Sam Hartman
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Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman
The Washington Commanders are seemingly set in stone at backup quarterback for 2025 with veteran Marcus Mariota behind Jayden Daniels.
After that, things get a lot more murky.
The Commanders released second year quarterback and former Notre Dame star Sam Hartman on August 26 after a disappointing preseason and hours before NFL teams were required to pare rosters to 53 players.
“The#Commanders are releasing QBSam Hartman, per me and@TomPelissero,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account. “He should return to practice squad if he clears waivers.”
Washington signed Hartman as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and he served as Washington’s emergency third quarterback last season.
His release leaves the Commanders with 3 quarterbacks on the roster with Daniels, Mariota and journeyman Josh Johnson.
Hartman Starred at Two Different Schools
Hartman, 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds, wasn’t drafted despite making a staggering 57 starts across six college seasons at Wake Forest and Notre Dame.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein had Hartman projected as a Day 3 pick going in the 6-7 round range and compared him to former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who played 13 seasons in the NFL after he was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
“Solidly built but shorter, Hartman plays with a competitive temperament but a lack of consistency,” Zierlein wrote. “He can play inside structure, but at heart, he’s an improv-oriented passer. He has big hands to pump and reset the football, and his Wake Forest tape showed a player capable of beating defenses on extended plays … There are flashes on tape that can be compelling, but his lack of physical traits and high turnover totals during his career could limit him into a role as an average backup.”
Hartman’s Looks Made Him Pop Culture Fodder
Over the last few years, Hartman’s looks have made him as much or more of a conversation topic than how he plays football.
“Sam Hartman is as bad at QB as he ishot,” Barstool Sports’ Eric Nathan wrote on his official X account “And he’s the hottestguy on Earth.”
“Sam Hartman is living proof that you can have any job you want if you’rehot,” NFL reporter Jarrett Bailey wrote on his official X account.
Hartman was also one of the highest-paid players in college football in 2023, according to a $1.2 million valuation from On3.
At Notre Dame, Hartman reportedly had endorsement deals with Google, Under Armour, Beats by Dre, Dove, Dollar Shave Club and Mizzen+Main. He could have left Wake Forest after the 2022 season but conversations with his agent made it clear that returning to college would be more lucrative than playing his rookie year in the NFL as a low draft pick or undrafted free agent.
“If you’re not going to be an early draft pick, and you can go back to school, whether that’s the current program you’re at, or maybe there’s a better situation for development and fit to consider,” Hartman’s agent, Brian McLaughlin, told ESPN in April 2024. “Quarterbacks can make six figures — some guys now even creeping into the seven figures between their collective and marketing deals — it’s like, why not go do that? Try to significantly raise your draft stock.