a single game, Philadelphia Eagles |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/player-with-the-most-pass-completions-in-a-game-eagles |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}</ref>
Bradford also holds the distinction of being the first Native American to win the Heisman Trophy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesouthernhighlandreader.com/sam-bradford-enrolled-cherokee-set-to-be-the-first-native-american-heisman-winner/|title=Cherokee Sam Bradford set to be the first native American Heisman winner}}</ref>
;Minnesota Vikings records
* Most passing yards in a quarterback's first game as a Viking (286)


==Personal life==
His father, Kent Bradford, was an [[offensive lineman]] for the Sooners from 1977 to 1978.<ref>http://www.soonerstats.com/football/players/details.cfm?PlayerID=160</ref>
[[File:Sam-Bradford-Drinking-Milk - Flickr - USDAgov.jpg|thumb|Bradford in 2011]]
Bradford is a citizen of the [[Cherokee Nation]], tracing his lineage via the federal government's [[Dawes Rolls]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mell |first=Randall |date=January 7, 2009 |title=BCS National Championship: OU quarterback Sam Bradford inspiration to American Indians |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3335545/bcs-national-championship-ou-quarterback-sam-bradford-inspiration-to-american-indians |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=The Oklahoman}}</ref><ref name="USAToday2">{{Cite web |last=Wieberg |first=Steve |date=December 9, 2008 |title=Native son: Okla. QB Bradford brings pride to Cherokees |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/big12/2008-12-09-bradford-cover_N.htm |access-date=May 23, 2010 |website=USA Today}}</ref> Bradford was the first member of the Cherokee Nation to start at quarterback for a [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] university since [[Sonny Sixkiller]], who played for the [[University of Washington]] during the 1970–1972 seasons.<ref name="AP1-7-09">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Murray |date=January 7, 2009 |title=Sam Bradford 'a role model' among Native Americans |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gWdF_TVFQf_vyJfjzsUhCruWtU1QD95I7EUO0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123061747/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gWdF_TVFQf_vyJfjzsUhCruWtU1QD95I7EUO0 |archive-date=January 23, 2009 |website=The Associated Press}}</ref> On April 28, 2023, he was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2023 |title=American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2023 |url=https://famok.org/aiahof-2023-induction-ceremony/ |access-date=April 29, 2023 |website=famok.org}}</ref> His father, Kent Bradford, was an [[offensive lineman]] for the Sooners from 1977 to 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kent Bradford – SoonerStats – Oklahoma Sooners Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Softball Scores, Records, and Stats |url=http://www.soonerstats.com/football/players/details.cfm?PlayerID=160 |access-date=May 23, 2017 |website=www.soonerstats.com}}</ref>


Bradford is also an avid [[ice hockey]] fan. At one point Bradford compared his love for hockey to his love for football. According to a January 6, 2009 report, his favorite team is the [[Vancouver Canucks]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/sports/article/162491|title=U.S. college football star shows love for Canucks}}</ref> Bradford is a scratch golfer and was a star basketball player in high school.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/383652-nfl-draft-2010-sam-bradford-becomes-face-of-the-franchise-in-st-louis| publisher=Bleacher Report.com | title=Sam Bradford Becomes Face of the Franchise in St. Louis| accessdate=2010-09-11 | first=Clements | last=Rom | date=April 24, 2010}}</ref>
Bradford is an avid ice hockey fan. His favorite team is the [[Vancouver Canucks]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=York |first=Marty |date=January 6, 2009 |title=U.S. college football star shows love for Canucks |url=http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/sports/article/162491 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324053247/http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/sports/article/162491 |archive-date=March 24, 2010}}</ref> Bradford is a [[scratch golfer]] and was also a basketball player in high school.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rom |first=Clements |date=April 24, 2010 |title=Sam Bradford Becomes Face of the Franchise in St. Louis |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/383652-nfl-draft-2010-sam-bradford-becomes-face-of-the-franchise-in-st-louis |access-date=September 11, 2010 |website=Bleacher Report |publisher=Bleacher Report.com}}</ref>


