Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
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| Green Bay Packers — No. 94 | |
| Defensive end | |
| Date of birth: September 24, 1977 | |
| Place of birth: Los Angeles, California | |
| Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | Weight: 247 lb (112 kg) |
| National Football League debut | |
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| 2000 for the Green Bay Packers | |
| Career history | |
| College: San Diego State | |
| NFL Draft: 2000 / Round: 5 / Pick: 149 | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at NFL.com | |
Muhammed-Kabeer Olarewaju Gbaja-Biamila (pronounced /kəˈbɪər ˈbɑːdʒɑː ˌbiːəˈmɪlə/[1]), commonly known as KGB, (born September 24, 1977, in Los Angeles, California) is an American Football defensive end of Nigerian descent who plays for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL.
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[edit] High School career
Gbaja-Biamila attendeed Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, California and was a student and a three-year letterman in football and track&field. In football, as a senior, he was named the Central City Defensive Lineman of the Year.
While at attending Crenshaw High School, Gbaja-Biamila was co-founder of Food From the Hood, an organic food company that sprang from the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Food From the Hood eventually went on to launch a line of salad dressings that appeared in all major Southern California grocery chains as well as on Amazon.com.[1] For their work, Food From the Hood received the "American Achievement Award" from Newsweek, which featured both Gbaja-Biamila on its cover. On November 1, 1994 Prince Charles paid a visit to Crenshaw High School, upon an invitation from Carlos Lopez, a fellow co-founder of Food From the Hood.
[edit] College career
Gbaja-Biamila attended San Diego State University where he was a three-year starter. He finished his career with the Aztecs with a school record 33 sacks, a mark previously held by former Packer Mike Douglass at 26 sacks. He was named a first team all-conference selection in each of his last three seasons. He graduated with a degree in business administration.
[edit] Professional career
[edit] Green Bay Packers
Gbaja-Biamila was chosen by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft with the 149th overall selection. The San Diego State University graduate became, in 2003, the first player in Packers history to record ten or more sacks in three consecutive seasons. He also played in the Pro Bowl that year. In 2004, he again recorded double-digit sacks, taking down opposing quarterbacks 13.5 times. KGB is recognized for having one of the most explosive first-steps of any defensive linemen in the NFL.
During the 2006 season, Gbaja-Biamila was demoted from starter to second string defensive end behind starters Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins and accepted the role of a pash rushing specialist who is most active on passing downs. The Packers feel that this rotational system keeps the players fresh and plays to both Jenkins and Gbaja-Biamila's strengths.
In October 2007, Gbaja-Biamila broke the Green Bay Packers sack record with 69 sacks, which was previously held by Hall of Famer Reggie White with 68½ sacks.[2] Originally, Gbaja-Biamila was not credited with three sacks against Vikings quarterback Kelly Holcomb during the Packers vs. Vikings game on September 30th. Later on in the week, the Elias Sports Bureau reviewed game footage and credited Gbaja-Biamila with a third sack on Kelly Holcomb, who was originally ruled as rushing for zero yards.
[edit] Family and personal life
Kabeer is fifth child born to Bolatito Gbajabiamila (née: Anjorin) and the second child to Mustapha Gbajabiamila. He is the older brother of Oakland Raiders linebacker Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and a twin to Hadijat-Kubrat Gbajabiamila. He graduated from Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles. Both of his parents were Muslim, hence the name, until his mother, converted to Christianity. While he was raised under a Sunni Muslim household, during his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers he converted to Christianity.[3] Even after his conversion he still adheres to certain Islamic practices such as eating halal. This included no consumption of pork and alcohol.
He is the coordinator at the local Celebration Church Bayside for Crown Financial Ministries, which teaches people how to manage money God's way using Biblical principles and was involved in July 2007 in the first faith-based event at Lambeau Field called Leap of Faith Lambeau, for which thousands of Christians gathered for a day of repentance. The role model for everything in his life, on and off the field, is Jesus Christ.
[4] Kabeer also serves on the board of directors at Freedom House, a shelter for homeless families in Green Bay. Each year Freedom House helps over 100 families including over 250 children overcome homelessness and move into stable permanent housing and employment. In 2007 he started Kabeer's Freedom House Sack Fund. For each sack registered during the 2007 season, over $10,000 will be donated to Freedom House. Kabeer put up the first $1,000 per sack pledge himself.
[edit] References
- ^ Miss Pronouncer: Hear how to pronounce; The Wisconsin pronunciation guide for cities, counties, Indians & lawmakers
