Sam Madison was drafted No. 44 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1997 NFL Draft out of Louisville. 173 regular-season games · 10 seasons as a starter · 86 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #44
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1997
- NFL games
- 173
- Years as starter
- 10
- Career AV
- 863rd at Louisville
- Pro Bowls
- 4
- All-Pro
- 2
The pick
How Sam Madison came off the board in 1997.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
Louisville
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
173 regular-season games · 10 seasons as a starter · 86 career approximate value
- Games played
- 173
- Seasons as a starter
- 10
- Career approximate value
- 863rd among Louisville picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 7891% of career value
- Final season
- 200811 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 2× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl
Around pick 44
Who came off the board on either side of Sam Madison.
Arizona State · 1× Pro Bowl
Washington · 4× Pro Bowl
North Carolina
Tennessee
Louisville in the 1997 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DB picks from Louisville
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Sam Madison in the 1997 NFL Draft
Sam Madison is a Defensive back out of Louisville selected No. 44 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1997 NFL Draft. 173 regular-season games · 10 seasons as a starter · 86 career approximate value Louisville has produced 95 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Sam Madison drafted?
Sam Madison was selected No. 44 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1997 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/sam-madison.
What college did Sam Madison play for?
Sam Madison played college football at Louisville in the ACC. See every Louisville draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/louisville-cardinals.
How did Sam Madison's NFL career turn out?
173 regular-season games · 10 seasons as a starter · 86 career approximate value Accolades: 2× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/sam-madison.