On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Los Angeles Chargers CB Asante Samuel Jr. to the practice squad. He’s been medically cleared after recovering from spinal fusion surgery that the Steelers’ neurosurgeon, Dr. David Okonkwo, performed back in April.
Samuel brings a quality blend of experience (3,083 defensive snaps) and youth (26 years old). But just exactly who is Asante Samuel Jr.? Here are five things to know about the newest Steelers’ cornerback.
A Strained Relationship With His NFL Star Father
Probably the first thing anyone notices about Samuel is his name. He’s the son of two-time Super Bowl winner CB Asante Samuel. Steelers fans are no strangers to father-son duos, with Craig and Cam (and Conner) Heyward as well as Joey Porter Sr. and Jr.
But while the Porters are tight with each other and the Steelers, the same cannot be said about Samuel and his father. Samuel Sr. was only 18 when he became a father. And Samuel Jr.’s mother was the one who did most of his raising.
And no doubt, Samuel feels the weight of his last name every time he puts the jersey on. It’s something that people have held against him almost his entire life.
“People say, ‘Oh, he’s the son of Asante Samuel, so of course,'” Samuel Jr. said in an interview with Jeff Miller of the LA Times back in 2021. “That’s kind of giving to his legacy and taking away from mine.… For some people, it’s like I’m trying to live off his name… It’s kind of disrespect to my hard work that I’ve put in. People try to take that away from me just because my dad was in the NFL. But my dad’s not out here with me every day practicing and making plays. My dad’s not out here lifting weights, running. I did a lot on my own and with other people.”
But regardless, Samuel knows that his father is the only one he’s got. They struggle to communicate, but they are still father and son.
“That’s my dad,” Samuel said. “You only get one dad. I love him to death.”
Grandmother Changed His Age On His Birth Certificate, Just Like His Dad
Even at an early age, Samuel’s family expected him to follow in his father’s footsteps. So much so, Samuel Sr.’s mother, ‘Granny Chris’, altered his birth certificate to change his age from four to six so he could start playing Pee Wee football early. Just like she did for her son, Samuel Sr.
“That time’s over, so I guess we can’t get in trouble no more,” Samuel Sr. said in that same LA Times piece, laughing. “She would white it out, retype it and then make a copy. I watched her do it. That thing was amazing. It looked so real.”
Samuel’s mother, Candice Doe, recalls seeing how silly Samuel looked on the football field at four compared to the other kids.
“You were four going on five,” Doe said, per video from Chargers HQ on the Los Angeles Chargers’ website. “And your little helmet was bigger than your body. Still is.”
His Mother’s Battle With A Brain Tumor Inspired Him
Doe started Samuel in football, even though he was actually too young to play. She attended every game from the time he started playing. But when Samuel was 14, she began experiencing health issues, including dizzy spells. And a visit to the doctor revealed she had a brain tumor. She went through surgery and recovered. However, the entire experience had a profound impact on Samuel.
“Seeing her overcome that, that motivates me,” Samuel Jr. told Seminoles.com, per ESPN.com’s Shelley Smith. “Seeing how strong she is and how she kept the family together. It just helped me.”
Contemplated Pro Wrestling Over Football At One Point
Everyone assumed that Samuel would follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a career in pro football. And he did do just that. However, at one point, he contemplated using his athletic abilities to turn pro in another arena: professional wrestling.
“In middle school, I was kind of debating what I was trying to do,” Samuel said in that Chargers HQ piece. “I always was playing football, but I was big into wrestling back then. Like WWE, John Cena, so I had wrestling toys and all that stuff. But I really, I want to say eighth grade, where I really turned around like dang, I want to make it to the NFL.”
Though at Samuel’s size, he wouldn’t be wrestling like Cena. Maybe a high-flyer like Rey Mysterio?
Questions About His Height At All Levels
Speaking of size, one thing that has followed Samuel everywhere (besides his father’s name and legacy) is his height. Samuel doesn’t have the height that many teams want these days. He’s just a shade over 5’10. That led to a lack of offers at the college level. But Samuel was (and still is) keen on letting his play speak for itself.
“A lot of teams said I was too small,” Samuel said to Chargers HQ. “Florida Gators, that was my dream team growing up. But they never offered me, ’cause they said I was too small. Miami Hurricanes, they said I was too small. I can’t do nothing about that, but I can show you on the field what I can do.”
It’s part of why Samuel fell to the second round in the 2021 NFL Draft, despite a productive career at Florida State. However, he demonstrated that he belongs in the NFL during his time with the Chargers. And now he has a chance to further that in Pittsburgh.
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