What happened to Sam Hurd? Ex-Cowboys star released after spending nearly decade in prison

Former NFL player Sam Hurd has been released from federal prison after nearly 10 years of a 15-year sentence for drug trafficking. He was arrested in December 2011 while playing for the Chicago Bears for attempting to procure and distribute mass quantities of cocaine and marijuana.

He was convicted of agreeing to pay $25,000 per kilogram of cocaine and $450 per pound of marijuana to set up a distribution ring. His phone number was traced to a drug-dealing group in California. He pled not guilty to the charges of setting up a drug-dealing network.

In 2012, after testing positive for marijuana twice during the year, he violated his bond. He was asked to be jailed indefinitely by a federal judge, and by 2013, he had changed his plea to guilty on all charges.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Nov. 13, 2013. He was released from federal prison on January 31, 2023, and was put under community confinement. The San Antonio Express News reported that Hurd will serve his remaining time in that confinement until his scheduled release date on May 30.

Sam Hurd's football career

With Sam Hurd serving his time, one can now look back on a solid career that ended with his arrest.

Hurd went undrafted in 2006 but signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. He then established himself as a wide receiver and special teams player.

In 2006, he finished with 16 special teams tackles along with five receptions for 75 yards. He built on that in 2007, becoming the team's third receiver and recording 19 receptions for 314 yards and one touchdown. His performances on special teams remained consistent with another 16 tackles.

In 2008, when he finally got the chance to make it as a receiver in the first team, he suffered an ankle injury that limited his chances that season. He rebounded after that disappointment to become a star on special teams. In 2019, he recorded 19 special teams tackles, the highest among all players with the franchise. He was named special teams captain in 2010 and had 21 tackles.

He signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Bears and was named their special teams captain. However, his career there was cut short due to his arrest.

He now gets to start a new life after his release, on a decidedly different career path.