National Football Foundation

A champion in every sense of the word, Sam Acho strived for excellence in all aspects of his life, and his character, values and work ethic enabled him to succeed at the highest levels as a student-athlete.
 
Notching an impressive 3.55 GPA in the prestigious McCombs School of Business at Texas, Acho twice earned First-Team Academic All-America honors while being named a First-Team Academic All-Big 12 performer three times.
 
The Dallas native made the “20 Smartest Athletes” list released by The Sporting News. A two-time Arthur Ashe Sports Scholarship Award winner, Acho was inducted into UT’s Friar Society, the university’s oldest and most prestigious honor society.
 
On the field, the defensive end made his mark in the UT record books, landing in the top 10 at the school for career sacks, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries. Nationally in 2010, he was an All-America selection, including the Walter Camp Second-Team and the Associated Press Third-Team.
 
The 2010 team captain was also a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and a unanimous First-Team All-Big 12 selection.
 
A member of the AFCA Good Works Team in college, Acho mentored elementary school students, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the Children’s Courtyard program, and made numerous visits to the Dell Children’s Medical Center.

Chosen in the fourth round of the 2011 Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Acho spent four years with the team and then four more with the Chicago Bears and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While playing for the Cardinals, he earned his MBA at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona.

Acho and his family have received wide praise for their efforts to send doctors on medical mission trips to Nigeria. He continues his work in Nigeria to this day, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors for Living Hope Christian Ministries.

Acho serves as vice president of the National Football League Players Association. In 2020, he released his first book, “Let the World See You: How to Be Real in a World Full of Fakes.”

Acho is now a college football analyst for ESPN, where he serves as the lead studio voice on college football Saturdays on ESPN2 while also appearing on various other ESPN shows.