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Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila

No. --     Free Agent
Defensive end
Personal information
Date of birth: September 24, 1977 (1977-09-24) (age 32)
Place of birth: Los Angeles, California
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	Weight: 249 lb (113 kg)
Career information
College: San Diego State
NFL Draft: 2000 / Round: 5 / Pick: 149
Debuted in 2000 for the Green Bay Packers
Career history
As player: Green Bay Packers (2000-2008)
Career highlights and awards
3× First-team All-MWC (1997-1999) Pro Bowl selection (2003)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2008
Tackles	286
Sacks	74.5
INTs	1
Stats at NFL.com

Muhammed-Kabeer Olanrewaju Gbaja-Biamila (pronounced /kəˈbɪər ˈbɑːdʒɑː ˌbiːəˈmɪlə/^[1]) (born September 24, 1977 in Los Angeles, California), 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. He played college football at San Diego State.

A Pro Bowl selection in 2003, he is the older brother of former NFL linebacker Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.

Early years

Gbaja-Biamila attendeed Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, California and was a student and a three-year letterman in football and track and 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 a 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.^[2] 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.

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.

Professional career

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 pass rushing specialist who is most active on passing downs.

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.[1] Originally, Gbaja-Biamila was not credited with three sacks against Vikings quarterback Kelly Holcomb during the Packers vs. Vikings game on September 30. 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.

Gbaja-Biamila played in seven games (one start) for the Packers in 2008, recording nine tackles, half a sack and a pass defensed. He was released on November 1 after the team activated defensive tackle Justin Harrell from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.^[3]

Family and personal life

Kabeer is fifth child born to Bolatito Gbaja-Biamila (née: Anjorin) and the second child to Mustapha Gbaja-Biamila. He is the older brother of free agent linebacker Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and a twin. He has another brother named Abdul. He graduated from Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles. Both of his parents were Muslim, 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.[2] Even after his conversion he still adheres to certain Islamic practices such as eating halal.

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. He was involved in the first faith-based event at Lambeau Field called Leap of Faith Lambeau, in July 2007, where thousands of Christians gathered.

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.

References

External links

• Green Bay Packers bio
• Freedom House