Bradford, a [[Christianity|Christian]], appeared in a short film of video testimonials from celebrities called [[I Am Second]], sharing his faith about Christianity and winning the Heisman Trophy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Bradford |url=https://www.iamsecond.com/film/sam-bradford/ |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=I Am Second |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2009, Oklahoma City mayor [[Mick Cornett]] declared January 13 as "Sam Bradford Day" in Oklahoma City.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2009 |title=Oklahoma City mayor declares Sam Bradford Day in city |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3337482/oklahoma-city-mayor-declares-sam-bradford-day-in-city |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=The Oklahoman}}</ref>
Bradford is a member of the [[Fellowship of Christian Athletes]], as he has been since high school. He also reads the story of David and Goliath before every game, and was featured on the cover of STV (a Christian athletic magazine).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls08/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=3812989|title=Bradford solves Sooners' problems with ease}}</ref> Bradford also appeared in a short film of testimonials from celebrity videos called, [[I Am Second]], sharing his faith about Jesus Christ and winning the Heisman Trophy.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/sam-bradford/ | title = Sam Bradford - I Am Second | accessdate = 2011-08-12}}</ref>


Bradford got engaged to his future wife, Emma Lavy, in March 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gowton |first=Brandon Lee |date=March 17, 2016 |title=Sam Bradford gets engaged to his longtime girlfriend |url=https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2016/3/17/11256596/sam-bradford-engaged-eagles-quarterback-emma-lavy-arkansas-oklahoma-golf |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=Bleeding Green Nation |language=en}}</ref> The couple married on July 15, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tannenwald |first=Jonathan |date=July 15, 2016 |title=Sam Bradford's wedding day has arrived |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/pattisonave/sam-bradford-married-wedding-arrived.html |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=Inquirer.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2009, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett declared January 13 as "Sam Bradford Day" in Oklahoma City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/sam-bradford-day/article/3337482 |title=Oklahoma City mayor declares Sam Bradford Day in city |publisher=NewsOK.com |date=2009-01-13 |accessdate=2010-09-27}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of NCAA Division I FBS quarterbacks with at least 80 career passing touchdowns|List of Division I FBS passing touchdown leaders]]
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Heisman|sam-bradford}}
* [http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/roster/Sam-Bradford/33a79047-0e0d-445e-b937-3ae24311053c St. Louis Rams profile]
* {{Footballstats |nfl=sam-bradford |espn=13197 |cbs=1123599/sam-bradford/ |yahoo=23976 |pfr=B/BradSa00}}
* [http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bradford_sam00.html Oklahoma Sooners profile]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=188934 ESPN profile]
* {{Heisman|id=s-bradford-08|name=Sam Bradford}}


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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Bradford, Sam
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Bradford, Samuel Jacob; Bradford, Samuel J.
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = All-American college football player, professional football player, quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner
| DATE OF BIRTH = November 9, 1987
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bradford, Sam}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bradford, Sam}}
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Cherokee people]]
[[Category:21st-century Native Americans]]
[[Category:Native American sportspeople]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American Christians]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Cherokee Nation sportspeople]]
[[Category:First overall NFL draft picks]]
[[Category:Heisman Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Minnesota Vikings players]]
[[Category:NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award winners]]
[[Category:Native American players of American football]]
[[Category:Oklahoma Sooners football players]]
[[Category:Oklahoma Sooners football players]]
[[Category:People from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:Heisman Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Norman, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Oklahoma City]]
[[Category:St. Louis Rams players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Rams players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Oklahoma]]
[[Category:American Christians]]
[[Category:Sammy Baugh Trophy winners]]

[[da:Sam Bradford]]
[[de:Sam Bradford]]
[[fr:Sam Bradford]]
[[it:Sam Bradford]]
[[no:Sam Bradford]]
[[simple:Sam Bradford]]
[[fi:Sam Bradford]]
[[sv:Sam Bradford]]

Latest revision as of 07:36, 1 December 2024

Sam Bradford
refer to caption
Bradford with the St. Louis Rams in 2012
No. 8, 7, 9
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1987-11-08) November 8, 1987 (age 37)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:224 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:Putnam City North
(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
College:Oklahoma (2006–2009)
NFL draft:2010 / round: 1 / pick: 1
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts:2,967
Passing completions:1,855
Completion percentage:62.5%
TDINT:103–61
Passing yards:19,449
Passer rating:84.5
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Samuel Jacob Bradford (born November 8, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

Bradford attended Putnam City North High School, where he starred in football, basketball and golf. As a senior quarterback in 2005, he threw for 2,029 yards and 17 touchdowns in 12 games. Bradford was not highly recruited coming out of high school, but he received a scholarship offer from the University of Oklahoma, which he accepted. After a redshirt season in 2006, Bradford threw for 3,121 yards and 36 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman with the Oklahoma Sooners. In 2008, Bradford became only the second sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy as he led the highest-scoring offense in NCAA history, passing for 4,720 yards with 50 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. He again led the nation in passing and also added five rushing touchdowns as the Sooners went 12–1 and advanced to the BCS national title game.

