Sam LaPorta (born January 12, 2001) is a standout tight end for the Detroit Lions in the NFL, following a decorated college career at the University of Iowa, where he was named the Big Ten Tight End of the Year in 2022. Before college, he was a prolific playmaker at Highland High School in Illinois, racking up 3,793 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns. At Iowa, he set program records for tight ends with 153 career receptions and ranked second all-time in receiving yards (1,786), showcasing his consistency with back-to-back strong seasons. The Lions selected him with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft, and he made an immediate splash as a rookie. In his debut season, he earned second-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod, while breaking the NFL record for receptions by a rookie tight end (since surpassed by Brock Bowers in 2024) and setting Lions franchise marks for a tight end in catches, yards, and touchdowns. His rapid ascent included becoming the first tight end ever to record five receptions in each of his first three games, cementing his status as one of the league's rising stars.