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458:, where he was a star basketball player on teams that were part of the Willie West Jr. coaching era. He and his teammates won back-to-back City and State Championships in 1996 and 1997. Gbaja-Biamila moved to play football during his senior year. He was an all-league and all-conference choice. He was also named the team's defensive lineman of the year, compiling 11 sacks and 74 tackles in his senior campaign.
490:, where his older brother also attended. Gbaja-Biamila was an all-Mountain West Conference in 2002. He joined the group Athletes For Education, an outreach group that sent players into communities to work with young people on developing their life skills. He graduated with a degree in communication and new media studies, before completing a certified entrepreneurship program at the
659:
In 2005, Gbaja-Biamila was selected as one of the NFL's first athletes into their
Broadcast Boot Camp, held 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 careers. He also took
676:
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,
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who was also a pro football player.) Their last name, GbĂ jĂ -BĂĂ mĂlĂ , or Gbaja-Biamila means "One who, while fighting, pretends to be separating a fight." This name comes from his paternal great-great-grandfather who was 7 ft (2.1 m) tall and was the village moderator in his
Nigerian
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Gbaja-Biamila currently serves as a board member for the
Asomugha Foundation, an organization aimed at creating better educational opportunities for impoverished communities. Akbar also serves on the board of the
643:, who was the 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.
565:. He made the team out of training camp and played in 13 of the team's 16 regular season games. He recorded seven tackles (four solos) on the season, with his first and only sack of the season coming against
588:. 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. That sack came against
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On
February 6, 2007, it was announced that Gbaja-Biamila had been signed to a future contract worth $ 7.4 million with the Miami Dolphins. The move reunited him with new Dolphins head coach
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on
January 12. The fit was a good one for him, who as a slightly undersized yet quick defensive end was a perfect fit for the 3-4 defense employed by then-defensive coordinator
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as a permanent co-host, and the second full-time male co-host on the show. Gbaja-Biamila appeared as a guest co-host on multiple episodes in June and July.
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686:. His team "The Football Players" finished in 4th place on the show. That role, and the exposure that came with it, helped further Akbar's exposure.
790:. The middle name, "OlĂșwakáșčÌmi" means "God takes care of me" and "ĂdĂČwĂș" is a name given to a child born after twins. (One of his older brothers is
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831:. 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.
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Gbaja-Biamila briefly returned to the
Raiders in 2008, but did not appear in a game and was released before the start of the season.
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Battling injuries during the 2005 training camp, Gbaja-Biamila was released by the
Raiders on September 3. He had a workout with the
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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
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In 2010 he was approached by reality producer Mark
Burnett to be part of a three-man athlete team for his latest project on ABC,
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Muslim household but converted to
Christianity while in college. In 2000, his father, Mustapha, was diagnosed with
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Akbar is married and has four children. His wife is Chrystal Gbajabiamila. His ancestry is
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district of Los Angeles with his mother and father, both of whom were born and raised in
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1062:"American Ninja Warrior Makes The Leap To Video Games, Lands On Switch This March"
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as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Gbaja-Biamila played for two other teams, the
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two days later, but he was not signed and spent the season out of football.
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On September 2, 2021, it was announced that Akbar Gbaja-Biamila would join
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1193:"American Ninja Warrior host's life story has been filled with obstacles"
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Akbar's full name is Akbar OlĂșwakáșčÌmi ĂdĂČwĂș GbĂ jĂ -BĂĂ mĂlĂ . Akbar is
677:
academic, and life skills program for youth in Southern California.
623:
Gbaja-Biamila returned to the NFL in 2006 after being signed by the
957:"2003 NFL Draft Scout Akbar Gbaja-Biamila College Football Profile"
804:
466:
In his senior year, Gbaja-Biamila received scholarship offers from
1240:
1147:"Chrystal Gbaja-Biamila Net Worth, Age, Bio, Family & Career"
1104:"50 Cent may have a challenger for worst first pitch of all time"
360:
352:. On 29th July 2024, he made his debut on Good Morning Football.
697:
cast of hosts. In 2013, he became a color commentator alongside
812:
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Akbar Oluwakemi-Idowu Gbajabiamila was born on May 6, 1979, in
373:. Before starting his professional career, Gbajabiamila played
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Sports commentator, TV personality, author, former linebacker
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On May 10, 2018, Gbaja-Biamila threw out the first pitch at
576:
In 2004, Gbaja-Biamila split time between defensive end and
931:"Akbar Gbaja-Biamila â Football and Television Personality"
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and means "greatest". His middle and last names are of the
604:. Gbaja-Biamila also recovered a blocked punt against the
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American players of American football of Nigerian descent
933:. Crenshaw High School Alumni Association. Archived from
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413:
403:
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310:
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in 2018. The duo provide their voices as themselves in
363:, and his six siblings. Among his siblings is former
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Gbajabiamila is Nigerian-American and grew up in the
1048:"'American Ninja Warrior' Adds Pair of New Co-Hosts"
1089:"Akbar Gbaja-Biamila delivers terrible first pitch"
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338:television series. He is a former analyst for the
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760:which was widely seen as being among the worst.