Bradford declared for the NFL draft following the 2009 season and was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the first overall selection in the 2010 NFL draft. That year, Bradford set the record for most completions by a rookie in NFL history, which helped earn him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Prior to the start of the 2015 season, the Rams traded Bradford along with a 2015 fifth round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Nick Foles, a 2015 fourth-round pick, and a 2016 second-round pick. Following his 2015 campaign with the Eagles, in which he set career-highs in passing yards (3,725), completion percentage (65%) and yards per attempt (7.0), the Minnesota Vikings acquired Bradford after their starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was lost to a season-ending knee injury before the start of the season. Bradford signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and started three games, but was replaced by rookie Josh Rosen and eventually released.

Early life

[edit]

Bradford was born to Kent and Martha Bradford in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[2] He attended Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City, where he starred in football, basketball, baseball, and golf for the Putnam City North Panthers.[3] Bradford played as a pitcher in baseball, but gave up baseball after his freshman year. He earned All-City honors as a junior quarterback in football by The Oklahoman.[4] Following his senior season in which he threw for 2,029 yards and 17 touchdowns in 12 games, Bradford was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Team and was a Second-Team All-State pick by The Oklahoman.[5][6]

Bradford was also a Division I-caliber basketball player. As a senior, he averaged 18.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and played on the same elite AAU team as fellow Oklahoma City native and NBA star Blake Griffin.[7] In golf, Bradford defeated future PGA touring pros Kevin Tway and Robert Streb during his high school career. In addition to the aforementioned sports, Bradford also played ice hockey in his youth. In 1999, when Bradford was 12, his travel team, the Junior Blazers, won a regional championship, beating a team from Houston. He quit the sport that same year, and according to his former hockey coach Mike McEwen, who played on three Stanley Cup championship teams with the New York Islanders, Bradford had the talent to make it in the NHL. McEwen also said that Bradford was one of the best players he ever coached.[8]

In the spring of 2005, by the end of Bradford's junior season, he garnered interest from several Division I football programs, including Stanford, Michigan, Texas Tech, and nearby Oklahoma. Following his senior season, Bradford was viewed as a two-to-three-star recruit (out of five) and was not that highly ranked among the high school class of 2006, with his highest ranking being No. 12 among only pro-style quarterbacks by recruiting source Rivals.com.[9] Bradford was ranked behind Pat Devlin, "Juice" Williams, and Josh Freeman, and was overshadowed by five-star recruits such as Mitch Mustain, Matthew Stafford, and Tim Tebow.[10]

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40 Commit date
Sam Bradford
QB
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Putnam City North High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 4.78 Dec 2, 2005 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 79
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 18 (QB)   Rivals: 12 (QB), 1 (Oklahoma)  ESPN: 16 (QB)
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2006 Oklahoma Football Commitment List". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  • "2006 Oklahoma College Football Recruiting Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  • "2006 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 21, 2016.

College career

[edit]

Freshman season

[edit]

Bradford received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Oklahoma, where he played for coach Bob Stoops's Oklahoma Sooners football team. He redshirted as a freshman in 2006. The same year, Oklahoma's starting quarterback Rhett Bomar, then a sophomore, was dismissed from the team for violating NCAA rules.[11] Paul Thompson, a senior quarterback-turned-wide receiver, converted back to quarterback and led the 2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team to win the Big 12 Championship Game.[12][13] His departure left a void at the quarterback position at Oklahoma. Six players on the roster tried out for the starting position during the following off-season, including three walk-on quarterbacks,[14] true freshman Keith Nichol (a Rivals.com 4-star recruit and 6th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2007 recruiting class, who later transferred to Michigan State University), junior Joey Halzle (the only one with game experience), and Bradford. On August 21, 2007, Bradford won the starting quarterback role for the 2007 team.[15]

