Gibran Hamdan

Gibran Hamdan

Hamdan with the Amsterdam Admirals in 2006
No. 12, 2, 5
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1981-02-08)February 8, 1981 San Diego, California,U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:	Bishop Denis J. O'Connell (Arlington, Virginia)
College:	Indiana(1998–2002)
NFL draft:	2003/ round: 7 / pick: 232
Career history
Washington Redskins(2003) →Amsterdam Admirals(2004) Los Angeles Avengers(2005)* Seattle Seahawks(2005–2006)* → Amsterdam Admirals (2005–2006) San Francisco 49ers(2006) Seattle Seahawks (2006) Miami Dolphins(2007)* Buffalo Bills(2007–2009) Toronto Argonauts(2010)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
NFL EuropeOffensive MVP (2006)
Career NFL statistics
TD-INT: 0-0 Passing yards: 7 QB Rating: 58.3
Player stats atPFR

Gibran Latif Hamdan(born February 8, 1981) is an American former professionalfootballquarterbackwho played in theNational Football League(NFL) andNFL Europe.He was selected by theWashington Redskinsin the seventh round of the2003 NFL draft.He playedcollege footballatIndiana.Hamdan was also a member of theAmsterdam Admirals,Los Angeles Avengers,Seattle Seahawks,San Francisco 49ers,Miami Dolphins,Buffalo BillsandToronto Argonauts.He is the first person ofPakistani descentto play in the NFL.

Early life

Hamdan's mother was a 16-year-old fromPakistanwhen she married his father, a nuclear engineer of Palestinian descent who attended theUniversity of Illinois.He met her on a business trip. Hamdan was born in San Diego, but his family moved toKuwaitwhen he was three.

The family—which includes his younger brother, Bush—was on vacation back in San Diego whenIraq invaded Kuwaitin 1991, destroying the family home and possessions. The Hamdans stayed in the U.S., and his mother took a job cutting hair until the family eventually settled inPotomac, Maryland.

Hamdan saw his first action atWinston Churchill High Schoolin Potomac, MD as a backup quarterback. After his sophomore year, Hamdan transferred toBishop Denis J. O'Connell High SchoolinArlington, Virginia.As the football team's starting quarterback, he led theNorthern Virginiaarea in passing yards, becoming Virginia Independent Schools Player of the Year and earning first-team all-league and district honors. Hamdan also was a starting center for the school's basketball team and played baseball for the 15-and-under U.S. National Baseball team.

College career

Hamdan attendedIndiana Universitywhere he posted 2,115 yards and nine touchdowns during his senior year for theIndiana Hoosiers.His yardage total was seventh-best in Indiana history. He was namedBig TenCo-Player of the Week for his 24-of-36, 310-yard and career-high four touchdown performance in 32–29 win overWisconsin.Hamdan also played baseball at Indiana.

Professional career

Washington Redskins

Hamdan was a seventh-round (232nd overall) pick by theWashington Redskinsin the2003 NFL draft.Though he was impressive in training camp, the team originally decided to keep just two quarterbacks entering the regular season. He was on the team's practice squad the first ten weeks of his rookie season before being signed to the active roster. He suited up for all five of the remaining games, and Hamdan finally made hisNFLdebut on December 27 during the last two minutes of the game against thePhiladelphia Eagles,achieving one first down while going 1-for-2 for seven yards.

Hamdan played inNFL Europein the spring of 2004, where he was backup quarterback behind third-year NFL Europe veteranClint Stoerner.He was released by the Redskins in September following training camp on September 5, 2004.

Los Angeles Avengers

Hamdan was signed by theLos Angeles Avengersof theArena Football Leagueon November 19, 2004.

Seattle Seahawks (first stint)

Hamdan signed with theSeattle SeahawksJanuary 13, 2005.He was once again allocated to NFL Europe. Though originally winning the starting quarterback job for theAmsterdam AdmiralsoverKurt Kittner,a broken collarbone cut short Hamdan's season. In the four games he started he posted 39 completions out of 75 attempts for a total of 556 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He was once again released at the conclusion of training camp.

