Akbar Gbaja-Biamila
Encyclopedia
Akbar Oluwakemi-Idowu Gbaja-Biamila (born May 6, 1979) is an American football
linebacker
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
at San Diego State. He currently works for NBC Sports
as a college football analyst, previously held the same position with CBS College Sports Network. During the football offseason Gbaja-Biamila heads RUSH THE PASSER a comprehensive defensive line training program preparing college/professional defensive linemen to elevate their skills.
Gbaja-Biamila has also played for the San Diego Chargers
and Miami Dolphins
. He is the younger brother of former Green Bay Packers
defensive end
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
.
Basketball teams of the Willie West Jr. era, made the move to play football in his senior year. Gbaja-Biamila was an all-league and all-conference choice as senior at Crenshaw High School
in South Los Angeles
, California
. He was also named team’s defensive lineman of the year, compiling 11 sacks and 74 tackles in his senior campaign.
School in Los Angeles (where he is again volunteering to assist the school’s athletes in training and life skills), win back to back city and state basketball
championships in 1996 and 1997 before moving on to the gridiron for his senior season. His defensive prowess earned him all-league and all-conference
selections and led to a scholarship to San Diego State University, where he was all-Mountain West Conference in his senior year of 2002. However it was off
the field where Akbar began making his biggest impact as an undergrad. He joined the group Athletes For Education, one of a handful of collegiate players
that were part of the outreach group, and worked with founder Steve Haynes and a group of San Diego-area professional players to go into communities and work with young people on life skills. Akbar’s passion was speaking about financial literacy, and he spent hours working with youth in San Diego about the
value of investing and understanding how the financial system worked. He also worked on reading and math programs with impoverished youth, giving him
insight as a young athlete into the value of community assistance.
and later signed with the Oakland Raiders
as a free agent
. He made the team out of training camp and played in 13 of the team's 16 regular season games, while being inactive for three. He recorded seven tackles (four solo) on the season, with his first and only sack of the season coming against Daunte Culpepper
, then with the Minnesota Vikings
.
In 2004 Gbaja-Biamila split time between defensive end and linebacker
, occasionally filling in for players such as Travian Smith
and Tyler Brayton
. He appeared in 14 games for the Raiders during the regular season and was inactive for two games. He accumulated a career-high 14 tackles (11 solo) and added a sack on the year. His lone sack came against Brad Johnson
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, while he recorded a season-high three tackles in games against the Denver Broncos
and Jacksonville Jaguars
. Gbaja-Biamila also recovered a blocked punt against the Carolina Panthers
which led to a Raiders touchdown.
Battling injuries during the 2005 training camp, Gbaja-Biamila was released by the Raiders on September 3. He had a workout with the Green Bay Packers
two days later, but he was not signed and spent the season out of football. In 2008 resigned with the Raiders and was released to retire as a Raider.
on January 12. The fit was a good one for him, who as slightly undersized yet quick defensive end was a perfect fit for the 3-4 defense employed by then-defensive coordinator Wade Phillips
and the Chargers.
, who was offensive coordinator in San Diego the season before when Gbaja-Biamila was a member of the Chargers. On September 11, 2007 he was released by the Dolphins. He spent the season out of football.
with both the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins before retiring in 2008. All the time in professional football, Akbar was looking for what’s next in his non-playing career, and how he could use those skills and assets to help others. In 2005, he was selected as one the NFL’s first athletes into their Broadcast Boot Camp, held at NFL Films in Mount Laurel, N.J., and designed to give 20 players a short and rigorous look into the skills needed to embark on a
broadcast or journalism career after their playing days were over. He also took advantage of some time between playing stints to volunteer at KSWB, the
NBC affiliate in San Diego, and ended up as the co-host for “Football Night in San Diego,” while he awaited his next chance back in the pros. He hosted the show for two and a half seasons (2006-2008) before getting one last look at the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.
blessed me" and Idowu means "born after twins." His older brother Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
has a twin. His last name, Gbaja-Biamila means "big man come save me." This name comes from his paternal great-great-grandfather who stood seven feet tall and was the village moderator in the Nigerian village in which he lived.