Bradford (left), Joey Halzle (center), and Hays McEachern (right) during spring practice in April 2007

In his first game for the Sooners, against the University of North Texas, Bradford completed 21 of 23 passing attempts for 363 yards and three touchdowns in a little over two quarters, breaking the school record for passing yards in a half, held by his quarterback coach Josh Heupel, with 350.[16] The very next game, Bradford broke Heisman Trophy winner Jason White's school record for most consecutive pass completions with 22 (18 came in the first half and 4 at the start of the second).[17]

In the second week of the 2007 season, Bradford was named the college national offensive player of the week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation[18] after tying the school record for most touchdown passes in a game with five.[19] Having thrown 25 touchdowns through his first nine games, Bradford was on pace to break the NCAA freshman record of 29 touchdowns set by David Neill in 1998 and tied by Colt McCoy in 2006.

In the November 17, 2007, game against Texas Tech, Bradford suffered a concussion. He was removed from the game and replaced by back-up quarterback Joey Halzle. The Sooners lost the game, 27–34. Bradford was able to play in the Bedlam game against Oklahoma State a week later.[20] During the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Bradford broke the NCAA freshman record of 29 touchdowns by passing his 30th touchdown to Joe Jon Finley during the second quarter.[21] At the Missouri Tigers game, Bradford threw for 209 yards and 0 interceptions. He was 18–26 and threw for two touchdowns.[22]

The Sooners won the Big 12 Championship after defeating Missouri for the second time in a season.[23] The Sooners played the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Fiesta Bowl on January 2, 2008, and lost 48–28.[24]

Sophomore season

[edit]
Sam Bradford during the 2008 NCAA season.

The following season Bradford surpassed quarterback coach Josh Heupel's school record for passing yards in a single game with 468 yards.[25] Bradford led the Sooners to their third straight Big 12 Championship and defeated Missouri 62–21.[26] In the process, the Sooners broke Hawaii's 2006 record for the most points in a single season with 702 points. Also, the Sooners were the first team in NCAA history to score 60 or more points in five straight games. Oklahoma finished the 2008 regular season with a 12–1 record, ranking #2 in the AP Poll and #1 in the BCS Standings.[27] The Sooners earned a trip to play Florida at the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.[28] Bradford turned in one of the best seasons ever by a quarterback, passing for 4,720 yards with 50 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.[29]

After the regular season, Bradford captured the Davey O'Brien Award[30] and the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the best player in college football.[31][32] He is the second sophomore, after 2007 winner Tim Tebow of the University of Florida, to receive the Heisman; he also became the fifth University of Oklahoma player, as well as the second person of Native American descent to capture the trophy after Jim Plunkett.[33] Bradford received 1,726 total points while the other finalists, Colt McCoy, of the University of Texas, and Tim Tebow, received 1,604 and 1,575, respectively. Tebow, however, collected more first-place votes, 309, while Bradford got 300. Bradford got the most points thanks to the help of his 315 second-place votes. A total of 926 voters participated in the balloting.[34]

When combined with Blake Griffin's Naismith Award, Oklahoma became the first school to have a winner in both top basketball and football individual awards in the same year. Bradford was also voted Associated Press College Football Player of the Year. Bradford received 27 votes, again beating McCoy (17 votes) and Tim Tebow (16 votes). Bradford is the third Oklahoma Sooner to win the award, joining Josh Heupel (2000) and Jason White (2003). Heupel and White were also quarterbacks, with Heupel being the current quarterbacks coach for Oklahoma.[35]

Bradford faced Florida, led by Tebow, in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.[36] He threw 26-of-41 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, as Florida won the game 24–14.[37]

Junior season

[edit]

Bradford announced that he would forgo the 2009 NFL draft to return to Oklahoma for his junior season.[38] In the Sooners' first game of the season (against Brigham Young), Bradford suffered a third-degree AC joint sprain one play after becoming Oklahoma's all-time passing leader. Playing without Bradford for the second half of the game, Oklahoma went on to lose 14–13.[39] Bradford was scheduled to return in about three to six weeks.[39][40] After missing three weeks, Bradford returned to the field during the Baylor game, and completed 27 of 49 passes for 389 yards and one touchdown, leading the Sooners to a 33–7 victory.[41] Bradford re-injured his right shoulder on October 17, 2009, in the Red River Rivalry against Texas on the second drive of the game. It was later announced that he would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery and enter the 2010 NFL draft.[42]

