Sam LaPorta Shares Lions Super Bowl Dreams, NFL Draft Journey & Iowa Memories 🏈

Sam LaPorta is a Pro Bowl tight end for the Detroit Lions and one of the NFL’s fastest-rising stars. Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Sam made history in his rookie season with 86 receptions, 889 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns — becoming the first rookie tight end in NFL history to hit all three marks. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and selected to the 2024 Pro Bowl.

Before his NFL breakout, Sam starred at the University of Iowa, earning two First-Team All-Big Ten honors, a John Mackey Award semifinalist nod, and starting multiple seasons as a key piece of Iowa’s elite tight end pipeline.

#SamLaPorta #DetroitLions #NFLPodcast #IowaFootball #TightEndU #ProBowl #DanCampbell #NFLDraft #PFWAAllRookie #FootballPodcast #LionsNation #nfl2025
0:00 Introduction

1:06 Being Recruited by Iowa

6:00 First Year Iowa

9:57 The Best Tight Ends to Recruit

11:30 2020 Season at Iowa

14:30 Beating Penn State

16:20 Bowl Game against Kentucky

19:20 Kirk Ferentz is the bead Head Coach in College Football

23:11 NFL Junior Year Hype

25:11 Being Drafted by the Detroit Lions

27:30 Meeting Pope Leo XIV

29:11 Getting to play with Jack Campbell again

33:39 Meeting Jared Goff and Dan Campbell

36:50 What allowed you to have a historical first season with the Lions?

39:00 The Talent of the Detroit Lions

41:39 Thoughts on the Loss against Washington in the Playoffs

43:13 Aidan Hutchinson Injury

47:50 How difficult is it to block in the NFL

50:00 Thoughts on the Coaching Staff Leaving Detroit

53:00 Having one of the best offenses in the league

54:00 Dan Campbell’s Coaching Style

56:06 Missed Calls by Refs

58:40 How Smart of a QB is Jared Goff

01:01:20 Adjusting to the NFL Fame

01:03:20 People Complaining about their Fantasy Football Team

01:05:00 Fines in the NFL

01:07:12 Training for the NFL

01:09:05 First NFL Big Purchase

01:11:28 Best Tight Ends to Emulate

01:12:15 Tight End University

01:19:20 Favorite Away Stadiums to Play at

01:27:20 End

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