Sam Sloman
Samuel Cole Sloman is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League. He played college football for the Miami RedHawks, and in 2019, he made 86.7% of his field goal attempts. Sloman was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, and Vegas Vipers.
Early life
Sloman was born to Jay and Judi Sloman on September 19, 1997, in Roswell, Georgia.In high school, Sloman attended Pace Academy in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, Georgia. He earned two letters in football, and four letters in soccer. Sloman did not start playing football until his junior year. As a senior, Sloman connected on 20-of-23 kicks, with a long of 53 yards, and also made all 51 extra points. He was a two-time All-State kicker, and a 2015 MaxPreps First Team All-American.
College career
Sloman attended Miami University in Ohio, majoring in kinesiology. During his career with the Miami Redhawks football team, Sloman completed 49-of-62 field goal attempts for 79%. On extra point attempts, he made 112-for-115 for 97.4%. As a senior in 2019, Sloman made 86.7% of his field goal attempts, went 11-for-14 from beyond 40 yards, and was 4-for-5 on field goal attempts longer than 50 yards.Sloman earned Second-Team All-Mid-American Conference honors, and was named Second-Team All-America by The Athletic. He ranks second in field goals and extra points and third in percentage all-time for Miami. Lance Zierlein of nfl.com described Sloman as: "Stocky with plenty of fire in his belly."
Professional career
Los Angeles Rams
Sloman was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 248th pick in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft, even though kickers are rarely selected in the NFL draft. The Rams were impressed by his past performance in the clutch, with Rams senior personnel executive Brian Xanders noting: "In the second half or overtime during the last two years, he went 27 out of 29. So when the score is tight or it’s getting close to the end of the game, he’s been clutch." Xanders added that he liked Sloman's angle of approach, similar to a powerful golf swing, and "he's gotten better every year He's a powerful guy, he's a weather kicker, and he's a competitor. He just wants to take everybody's job." Sloman was the first Miami University kicker to be drafted in the NFL, and its 40th player.On July 28, Sloman signed a four-year, $3.37 million contract. He was named the Rams' starting kicker, beating out fellow rookies Lirim Hajrullahu and Austin MacGinnis. When Sloman was asked if he was nervous about kicking in front of no fans at SoFi Stadium, Sloman said: "It's not going to be weird for me not having fans at the games. I played plenty of games in college with not many people there." After playing in the team's first seven games, he was waived on October 27. Sloman had converted 8-of-11 field goal attempts, with a long of 42, and was 18-for-21 on extra point attempts.
Tennessee Titans
On November 24, 2020, Sloman was signed to the Tennessee Titans' practice squad. Following an injury to Stephen Gostkowski, Sloman was elevated to the active roster on January 2, 2021, for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Houston Texans. He hit all five extra point attempts and both field goals, including the game-winner that hit the right upright from 37 yards away as time expired, with which the Titans won the AFC South.Sloman was released on January 12.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On July 1, 2021, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Sloman to a one-year deal. He was waived on August 17. Sloman was re-signed to practice squad on November 27.Sloman signed a reserve/future contract with the Steelers on January 18, 2022. He was waived on May 16.