Awards and honors

[edit]

College statistics

[edit]
Season Team GP Passing Rushing
Cmp Att Pct Yds TD Int Rtg Att Yds TD
Oklahoma Sooners
2006 Oklahoma Redshirt Redshirt
2007 Oklahoma 14 237 341 69.5 3,121 36 8 176.52 31 7 0
2008 Oklahoma 14 328 483 67.9 4,721 50 8 180.86 42 47 5
2009 Oklahoma 3 39 69 56.5 562 2 0 134.5 4 −18 0
Career 31 604 893 67.6 8,403 88 16 175.6 77 36 5

Professional career

[edit]

Pre-draft

[edit]

Although he likely would have been one of the first quarterbacks taken in the 2009 NFL Draft, Bradford decided to return to Oklahoma for his junior season in January 2009.[59] Shortly after the 2009 draft, he was projected as the No. 1 prospect for the 2010 NFL Draft.[60] On October 25, 2009, Bradford announced he would forgo his final year at Oklahoma and enter the draft.[61] Commonly considered one of the top prospects available, Bradford was projected as high as the No. 1 overall pick for most of the preseason and the early part of the regular season.[62][60][63]

Because of his shoulder injury, Bradford did not throw at the 2010 NFL Combine, however he was measured and participated in interviews and medical examinations. He was measured at 6 ft 4+14 in (1.937 m) and 236 lb (107 kg), about 15 lb (6.8 kg) above his college playing weight.[64] Bradford scored 36 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test, well above the average of 28.5 for the 30 NFL quarterbacks slated to start in 2010.[65]

On March 19, Bradford met with the St. Louis Rams, who held the first overall pick, general manager Billy Devaney and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur in Pensacola, Florida, where he had been training and rehabbing since undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder.[66]

External videos
video icon Sam Bradford at the NFL Combine
video icon Bradford gets drafted by St. Louis
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash Wonderlic
6 ft 4+14 in
(1.94 m)
236 lb
(107 kg)
34+38 in
(0.87 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
4.70 s 36
All values from NFL Combine[67][68]

St. Louis Rams

[edit]

2010 season

[edit]

In early spring, Bradford met with Thom Goudy, a professional development coach in St. Louis, Missouri. Goudy helped Bradford with his pocket technique. Bradford spent three weeks in his training camp before starting the summer conditioning camp. On April 22, 2010, Bradford was selected by the St. Louis Rams as the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft.[69] It was the first time the Rams selected a quarterback in the first round of a draft since the selection of Bill Munson in the 1964 NFL draft. Bradford was the first No. 1 pick out of Oklahoma since Billy Sims was selected first overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1980 NFL draft.[70] Bradford chose the #8 in honor to Troy Aikman who also attended Oklahoma before transferring to UCLA.[71] On July 30, 2010, Bradford signed a six-year, $78 million deal, which had $50 million of guarantees and a maximum value of $86 million which made it the largest contract ever for an NFL rookie.[72][73]

In the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings on August 14, Bradford went 6-of-13 for 57 yards and was also sacked 3 times in a Rams loss.[74] After another unimpressive showing against the Browns in his second game, Bradford had a better performance against the Patriots in the third game of the preseason. He got his first start in place of the injured A. J. Feeley, throwing two first half touchdowns and helping lead the Rams to a 36–35 victory.[75]

He competed for the starting quarterback position with Feeley and on September 4, Bradford was named the starting quarterback for the 2010 season opener.[76] On September 12, 2010, in his first regular season game as the starting quarterback for the Rams, Bradford completed 32 of 55 passes for 253 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions in a 17–13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. His first NFL touchdown came on a 1-yard pass to Laurent Robinson.[77] Two weeks later, he then achieved his first victory as an NFL starter when the Rams defeated the Washington Redskins in an upset by a score of 30–16, which snapped a 13-game overall home losing streak.[78] The next week, he passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Rams over the Seahawks, 20–3. This was their first win in a division game since November 2007.[79]

In Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers, Bradford completed 25 of 32 passes, two of them for touchdowns.[80] In his first eight games, he scored eleven touchdowns, which tied an NFL record—held by Dan Marino (1983), Peyton Manning (1998), and Ben Roethlisberger (2004)—for over that span by a rookie since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970.[81] Bradford went 3–2 as a starter in October, passing for 1,019 yards and 7 touchdowns against 3 interceptions. He was named the NFL's offensive rookie of the month.[82]