. Symptoms of Mustapha's Parkinson's first started to show up in 1998, after attending his youngest son’s, Abdul-Jabbar (Akbar’s junior brother) home football game, Mustapha collapsed due to dehydration and was admitted to MLK-Harbor. It was from here that his symptoms of Parkinson's escalated. Originally. While a member of the Chargers in 2006, Akbar routinely drove back-and-forth from San Diego to Los Angeles to spend time with his father. Akbar now lives in California with his wife, son, & daughter
Since 2009, Gbaja-Biamila has been an analyst for Division I games on CBS College Sports. He is a contestant on the reality adventure game show Expedition Impossible
. His team "The Football Players" finished in 4th place on the show.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at San Diego State. He currently works for NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
as a college football analyst, previously held the same position with CBS College Sports Network. During the football offseason Gbaja-Biamila heads RUSH THE PASSER a comprehensive defensive line training program preparing college/professional defensive linemen to elevate their skills.
Gbaja-Biamila has also played for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He is the younger brother of former Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Muhammed-Kabeer Olanrewaju Gbaja-Biamila , commonly referred to as "KGB", is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
.
Early years
Gbaja-Biamila a former hoop star who won "Back-to-Back" City and State Championships (1996,1997) with the dynasty of the Crenshaw High SchoolCrenshaw High School
Crenshaw High School is a secondary school located in South Los Angeles, California.The school first opened in 1968 and currently enrolls an average of 2,600 students. Its address is 5010 11th Avenue, near the corner of 50th Street. The school colors are blue and gold, and its mascot is the...
Basketball teams of the Willie West Jr. era, made the move to play football in his senior year. Gbaja-Biamila was an all-league and all-conference choice as senior at Crenshaw High School
Crenshaw High School
Crenshaw High School is a secondary school located in South Los Angeles, California.The school first opened in 1968 and currently enrolls an average of 2,600 students. Its address is 5010 11th Avenue, near the corner of 50th Street. The school colors are blue and gold, and its mascot is the...
in South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A. and formerly South Central Los Angeles, is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central, and is still widely known...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was also named team’s defensive lineman of the year, compiling 11 sacks and 74 tackles in his senior campaign.
College career
Gbaja-Biamila has always lived an active lifestyle, one that combined social consciousness with athletic success. He helped his alma mater, Crenshaw HighSchool in Los Angeles (where he is again volunteering to assist the school’s athletes in training and life skills), win back to back city and state basketball
championships in 1996 and 1997 before moving on to the gridiron for his senior season. His defensive prowess earned him all-league and all-conference
selections and led to a scholarship to San Diego State University, where he was all-Mountain West Conference in his senior year of 2002. However it was off
the field where Akbar began making his biggest impact as an undergrad. He joined the group Athletes For Education, one of a handful of collegiate players
that were part of the outreach group, and worked with founder Steve Haynes and a group of San Diego-area professional players to go into communities and work with young people on life skills. Akbar’s passion was speaking about financial literacy, and he spent hours working with youth in San Diego about the
value of investing and understanding how the financial system worked. He also worked on reading and math programs with impoverished youth, giving him
insight as a young athlete into the value of community assistance.
Raiders
Gbaja-Biamila went undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
and later signed with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He made the team out of training camp and played in 13 of the team's 16 regular season games, while being inactive for three. He recorded seven tackles (four solo) on the season, with his first and only sack of the season coming against Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Rachard Culpepper is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League . Prior to joining the UFL, Culpepper enjoyed a successful National Football League career after being drafted 11th overall in...
, then with the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
In 2004 Gbaja-Biamila split time between defensive end and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, occasionally filling in for players such as Travian Smith
Travian Smith
Travian Smith is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma....
and Tyler Brayton
Tyler Brayton
Tyler Brayton is an American football defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders 32nd overall in the 2003 NFL Draft...
. He appeared in 14 games for the Raiders during the regular season and was inactive for two games. He accumulated a career-high 14 tackles (11 solo) and added a sack on the year. His lone sack came against Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson (American football)
James Bradley Johnson is a former National Football League Super Bowl-winning quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Brad went to Charles D...
