The NFL roster cut-down day is a major day ahead of the NFL season every year. With rosters needing to be at 53 players, teams around the league are making difficult decisions to release players before the season begins.
For the Washington Commanders, one of their releases before the year began was the release of former Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Sam Hartman.
As Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports, the Commanders are releasing Hartman, and the quarterback will be subject to waivers. If he goes unclaimed, the Commanders "should" bring him back to the practice squad.
Hartman Released by Commanders
The Commanders' decision to cut ties with Hartman, even if only for a moment, comes after his rough preseason in 2025. He passed for 207 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions.
The #Commanders are releasing QB Sam Hartman, per me and @TomPelissero, he should return to practice squad if he clears waivers. pic.twitter.com/Du0zVxBtKr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 26, 2025
Hartman, at 26 years old, was released by the Commanders ahead of what would've been his second season with the team since he signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft.
But, before he made the NFL, he was a longtime quarterback in the NCAA who spent five seasons at Wake Forest, before coming to Notre Dame, where he put together one of his best seasons as a college quarterback.
Notre Dame in 2023 went 10-3 and was ranked 14th in the nation in the final Associated Press poll. They won the Sun Bowl over Oregon State, 40-8, though Hartman didn't play in that game.
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During Hartman's Senior season in college football, he played in 12 games for the Fighting Irish with a 64.5 completion percentage on 301 attempts for 2,689 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
While he didn't set any career highs in the 2023 season as a college quarterback, he did have a solid year overall. But it wasn't enough to get drafted, though he did still sign with the Commanders after the draft.
Now, he's subject to waivers, where any team can put a claim in on him. He's likely to pass through waivers, and if he does, he's also likely to return to the Commanders' practice squad to be one of the depth quarterback options in Washington.
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