During October and November, he established a record for most consecutive passes without an interception for a rookie (169), which ended with an interception by William Moore in a home game against the Atlanta Falcons on November 21.[83] On November 28, 2010, against the Denver Broncos, Bradford became the first rookie in NFL history to pass for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions during a road victory.[84] He capped November by becoming the first rookie quarterback to win two consecutive Offensive Rookie of the Month awards.[85]

On December 26, Bradford surpassed Peyton Manning's record for most completed passes by an NFL rookie quarterback (326). Bradford finished the season with 354 completions out of 590 attempts, surpassing Manning's record of 575 for most attempts by an NFL rookie quarterback. Bradford became just the third rookie quarterback to start all 16 regular season games and pass over 3,000 passing yards, joining Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan.[86][87][88] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, becoming the fourth Rams quarterback to claim this award, joining Dieter Brock (1985), Jim Everett (1986), and Tony Banks.[89]

2011 season

[edit]

Coming into the 2011 season, expectations were high for the St. Louis Rams and Bradford. After going 4–0 in the preseason, it appeared as if they would be fulfilled, but once the regular season happened injuries ravaged the roster. A high ankle sprain bothered Bradford for the majority of the year and he finished with 2,164 passing yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions. The team went 1–9 in games he appeared in and had a 2–14 record overall.[90][91]

2012 season

[edit]

During the off-season, there was much speculation that the Rams would select Heisman Trophy winner and former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.[92] But new head coach Jeff Fisher instilled hope that Bradford was still the Rams franchise quarterback, solidifying this hope when the Rams later reached a deal with the Washington Redskins for the 2nd overall selection in the 2012 NFL draft.[93]

Bradford throwing against the New York Jets in 2012.

The Rams were not expected to make much of a leap following their dismal campaign the year before, but behind strong play by Bradford and rookies stepping up to the challenge, the Rams finished 7–8–1.[94] In Week 2, against the Washington Redskins, he finished with 310 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the 31–28 victory.[95] In Week 15, against the Minnesota Vikings, he had 377 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the 36–22 loss.[96] Bradford finished the season with career best numbers: 3,702 passing yards, 21 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions and an 82.6 passer rating to go along with 59.5 completion percentage.[97]

2013 season

[edit]

After adding players in the offseason including offensive tackle Jake Long, tight end Jared Cook, receiver Tavon Austin, and linebacker Alec Ogletree, some analysts expected the Rams and Bradford to excel in 2013.[98][99] However, other analysts believed that they would finish with a record close to .500.[100][101] The season started off on a positive note with a 27–24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.[102] In the game, Bradford had 299 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. In the next game against the Atlanta Falcons, he had 352 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception as the Rams fell 31–24.[103] After two losses to the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, he had 222 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 34–20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.[104] For the second straight game, he threw for three touchdowns in a 38–13 victory over the Houston Texans.[105] However, during the Rams' Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers, Bradford tore his left ACL on a run out of bounds after a hit from safety Mike Mitchell, ending his season.[106] On the 2013 season, Bradford passed for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns to 4 interceptions and 90.9 passer rating.[107] The Rams missed the playoffs with a 7–9 record.[108]

2014 season

[edit]
Bradford in 2014

Bradford suffered an injury to the same ACL after being sacked during a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns and missed the entire 2014 season.[109]

Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]
Bradford with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015

