Mike Sainristil (/ˈmaɪki ˈseɪnrɪstɪl/ MY-kee SANE-rih-stil: born October 3, 2000) is a Haitian American football cornerback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He was an college football All-American for the Michigan Wolverines, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023. Sainristil was selected by the Commanders in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Sainristil was born on October 3, 2000, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.^[1] His family left the country when Sainristil was seven months old after his father began to receive threats as a radio station director following the 2000 Haitian presidential election.^[2] The family settled in Everett, Massachusetts, where Sainristil later attended Everett High School.^[3] Sainristil was the 2018 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior, playing wide receiver and defensive back. He caught 30 passes for 762 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the Everett Crimson Tide (10-1) to the Division 1 North Sectional semifinals. Sainristil also recorded six interceptions in the secondary, including three in one game. He concluded his high school career with 28 receiving touchdowns.^[4]

In November 2018, he committed to play college football at the University of Michigan.^[5] He enrolled early and turned heads in Michigan's 2019 spring practice.^[6][7] Michigan's defensive coaches sought to use him as a cornerback, but the offensive staff won out in having him as a wide receiver.^[8]

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.^[7][9]

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.^[10][11][12]

In 2022, Sainristil was moved to cornerback.^[13][14] He finished his first collegiate season 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.^[15] He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention following the season.

In 2023, Sainristil was voted a captain for a second consecutive season for Michigan’s national championship team. ^[16] He was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News, ESPN and FOX, ^[17] finishing the season with 44 tackles, 1 sack, 6 interceptions, 2 returned for touchdowns and 2 forced fumbles.^[18]

On January 8, 2024, Sainristil recorded the game-clinching interception in the 2024 national championship game, intercepting Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and returning it 81 yards.^[19]

Sainristil was selected by the Washington Commanders in the second round (50th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.^[23]