Sam Mills
Undersized but unstoppable, Sam Mills became a Hall of Fame linebacker and the heart of the 'Keep Pounding' legacy.
Sam Mills was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for 12 seasons in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. He also played for three seasons for the Philadelphia / Baltimore Stars of the USFL, winning two championships. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Linebacker
- Born
- 3 June 1959
- Birthplace
- Neptune City, New Jersey, U.S.
- Died
- 18 April 2005
- Place of death
- Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
- High school
- Long Branch (Long Branch, New Jersey)
- College
- Montclair State (1977–1980)
Lore & Background
Mills earned four Pro Bowl appearances with the Saints in 1987, 1988, 1991, and 1992. His career rebirth with the Panthers gave him a fifth Pro Bowl appearance in 1996 at age 37. Mills was named to the NFL All-Pro team three times, in 1991, 1992, and 1996.
Reader's Guide
Mills played 12 NFL seasons, recording 1,319 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, and four touchdowns while starting 173 of 181 games. He was a member of the Saints' 'Dome Patrol' and the Panthers' first three seasons. His jersey number 51 was retired by the Panthers in 2005.
Did You Know?
- Mills was known as the 'Field Mouse' for his devastating speed.
- He won two USFL championships with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars in 1984 and 1985.
- His 'Keep Pounding' speech inspired the Panthers' official team slogan and a cancer research fund.
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