On March 10, 2015, Bradford was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles along with a 2015 fifth-round pick, in exchange for Nick Foles, a 2015 fourth-round pick, and a 2016 second-round pick.[110][111][112] In his first game as a Philadelphia Eagle, Bradford completed 36 out of 52 passes for a touchdown and two interceptions in a season opening 26–24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.[113] In Week 4, he threw three touchdowns with zero interceptions, and although his completion percentage was lower than 55% in both games, he still mustered a 122.6 passer rating in a loss to the Redskins, his only passer rating above 90 for the season.[114] In Week 6, he threw three interceptions, but the Eagles still gained a 27–7 win over the New York Giants to move Philadelphia to 3–3 and first place in the NFC East, mainly thanks to the defense and run game.[115] Bradford had his worst game by far in a loss against the Panthers, where he completed only 56.5% of his passes with zero touchdowns, one interception, and a quarterback rating of 58.7.[116] Against the Miami Dolphins on November 15, Bradford suffered a left shoulder injury as well as a concussion, which would keep him out of the next two games against Tampa Bay and a Thanksgiving Day game against Detroit.[117] In his first season, Bradford would go 7–7 as a starter and his play began to improve after Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys.[118] Before Week 9, Bradford had been playing poorly through his first seven games, but Eagles coach Chip Kelly would not bench him, and during Week 9, Bradford threw a game-winning touchdown in overtime to Jordan Matthews.[119] In Week 13, Bradford led the Eagles to a 35–28 upset over the New England Patriots.[120] In Week 15, Bradford threw for 361 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 40–17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.[121] In Week 16, he threw for 380 yards and a touchdown in a 38–24 loss to the Washington Redskins.[122] In the regular season finale against the New York Giants, he threw for 320 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the 35–30 victory.[123] The Eagles finished with a 7–9 record and missed the playoffs.[124]

On March 1, 2016, Bradford signed a 2-year, $36 million ($26 million guaranteed) contract extension with the Eagles. However, the Eagles traded with the Cleveland Browns for the number two pick in the 2016 NFL draft, in order to draft a new quarterback. This led to speculation that Bradford would be traded or used as a stopgap while Chase Daniel educated the newly drafted quarterback in new head coach Doug Pederson's offensive scheme. On April 25, 2016, it was reported that Bradford wanted to be traded and that he would no longer attend the team's off-season activities.[125] The Eagles selected quarterback Carson Wentz with the second overall pick in the 2016 draft on April 28. Bradford returned to the team in May 2016.[126]

Minnesota Vikings

[edit]
Bradford (No. 8) with the Vikings in 2016

2016 season

[edit]

On September 3, 2016, following his appearance in the Eagles' preseason games, Bradford was traded to the Minnesota Vikings for a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft (later used to select Derek Barnett) and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft.[127][128] The trade was made after Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a season-ending ACL tear during team practice on August 30, 2016.[129]

Fifteen days after being traded, Bradford made his first start for the Vikings in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, despite not having much time to learn the offense. Bradford ended up hurting his left hand in the first half due to a hit by Clay Matthews. Bradford finished the game completing 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead the Vikings to their first win in their new stadium.[130] His first touchdown as a Viking came in the second quarter on an eight-yard pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph in the back of the end zone, while the second touchdown of the night was a 25-yarder to Stefon Diggs late in the third quarter that gave the Vikings a 17–7 lead. The connection between both players resulted in 182 yards on 9 catches for Diggs, a career-high for him.[131] Bradford received high praise from the media, with many calling it one of the best games of his career.[132] The following week, Bradford threw for 171 yards and one touchdown in a 22–10 win against the Carolina Panthers, thanks to a strong Vikings' defense that sacked Cam Newton eight times and intercepted him three times.[133] In the Vikings' win over the New York Giants in Week 4, Bradford threw a touchdown pass and did not throw an interception for the third straight game. The only other Vikings player to do that in each of his first three games of a season was Randall Cunningham in 1998.[134] With both starting tackles and Stefon Diggs (Vikings' leading receiver) out for a Week 5 game against the Houston Texans, Bradford delivered another strong performance, completing 22 of 30 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns and, for the fourth straight start, not a single interception. In the opening drive, he connected with Adam Thielen on a 36-yard touchdown strike.[135] During the first quarter of a Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions, Bradford achieved the statistical oddity of completing a pass to himself.[136] His throw was batted into the air by Lions defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker, but Bradford caught the ball and ran towards the sideline, gaining five yards.[137]

During a three-game losing streak, Bradford threw only three touchdowns and an interception with 725 yards and a 66% completion percentage, poor in comparison with the previous four games, in which he threw for 990 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions, and had a 70% completion percentage. The Vikings would finish the season with an 8–8 record.[138]

Bradford started 15 games in 2016, completing 395 of 552 passes for 3,877 yards and 20 touchdowns with five interceptions.[139] His 71.6 completion percentage set a single season NFL record, passing Drew Brees's 2011 mark of 71.2.[140] Brees later finished the 2017 season with a 72.0 completion percentage, retaking the record. Bradford's 395 completions set a franchise record for completions in a season.[141]

