Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar

Last updated

Abdul-Karim Al-Jabbar
No. 27, 33
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1974-06-28) June 28, 1974 (age 49)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: Dorsey (Los Angeles)
College: UCLA
NFL draft: 1996  / Round: 3 / Pick: 80
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:3,411
Rushing average:3.4
Touchdowns:33
Player stats at PFR

Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar (born Sharmon Shah; June 28, 1974), known previously as Karim Abdul-Jabbar, is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Abdul-Karim played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning second-team All-American honors in 1995. He was selected in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He also played for the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts.

Contents

College career

Born in Los Angeles, Abdul-Karim attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played for the Bruins from 1992 to 1995 under head coach Terry Donahue. He set the school record for rushing yards in a season and was named team MVP in consecutive years under the names 'Sharmon Shah' in 1994 and 'Karim Abdul-Jabbar' in 1995. He was a three-year letterman and two-year starter at UCLA. Despite leaving school with one season of eligibility remaining, he ranks third on the Bruins' all-time rushing list with 3,030 yards on 482 carries (5.2 avg.) with 26 touchdowns. He also added 36 receptions for 885 yards with 9 touchdown. Karim averaged 110.1 total yards per game in college and was the only player in school history (and seventh in Pac-10 annals) to rush for over 1,600 yards.

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

Abdul-Karim was drafted in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, with whom he would play three and a half seasons. [1] In his rookie year, he set many of the Dolphins' rookie records for rushing by a running back. He became only the second Dolphin to lead the team in rushing in each of his first two seasons in the league. In 1997, he led the NFL in total touchdowns with 16 and tied Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis for the league lead with 15 rushing touchdowns. Afterwards his productivity decreased. In 1999, he started the first three games of for the Dolphins before getting deactivated and benched for rookies Cecil Collins and J.J. Johnson. He was subsequently traded to the Cleveland Browns. At the time of the trade, he was second in Dolphins history with 33 rushing touchdowns and fifth in franchise history with 3,063 rushing yards. [2]

Cleveland Browns

On October 19, 1999, the Dolphins traded him to the 0-6 expansion Cleveland Browns for a sixth round draft pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. [2] He started 6 of the 10 games he played in Cleveland, finishing second on the team with 350 yards on 115 rushing attempts. [3] He did not re-sign with the team following the season.

Indianapolis Colts

On July 13, 2000, the Colts signed Abdul-Karim to a one-year contract to replace the late Fred Lane, who was murdered by his wife the week before. [4] Abdul-Karim carried the ball one time for negative two yards in one appearance for Indianapolis.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesRushingReceivingFum
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
1996 MIA 16 14 307 1,116 3.6 2911231396.0230 4
1997 MIA 16 142838923.222 15 29 261 9.0 36 1 3
1998 MIA 15 15 270960 3.6 45 6211024.91802
1999 MIA 3328953.41214256.31400
CLE 1061153503.021013594.521 1 0
2000 IND 101-2-2.0-20000.0000
Career 61521,0043,4113.44533905866.53629

Name controversy

In 1995, Abdul-Karim, a Muslim, was given the name "Karim Abdul-Jabbar" by his Imam. The new name he was given quickly garnered major attention upon his NFL debut. Some commentators mistakenly believed that he was the son of former basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who also attended UCLA (under the name Lew Alcindor) and who himself has a son named Kareem. [5] He also wore number 33, the same number that the basketball player had worn.

The name controversy was periodically spoofed on postgame recaps, such as in 1996 when Chris Berman of ESPN called an Abdul-Jabbar touchdown rush with an imitation of Marv Albert, who was famous for announcing basketball as well as football games. [6]

The controversy eventually led to the basketball player suing the football player in 1997. The lawsuit led to the football player changing his legal name to Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</span> American basketball player (born 1947)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American former professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was a 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA Team member, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection. He was a member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach, and was twice voted the NBA Finals MVP. He was named to three NBA anniversary teams. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was called the greatest basketball player of all time by Pat Riley, Isiah Thomas, and Julius Erving. Abdul-Jabbar broke the NBA's career scoring record in 1984 with 38,387 points, and held it until LeBron James surpassed him in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Warfield</span> American football player (born 1942)

Paul Dryden Warfield is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 to 1977 for the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, except for a year in the World Football League (WFL) with the Memphis Southmen in 1975. He was known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, and jumping ability. A consistent big-play threat throughout his career, his 20.1 average yards per reception is the highest in NFL history among players with at least 300 receptions.

