Jeff Samardzija
A rare two-sport collegiate star who chose baseball's mound over the NFL, forging a durable decade-long career as a fierce and reliable starting pitcher.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American baseball player·Birthday: January 23·Millennials
Biography
Jeff Samardzija faced a choice that most athletes can only dream of: a guaranteed future as a first-round NFL wide receiver or the uncertain climb through baseball's minor leagues. The Notre Dame phenomenon was a two-time All-American in both sports, a towering target with game-breaking speed on the gridiron. In choosing baseball with the Chicago Cubs, he traded immediate fame for a long game. Known by the apt nickname 'Shark,' he embodied a relentless, competitive approach on the mound. It took several years of refinement, but he evolved from a reliever into a workhorse starter, famous for chewing up innings with a powerful sinker and fierce slider. His journey saw him become an All-Star with the Cubs, a key trade piece for Oakland's 2014 playoff run, and later a steadying force in San Francisco's rotation, proving that his gamble on diamond over turf was a resounding success.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jeff was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jeff Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Jeff's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished 8th in voting for the National League Cy Young Award in 2014 after posting a 2.99 ERA and leading the league in starts and hits allowed per nine innings.
- Was selected as an MLB All-Star in 2014 while playing for the Chicago Cubs.
- Recorded over 200 strikeouts in a season twice during his career (2014, 2015).
- Pitched over 200 innings in three separate seasons, demonstrating durability as a starting pitcher.
Did You Know?
He still holds the Notre Dame record for career touchdown receptions (27).
The Chicago Cubs drafted him in the 5th round in 2006, while he was projected as a potential 1st-round pick in the NFL draft.
He was a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top college receiver, in 2005.
“I chose the dirt of the diamond over the grass of the gridiron.”