2017 season

[edit]

In Week 1, Bradford completed 27 of 32 pass attempts for 346 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 29–19 win over the New Orleans Saints, earning him his first NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.[142] He was inactive for the Week 2 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the first of three games missed due to a knee injury.[143] In Week 5, Bradford made his second and final start of the season, going 5-for-11 for 36 yards before being relieved by Case Keenum late in the second quarter of a 20-17 Vikings victory over the Chicago Bears. One day later, on October 10, it was revealed that Bradford was diagnosed with wear and tear on his knee after two previous ACL surgeries.[144] On November 7, Bradford underwent a knee scope, putting his season in jeopardy.[145] He was placed on injured reserve the next day, ending his season.[146] On January 13, 2018, Bradford was activated off injured reserve to the active roster for the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the New Orleans Saints. Case Keenum, who had gone 10-1 as the Vikings' quarterback since relieving Bradford a second time, remained the starter for the postseason. Bradford did not see action in either of Minnesota's two playoff games.[147]

Arizona Cardinals

[edit]
Bradford with the Cardinals in 2018

On March 16, 2018, Bradford signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals worth up to $20 million the first year with $15 million guaranteed with a potential out after 2018.[148] Bradford wore number 9 with the Cardinals, since the number 8 was retired in honor of Hall of Fame safety Larry Wilson.[149] After ineffective performances in the first two games, both blowout losses, Bradford was pulled in favor of rookie Josh Rosen in the final moments of a Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears.[150] As the Cardinals decided to keep Rosen as their starting quarterback, Bradford was inactive for the next five weeks before ultimately being released on November 3, 2018.[151]

NFL career statistics

[edit]
Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team Games Passing Rushing Sacks Fumbles
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD Sck Yds Fum Lost
2010 STL 16 16 7–9 354 590 60.0 3,512 6.0 18 15 76.5 27 63 2.3 1 34 244 7 2
2011 STL 10 10 1–9 191 357 53.5 2,164 6.1 6 6 70.5 18 26 1.4 0 36 248 10 7
2012 STL 16 16 7–8–1 328 551 59.5 3,702 6.7 21 13 82.6 36 124 3.4 1 35 233 7 1
2013 STL 7 7 3–4 159 262 60.7 1,687 6.4 14 4 90.9 15 31 2.1 0 15 97 3 1
2014 STL 0 0 did not play due to injury
2015 PHI 14 14 7–7 346 532 65.0 3,725 7.0 19 14 86.4 26 39 1.5 0 28 200 10 3
2016 MIN 15 15 7–8 395 552 71.6 3,877 7.0 20 5 99.3 20 53 2.7 0 37 276 10 5
2017 MIN 2 2 2–0 32 43 74.4 382 8.9 3 0 124.4 2 −3 −1.5 0 5 40 0 0
2018 ARI 3 3 0–3 50 80 62.5 400 5.0 2 4 62.5 2 7 3.5 0 6 33 3 2
Career 83 83 34–48–1 1,855 2,967 62.5 19,449 6.6 103 61 84.5 146 340 2.3 2 196 1,371 50 21

Records

[edit]
Philadelphia Eagles records
Minnesota Vikings records
  • Most passing yards in a quarterback's first game as a Viking (286)

Personal life

[edit]
Bradford in 2011

Bradford is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, tracing his lineage via the federal government's Dawes Rolls.[153][154] Bradford was the first member of the Cherokee Nation to start at quarterback for a Division I university since Sonny Sixkiller, who played for the University of Washington during the 1970–1972 seasons.[155] On April 28, 2023, he was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[156] His father, Kent Bradford, was an offensive lineman for the Sooners from 1977 to 1978.[157]

Bradford is an avid ice hockey fan. His favorite team is the Vancouver Canucks.[158] Bradford is a scratch golfer and was also a basketball player in high school.[159]

Bradford, a Christian, appeared in a short film of video testimonials from celebrities called I Am Second, sharing his faith about Christianity and winning the Heisman Trophy.[160] In 2009, Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett declared January 13 as "Sam Bradford Day" in Oklahoma City.[161]

Bradford got engaged to his future wife, Emma Lavy, in March 2016.[162] The couple married on July 15, 2016.[163]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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