In January 2006, Hamdan was re-signed by the Seahawks and allocated to NFL Europe for the third straight year. A broken ankle injury incurred on the first down of the first drive of game seven cut short his season once again, Hamdan was the league's leading passer and earned OffensiveMost Valuable Playerhonors. He started seven games and posted 102 completions out 162 attempts for a total of 1629 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, posting a perfectpasser ratingin the third gameof the season againstFrankfurt Galaxy.He holds the record for average passer rating for the season in NFL Europe at 113.4. This would not be enough to make the Seahawks however, as he was waived on August 28, 2006.

San Francisco 49ers

TheSan Francisco 49ersclaimed Hamdan off waivers but released him a few days later. On September 3, he was signed to the 49ers' practice squad.

Seattle Seahawks (second stint)

Due to an injury to starting quarterbackMatt Hasselbeck,the Seahawks elected to re-sign Hamdan to their active roster on October 24 to provide depth. He was inactive for six games with the Seahawks before being released on December 5 and added to the team's practice squad.

Miami Dolphins

After Hamdan's contract with the Seahawks expired in January, he was signed to a future contract with theMiami Dolphinson February 6, 2007. He was released at the conclusion of the preseason on September 1.

Buffalo Bills

On September 26, 2007, theBuffalo Billssigned Hamdan to their practice squad after an injury to starting quarterbackJ. P. Losman.The Bills releasedCraig Nalland promoted Hamdan to the team's 3rd QB on October 19. Due to injury ofTrent Edwards,Hamdan was promoted to backup quarterback for the game between the Bills and the Bengals on November 4, 2007.

Hamdan appeared in 3 preseason games in 2008, completing 30/47 passes for 258 yards averaging 5.5 yards, a 63.8% completion rate with no touchdowns or interceptions for a passer rating of 78.1.Hamdan suffered a concussion during the final preseason game against theDetroit Lions,a game in which he started.

Hamdan was promoted backup quarterback for the last two games of the 2008 season pushing Losman back to third string, who had lost his starting role earlier that year to Trent Edwards.

Arestricted free agentin the 2009 offseason, Hamdan was re-signed by the Bills on February 26 as the Buffalo Bills. The signing ofRyan Fitzpatrickput him back to third string at the start of the 2009 training camp.

He attended the NFL broadcasters bootcamp in 2009 and was featured on his own weekly show on the Bills website named 'Hanging Ten with Hamdan'.

Hamdan appeared in all 4 2009 preseason games, with 32/48 attempts completed for 427 yards averaging 8.9 yards, a 66.7% completion rate, one touchdown and 2 interceptions for a passer rating of 84.3.

Hamdan was waived on November 19, 2009, in favor ofBrian Brohm,who was signed off theGreen Bay Packers'practice squad.The Bills re-signed Hamdan on December 22, 2009, after injuries to Fitzpatrick and Edwards, withcornerbackTerrence McGeegoing oninjured reserveto make room for Hamdan on the roster.

Toronto Argonauts

On March 10, 2010, it was announced that Hamdan had signed a one-year plus an option contract with theToronto Argonautsof theCanadian Football League.He retired from football on June 4, 2010.

International baseball career

Hamdan played youth international baseball for theUnited States U-15 national baseball team.However, on August 18, 2022, he announced that he would representPakistanin thequalifiersfor the2023 World Baseball Classic.

Personal life

Hamdan is married to Jenny Grant, granddaughter of former head coach in the NFL and CFLBud Grant.Hamdan's younger brotherBushis also a former quarterback who played atBoise State,and is currently the offensive coordinator at Kentucky.

After football, Hamdan started his ownfashion line.

External links

• Toronto Argonauts bio
• Buffalo Bills bioArchived2009-02-18 at theWayback Machine