Obafemi Ayanbadejo
Encyclopedia
Obafemi Devin Ayanbadejo [ˌoʊbəˈfɛmi ˌaɪ.ənbəˈdeɪdʒoʊ] (born March 5, 1975) is an American football
fullback
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football
at San Diego State
.
Ayanbadejo has also played for the Baltimore Ravens
, Miami Dolphins
, Arizona Cardinals
and has been on the offseason roster of the Chicago Bears
. He earned a Super Bowl ring
with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV
. He is the older brother of NFL linebacker
Brendon Ayanbadejo
.
after starting in junior college
at Cabrillo College
in Aptos, California
.
career at San Diego State, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings. He was cut by the team before the season began and did not play football that year.
late in November due to a toe injury. Ayanbadejo was released by the Ravens after the 2001 season
.
After failing to sign with another team, he sat out 2002 season
in free agency
.
, was a linebacker for the Dolphins that season.
In August 2007, Ayanbadejo was suspended for the first four games of the 2007 season after testing positive for a banned substance. Following his suspension, he was released from the Bears' roster.
in 2009. He signed with the team on August 18.
Brendon Ayanbadejo. The two were teammates on the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, Miami Dolphins in 2003 and Chicago Bears in 2007.
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...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
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 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...
as an undrafted free agent in 1997. 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
San Diego State Aztecs football
The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
.
Ayanbadejo has also played for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, 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...
, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and has been on the offseason roster of the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He earned a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
. He is the older brother of NFL 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...
Brendon Ayanbadejo
Brendon Ayanbadejo
Oladele Brendon Ayanbadejo is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins....
.
College career
Ayanbadejo played at San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
after starting in junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
at Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College is a public community college offering associate degrees and certificates in more than 70 fields of study such as: engineering, computer science, allied health , public safety, marine biology and the visual and performing arts. The college itself is named after the explorer Juan...
in Aptos, California
Aptos, California
Aptos is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 6,220 at the 2010 census.Aptos is an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz county, consisting of several small communities...
.
Minnesota Vikings
Following his collegiateCollege 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...
career at San Diego State, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings. He was cut by the team before the season began and did not play football that year.
Baltimore Ravens
Ayanbadejo was signed to the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens the following season, where he remained before being activated to the regular season roster late in the year. However he got put on the injured reserveInjured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
late in November due to a toe injury. Ayanbadejo was released by the Ravens after the 2001 season
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
.
After failing to sign with another team, he sat out 2002 season
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
in free agency
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....
.
Miami Dolphins
Ayanbadejo signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2003, appearing in 16 games (two starts) and catching 12 passes for 53 yards. His brother, Brendon AyanbadejoBrendon Ayanbadejo
Oladele Brendon Ayanbadejo is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins....
, was a linebacker for the Dolphins that season.
Arizona Cardinals
On March 6, 2006, the Cardinals re-signed Obafemi Ayanbadejo to a two-year extension, though he was be cut three months later.Chicago Bears
Ayanbadejo signed with the Chicago Bears in 2007, becoming professional teammates with his younger brother, Brendon, for the third time in their careers.In August 2007, Ayanbadejo was suspended for the first four games of the 2007 season after testing positive for a banned substance. Following his suspension, he was released from the Bears' roster.
California Redwoods
Ayanbadejo was drafted by the California Redwoods of the United Football League in the UFL Premiere Season DraftUFL Premiere Season Draft
The UFL "Premiere" Season Draft was the inaugural draft of the United Football League. The results of the draft were announced via press release on June 19, 2009....
in 2009. He signed with the team on August 18.
Personal
He is the older brother of Baltimore Ravens linebackerLinebacker
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...
Brendon Ayanbadejo. The two were teammates on the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, Miami Dolphins in 2003 and Chicago Bears in 2007.