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580:, occasionally filling in for players such as
332:(NFL) who is a commentator and co-host on the
27:American football player and talk show co-host
1494:Players of American football from Los Angeles
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983:"Akbar Gbaja-Biamila tours Las Vegas Stadium"
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729:that debuted on Esquire Network in 2016, and
204:* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
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324:(born May 6, 1979) is a former professional
827:. In 2002, his mother, Bolatito, died in a
1549:Converts to Protestantism from Sunni Islam
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41:
1442:American Ninja Warrior: USA vs. The World
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1168:. Official Chargers Blog. Archived from
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866:"Akbar Gbaja-Biamila Career Stats - NFL"
426:. Gbajabiamila released his first book,
342:and is currently one of the co-hosts of
1539:San Diego State Aztecs football players
1435:American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja
1101:
844:, which raises millions of dollars for
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542:Values from San Diego State's Pro Day
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1499:Nigerian players of American football
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1166:"Akbar Gbaja-Biamila Keeps the Faith"
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811:ethnicity. Both of his parents were
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553:Gbaja-Biamila went undrafted in the
1569:National Football League announcers
24:
1046:Goldberg, Lesley (April 8, 2013).
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608:which led to a Raiders touchdown.
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472:University of California, Berkeley
322:Akbar Oluwakemi-Idowu Gbajabiamila
25:
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1509:American people of Yoruba descent
1428:American Ninja Warrior: Challenge
1221:
1164:Hamilton, P. S. (July 21, 2006).
742:American Ninja Warrior: Challenge
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461:
99:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
1519:American football defensive ends
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815:, until his mother converted to
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396:Gbajabiamila currently co-hosts
1504:African-American former Muslims
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1145:Ford, Tom (November 11, 2023).
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1213:. Michael J. Fox Organization.
1102:Pereles, Zach (May 10, 2018).
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1025:"Akbar Gbaja-Biamila Host Bio"
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689:As of 2012, he has joined the
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1:
1524:American football linebackers
1421:American Ninja Warrior Junior
1191:Dever, Jim (August 5, 2019).
1087:Lott, Thomas (May 10, 2018).
981:Newby, John (June 27, 2019).
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732:American Ninja Warrior Junior
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423:American Ninja Warrior Junior
291:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
7:
1574:Crenshaw High School alumni
1564:College football announcers
1004:"Akbar Gbaja-Biamila Stats"
662:Football Night in San Diego
10:
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1554:San Diego Chargers players
1008:Pro-Football-Reference.com
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752:before a game between the
557:and later signed with the
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492:Wharton School of Business
488:San Diego State University
379:San Diego State University
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1050:. The Hollywood Reporter.
842:Michael J. Fox Foundation
719:. The pair also co-hosts
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124:(Los Angeles, California)
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330:National Football League
32:American football player
1544:Oakland Raiders players
428:Everyone Can Be a Ninja
381:. He was signed by the
89:Los Angeles, California
1559:Miami Dolphins players
1314:American Ninja Warrior
727:American Ninja Warrior
704:American Ninja Warrior
503:Pre-draft measurables
409:American Ninja Warrior
335:American Ninja Warrior
1211:"Akbar Gbaja-Biamila"
902:"Akbar Gbaja-Biamila"
819:. He was raised in a
758:Philadelphia Phillies
683:Expedition Impossible
213:Career NFL statistics
1172:on September 7, 2008
792:Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
754:San Francisco Giants
602:Jacksonville Jaguars
594:Tampa Bay Buccaneers
486:. He chose to go to
468:University of Oregon
452:Crenshaw High School
371:Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
68:Personal information
47:Gbajabiamila in 2024
1534:Yoruba sportspeople
825:Parkinson's disease
799:Family and religion
707:being broadcast on
693:as a member of the
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498:Professional career
282:Akbar Gbaja-Biamila
37:
18:Akbar Gbaja-Biamila
1529:NFL Network people
1237:Akbar Gbajabiamila
1228:Akbar Gbajabiamila
1068:. January 25, 2019
750:Citizens Bank Park
722:Team Ninja Warrior
631:and the Chargers.
625:San Diego Chargers
619:San Diego Chargers
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387:San Diego Chargers
171:San Diego Chargers
112:Career information
36:Akbar Gbajabiamila
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672:Television career
647:Return to Oakland
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16:(Redirected from
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368:defensive end
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98:
94:
90:
85:(age 45)
75:
71:
66:
63:
62:Defensive end
60:
56:
51:
44:
39:
30:
19:
1447:
1440:
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1426:
1419:
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590:Brad Johnson
575:
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480:Fresno State
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321:
320:
264:
117:High school:
29:
1072:November 9,
846:Parkinson's
699:Matt Iseman
691:NFL Network
641:Cam Cameron
535:268 lb
440:Los Angeles
340:NFL Network
83:May 6, 1979
1483:Categories
852:References
848:research.
578:linebacker
563:free agent
516:6 ft
444:California
434:Early life
296:Occupation
139:Undrafted:
79:1979-05-06
1275:Incumbent
1197:king5.com
966:April 22,
829:car crash
795:village.
494:in 2005.
58:Position:
1468:Category
1268:co-host
1265:The Talk
1176:June 11,
1031:June 29,
941:July 26,
805:Nigerian
766:The Talk
592:and the
530: in
399:The Talk
357:Crenshaw
345:The Talk
311:iamakbar
129:College:
121:Crenshaw
1413:Related
1322:Seasons
1241:Twitter
1118:"ĂdĂČwĂș"
875:May 28,
835:Charity
525:⁄
511:Weight
361:Nigeria
304:Website
104:Weight:
96:Height:
813:Muslim
809:Yoruba
784:Arabic
715:, and
508:Height
482:, and
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1027:. NBC
821:Sunni
655:Other
561:as a
234:Sacks
73:Born:
1232:IMDb
1178:2016
1074:2020
1033:2018
968:2023
943:2020
910:2024
877:2024
870:ESPN
756:and
701:for
600:and
584:and
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389:and
313:.com
288:Born
192:2008
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175:2006
165:2004
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1239:on
1230:at
807:of
717:NBC
454:in
414:NBC
412:on
404:CBS
402:on
377:at
350:CBS
348:on
266:PFR
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