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Sam Ehlinger throws first-career NFL touchdown pass

Screenshot 2023-07-18 at 4.54.37 PMby:Riley Gates•01/01/23•

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 26: Sam Ehlinger #4 of the Indianapolis Colts warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 26, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

In his second year as an NFL quarterback, Sam Ehlinger has seen time on the field, both as a starter and in relief. On Sunday against the New York Giants, Ehlinger was on the field in relief and was finally able to throw the first touchdown pass of his NFL career.

Late in the third quarter of the game with his team trailing 31-3, Ehlinger led the Colts on a 16-play drive that went 68 yards in 8:32. The drive ended with Ehlinger hitting a wide-open Michael Pittman Jr. in the end zone for a touchdown.

You can see Ehlinger’s pass below in the video.

A sixth-round pick coming out of Texas in the 2021 NFL Draft, Ehlinger appeared in three games for the Colts during his rookie season. While Ehlinger made it onto the field in those games as a rookie, he did not throw any pass attempts. Ehlinger was drafted to the Colts after an impressive career at Texas.

Over four seasons with the Longhorns, he threw for 11,436 yards and 94 touchdowns. In the 2020 season, Ehlinger threw for 3,663 yards and 32 touchdowns, which earned him Second Team All-Big 12 honors.

Earlier in the year, Ehlinger replaced starter Matt Ryan after a shaky start to the season. The Colts have since been working with other options at quarterback. Nick Foles started this game for the Colts but left the game with an injury that resulted in him being carted off the field and replaced by Ehlinger.

“You guys know I love Nick Foles. I think he’s incredible. I mean, he’s an incredible player. And he’s looked great in practice for the last five, six weeks. This was just more of a philosophical decision,” former Colts coach Frank Reich told reporters earlier in the year. “And when you’re struggling to do certain things on offense, it just seemed like a logical conclusion. And Sam earned that right, now. … Sam also earned the right by what he did in preseason and how he’s continued to look.”