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, while he recorded a season-high three tackles in games against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Gbaja-Biamila also recovered a blocked punt against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
which led to a Raiders touchdown.
Battling injuries during the 2005 training camp, Gbaja-Biamila was released by the Raiders on September 3. He had a workout with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
two days later, but he was not signed and spent the season out of football. In 2008 resigned with the Raiders and was released to retire as a Raider.
San Diego Chargers
Gbaja-Biamila returned to the NFL in 2006 after being signed by the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on January 12. The fit was a good one for him, who as slightly undersized yet quick defensive end was a perfect fit for the 3-4 defense employed by then-defensive coordinator Wade Phillips
Wade Phillips
Wade Allen Phillips is the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans and former head coach for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. He was also an interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
and the Chargers.
Miami Dolphins
On February 6, 2007 it was announced that Gbaja-Biamila had been signed to a future contract with the Miami Dolphins. The move reunited him with new Dolphins head coach Cam CameronCam Cameron
-External links:...
, who was offensive coordinator in San Diego the season before when Gbaja-Biamila was a member of the Chargers. On September 11, 2007 he was released by the Dolphins. He spent the season out of football.
Other
An undrafted free agent, Gbaja-Biamila signed with the Oakland Raiders and spent two seasons with the silver and black, before moving on to spend timewith both the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins before retiring in 2008. All the time in professional football, Akbar was looking for what’s next in his non-playing career, and how he could use those skills and assets to help others. In 2005, he was selected as one the NFL’s first athletes into their Broadcast Boot Camp, held at NFL Films in Mount Laurel, N.J., and designed to give 20 players a short and rigorous look into the skills needed to embark on a
broadcast or journalism career after their playing days were over. He also took advantage of some time between playing stints to volunteer at KSWB, the
NBC affiliate in San Diego, and ended up as the co-host for “Football Night in San Diego,” while he awaited his next chance back in the pros. He hosted the show for two and a half seasons (2006-2008) before getting one last look at the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.
Name meaning
Akbar’s full name is Akbar Oluwakemi-Idowu Gbaja-Biamila. Akbar is Arabic and means "great." His middle and last names are Nigerian. The middle names, Oluwakemi means "GodGod
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
blessed me" and Idowu means "born after twins." His older brother Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Muhammed-Kabeer Olanrewaju Gbaja-Biamila , commonly referred to as "KGB", is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
has a twin. His last name, Gbaja-Biamila means "big man come save me." This name comes from his paternal great-great-grandfather who stood seven feet tall and was the village moderator in the Nigerian village in which he lived.
Family
In 2002 his mother, Bolatito, died in a tragic car accident. In 2004 his father, Mustapha, after years of treatment, was diagnosed with Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
. Symptoms of Mustapha's Parkinson's first started to show up in 1998, after attending his youngest son’s, Abdul-Jabbar (Akbar’s junior brother) home football game, Mustapha collapsed due to dehydration and was admitted to MLK-Harbor. It was from here that his symptoms of Parkinson's escalated. Originally. While a member of the Chargers in 2006, Akbar routinely drove back-and-forth from San Diego to Los Angeles to spend time with his father. Akbar now lives in California with his wife, son, & daughter
Television career
With his playing career over, Akbar turned his focus to the broadcast booth in addition to his philanthropic work, serving as an analyst for the Mtn. Network and CBS Sports Network for two years, while also taking voice and acting classes. He also founded Rush The Passer, a year-round athletic and academic and life skills program for youth in Southern California. In 2010 was approached by reality producer Mark Burnett to be part of a three-man athlete team for his latest project on ABC. That role, and the exposure that comes with it, will help continue to further Akbar’s broadcast and activist roles.Since 2009, Gbaja-Biamila has been an analyst for Division I games on CBS College Sports. He is a contestant on the reality adventure game show Expedition Impossible
Expedition Impossible (TV series)
Expedition Impossible is a 2011 American reality television series. The series follows thirteen teams of three competitors as they "solve problems while racing across deserts, over mountains and through rivers" across the nation of Morocco. The first team to cross the finish line after completing...
. His team "The Football Players" finished in 4th place on the show.