Photo: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons²

Mike Sainristil

Cornerback, Washington Commanders · #0.

Player facts

Team: Washington Commanders
Position: Cornerback
Number: 0
Born: Oct 3, 2000 (age 26)
Birthplace: Port-au-prince, Haiti
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 182 lbs
College: Michigan
Experience: 3 seasons
Status: Active

Stats

2026 Defense

	TOT	SOLO	AST	FF	FR	INT	YDS	AVG	LNG	PD	STF	STFYDS
Regular Season	16	13	3	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	1
Last 5 Games	16	13	3	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	0
Career	194	126	68	2	1	6	116	19.3	55	26	4.5	6

Recent games

			Tackles				Fumbles		Interceptions
Date	Opponent	Result	TOT	SOLO	AST	SACK	FF	FR	INT	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	PD	KB
Sun, Oct 11	vs NYG	T 27-27 OT	5	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Oct 4	vs IND	L 30-13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Sep 27	vs SEA	W 33-31	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Sep 20	@ DAL	L 37-20	4	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Sep 13	@ PHI	L 24-22	5	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0

Last 5 games. Click a game for its box score.

About

Mike Sainristil ( MY-kee SANE-rih-stil; born October 3, 2000) is a Haitian American professional football cornerback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning the 2023 national championship prior to being selected by the Commanders in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

From Wikipedia’s article on Mike Sainristil, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.¹

Background

Early life

Sainristil was born on October 3, 2000, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He and his family left the country when he was seven months old after his father, a radio station director, received threats following the 2000 Haitian presidential election. The family settled in Everett, Massachusetts, where Sainristil later attended Everett High School. As a senior, Sainristil was named Massachusetts' 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year after 30 receptions for 762 yards and 12 touchdowns as a wide receiver with six interceptions as a defensive back, helping Everett reach the Division 1 North Sectional semifinals. He concluded his high school career with 28 receiving touchdowns.

College career

In November 2018, Sainristil committed to play college football for the Wolverines at the University of Michigan. He enrolled early and turned heads in Michigan's 2019 spring practice. Michigan's defensive coaches sought to use him as a cornerback, but the offensive staff won out in having him as a wide receiver. Despite his strong showing in spring practice, Sainristil saw limited time as a true freshman, catching eight passes for 145 yards and his first collegiate touchdown against Notre Dame, on October 26, 2019, totaling 73 yards in the game. With the departure of receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black, and Nico Collins, Sainristil played a larger role in Michigan's offense during the 2020 and 2021 season.

In 2022, Sainristil moved to cornerback. He finished his first collegiate season on defense with 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 7 pass breakups and his first career interception on a pass throw by Max Duggan in the Fiesta Bowl. He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention following the season. In 2023, Sainristil was voted a captain for a second consecutive season. He was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News, ESPN and FOX, finishing the season with 44 tackles, 1 sack, 6 interceptions, 2 returned for touchdowns and 2 forced fumbles. Sainristil was named the MVP of the 2023 Big Ten Championship Game and recorded the game-clinching interception in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, intercepting Michael Penix Jr. and returning it 81 yards.