Gary Keith Hogeboom is an American former football player, real estate developer, and television personality. He played professionally as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Phoenix Cardinals, and Washington Redskins. Hogeboom played college football for the Central Michigan Chippewas. He was a contestant on the CBS reality TV show Survivor: Guatemala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl Morrall</span> American football player (1934–2014)

Earl Edwin Morrall was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons, both a starter and reserve. He started for six teams, most notably with the Baltimore Colts and the Miami Dolphins. He became known as one of the greatest backup quarterbacks in NFL history, having served in the capacity for two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Johnny Unitas and Bob Griese. An injury to Unitas in 1968 saw Morrall step in to start the season that saw the Colts to a 13–1 record that saw them win their first NFL Championship in nine years before ineffective play in Super Bowl III saw him benched for Unitas. Two years later, in Super Bowl V, Morrall came off the bench for an injured Unitas and kept the Colts in the game before they ultimately won on a last-second field goal. In his first season with Miami in 1972, he came off the bench when Griese became injured early in the year, with Morrall winning all nine starts; Morrall started the first two playoff games, with Griese playing in each game before being named the starter for Super Bowl VII, where the Dolphins completed the only perfect season in NFL history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preston Pearson</span> American football player (born 1945)

Preston James Pearson is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice Jones-Drew</span> American football player (born 1985)

Maurice Christopher Jones-Drew, often called "MJD", is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2005.

Mark Deyon Higgs is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected by the Cowboys in the eighth round of the 1988 NFL draft.

Curtis Raymond Dickey is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons, spending most of his career with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts before finishing his career with the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Texas A&M University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Taseff</span> American football player and coach (1928–2005)

Carl N. "Gaucho" Taseff was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL). Taseff had an 11-year playing career, primarily with the Baltimore Colts, where he was a member of the 1958 and 1959 NFL Championship winning teams. Taseff then coached for 27 seasons, winning Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII as part of the Miami Dolphins coaching staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Richardson</span> American football player (born 1990)

Trenton Jamond Richardson is an American former professional football player and current Running Backs coach for Ramsey High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He was previously a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American and was a member of two BCS National Championship teams.

Abdul-Gafar Olatokumbo Ayodeji Lamar "Deji" Karim is a former American football running back. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football for Southern Illinois and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Hundley</span> American football player (born 1993)

Brett Alan Hundley Jr. is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, where he was the school's career leader in both total offense and touchdown passes. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and started nine games for them in 2017, following a collarbone injury to Aaron Rodgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke Johnson</span> American football player (born 1993)

Randy "Duke" Johnson Jr. is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft after playing college football at the University of Miami. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Browns, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarvis Landry</span> American football player (born 1992)

Jarvis Charles Landry is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at LSU and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. With the Dolphins, Landry made three Pro Bowls and with the Browns, earned two more Pro Bowls. He led the league in receptions in 2017 with 112. His 564 career receptions are the most by a player through their first six seasons in NFL history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Rosen</span> American football player (born 1997)

Joshua Ballinger Lippincott Rosen is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. Rosen played college football for the UCLA Bruins, receiving Freshman All-American and Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2015. During his junior year, Rosen set the school's record for single-season passing yards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kareem Hunt</span> American football player (born 1995)

Kareem AJ Hunt is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the Toledo Rockets and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie after leading the NFL in rushing yards but was released during his second season after being recorded physically assaulting a woman, including shoving the woman to the ground and then kicking her. Hunt signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and played five seasons with them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorian Thompson-Robinson</span> American football player (born 1999)

Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson, also known by his initials DTR, is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, where he was a two-time second-team all-conference selection in the Pac-12. He was selected by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Robinson (running back)</span> American football player (born 1998)

James Robinson is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois State and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2020, and was traded to the New York Jets in 2022. In 2020, Robinson broke the National Football League (NFL) record for most scrimmage yards of any undrafted rookie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breece Hall</span> American football player (born 2001)

Breece Maelik Hall is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa State, where he was a two-time All-American and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Hall was selected by the Jets in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demetric Felton</span> American football player (born 1998)

Demetric Felton, Jr. is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins. He was named second-team all-conference in the Pac-12 in 2020.

References

  1. ↑ "1996 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Dolphins Trade Abdul-Jabbar". CBS News. October 19, 1999.
  3. ↑ "1999 Cleveland Browns Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com .
  4. ↑ "Karim-Abdul Jabbar Joins Colts". Associated Press .
  5. ↑ "The Official Website of Kareem Abdul Jabbar » 2008 » March". Kareemabduljabbar.com. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  6. ↑ "YouTube". YouTube.com. Retrieved April 1, 2015.[ dead YouTube link ]
  7. ↑ "Kareem Stakes Claim To Last Name Abdul-Jabbar Files Suit Against Dolphins Running Back". Spokesman.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.