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Samkon Gado

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Samkon Gado
refer to caption
Gado in 2009
No. 35, 27, 38
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born:(1982-11-13)November 13, 1982(age 41)
Kufai,Gombe State,Nigeria
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:Columbia (SC) Lippen
College:Liberty
Undrafted:2005
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:268
Rushing yards:972
Rushing touchdowns:11
Receptions:43
Receiving yards:292
Receiving touchdowns:1

Samkon Kaltho Gado(born November 13, 1982) is aNigerian-Americanotolaryngologist.He is a formerAmerican footballrunning backin theNational Football League(NFL) for theGreen Bay Packers,Houston Texans,Miami Dolphins,andSt. Louis Rams.He playedcollege footballatLiberty.He was signed by theKansas City Chiefsas anundrafted free agentin 2005.

Early years

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Born in Kufai,Gombe State,Nigeria,his first name (Samkon) means "truth" in theTangale language,and his last name means "inheritance".[1]His family moved from Kufai toWheaton, Illinois,when Gado was half a year old; his father attendedWheaton Collegeduring that time. They returned to Nigeria when Samkon was two years old.[1]After moving back to Nigeria, his father migrated again in 1990 to earn a doctorate degree in divinity atColumbia International University.A church in South Carolina made a financial contribution a year later so that Gado and his mother could also travel to America.[2]

He attendedBen Lippen Schoolin Columbia, South Carolina, and lettered in football, basketball and baseball, earning all-state honors in football.[3]

College career

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Gado accepted a football scholarship fromLiberty University,a then-Division I-AAschool inLynchburg, Virginia.He served mostly as a third-string running back, starting only two games during his tenure with the Flames.[4]Injuries to two teammates, Eugene Goodman andDre Barnes,saw Gado receive his largest amount of playing time as a senior after initially planning to redshirt.[1]He wound up making theAll-Big South teamat the end of the season.[5]

Professional career

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Kansas City Chiefs

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After going undrafted in the2005 NFL draft,Gado was signed by theKansas City Chiefsin May after Liberty'sKen Karcherrecommended him to Chiefs offensive coordinatorAl Saunders.[1]He didn't play in the preseason because of a neck injury and was waived on August 29. He was signed to the practice squad on September 5 and was released again on October 4.[1]

Green Bay Packers

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On October 17, 2005, Gado was signed by theGreen Bay Packersto the team's practice squad after running 4.43-second 40-yard dash in front of their scouts.[1]On October 28, he was promoted to the active roster afterAhman Greenruptured his quadriceps tendon,Najeh Davenportbroke his ankle andTony Fisherfractured his first rib.[6]He made his NFL debut the next day against theCincinnati Bengals,recording one carry for eight yards.[4]On November 6, 2005,ReShard Leefumbled on his second carry against thePittsburgh Steelersand was benched for the rest of the game. As Lee's sub, Gado registered over 20 carries during the game.[7]

On November 13, 2005, Gado started his first NFL game against theAtlanta Falcons.In the game, he rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns, and also caught a touchdown, leading to him being named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Week for Week 10.[8]Gado's three-touchdown game was the first by a Packer rookie sinceJames Loftonin 1978.[9]

In the Week 14 game against theDetroit Lions,his third 100-yard effort of the season, Gado rushed for 171 yards against theDetroit Lions,a rookie record for the Packers, including a 64-yard touchdown run, while once again being given the Rookie of the Week award.[10]A torn rightmedial collateral ligament,suffered late in the first quarter against theBaltimore Ravenson December 18, landed Gado on injured reserve.[11]

In 2006,Mike Shermanwas fired and replaced withMike McCarthyas the new head coach. During training camp, Gado suffered a minor groin injury but did not miss significant time.[12]After an injury toWilliam Henderson,Gado switched to a temporary fullback role.[13]On September 12, 2006, after the first week of the NFL regular season, Gado was traded to theHouston Texansin exchange for running backVernand Morency.[14]

Houston Texans

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Gado in 2006

In 2006, he reunited with former Packers coach Mike Sherman who was coaching the Texansoffensive line.He was a backup behindRon DayneandWali Lundy.Against theJacksonville Jaguarsin November 2006, Gado picked up a key fourth-quarter fourth down conversion to secure a 13-10 Texans win.[15]

In 2007, the Texans added free agent running backAhman Green.Gado made the team over Lundy, playing in three games as a backup, while registering 18 carries for 46 yards and one touchdown. On October 23, 2007, the Texans released Gado after promoting running backAdimchinobi Echemandufrom the practice squad.[16]

Miami Dolphins

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Shortly before Gado's release from Houston, theMiami Dolphinslost starting running backRonnie Brownto a tornACL,and the team subsequently claimed Gado off waivers in late October.[17]He was cut by the team in favor ofRicky Williamson November 26, but after Williams suffered a season-ending injury that same day, Gado was re-signed to the active roster on November 28.[18]He scored a pair of touchdowns during December.[19]

Gado, arestricted free agentin the 2008 offseason, was not tendered a contract by the team.[20]

St. Louis Rams

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Gado was signed by theSt. Louis Ramson November 4, 2008, afterwide receiversDrew BennettandDante Hallwere placed oninjured reserve.[21]After playing in one game and being inactive for one game, he was released on November 19.[3]

Gado was re-signed by the Rams for the 2009 training camp, where he sustained a rib injury in a preseason game against theKansas City Chiefs.[22]He survived final roster cuts and spent the season as a reserve running back.[23]

Tennessee Titans

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On August 17, 2010, Gado signed with theTennessee Titans.[24]He was released during final roster cuts on September 4, 2010.[25]

Awards and honors

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During his rookie season, Gado was named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Week in weeks 10 and 14[10][8]and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for November 2005.[26]He also set theGreen Bay Packersfranchise record for single-game rushing yards by a rookie, tallying 171 yards on December 11, 2005.[6]

Personal life

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Samkon Gado is aChristian.[27][28]He is married with four children.[29]He received a bachelor's degree in health promotions while taking pre-med courses at Liberty University.[30]In 2015, Samkon graduated fromMedical University of South Carolina.[4]Following that, he spent time as a chief resident in theSaint Louis UniversityHospital otolaryngology program, treatingCOVID-19patients.[4][29]

Post-football career

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Samkon Gado, MD now serves as an Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose & Throat) Specialist in Lynchburg, VA.[31]He has co-founded anon-governmental organizationwith his sister, Ruth, called The Jonah Inheritance, to improve independent health care in Nigeria.[29]

References

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  1. ^abcdefWilde, Jason (November 20, 2005)."Gado Stays True: RB Samkon Gado Has Remained Humble as His Career Has Surprisingly Taken Off".Wisconsin State Journal.Capital Newspapers, Inc.RetrievedDecember 22,2019.
  2. ^"Samkon Gado Looks Forward To New Offensive Scheme".Green Bay Packers.RetrievedApril 11,2020.
  3. ^ab"Samkon Gado"(PDF).Tennessee Titans.RetrievedApril 11,2020.
  4. ^abcdCrossman, Matt (November 6, 2017)."How ex-Packers phenom Samkon Gado became a doctor on a mission".ESPN.RetrievedDecember 22,2019.
  5. ^"Game On: Samkon Gado - Rushing to Help Others".Liberty Flames football.July 2, 2019.RetrievedMay 11,2020.
  6. ^abZizzo, Nick (December 12, 2005)."Good Gado: Rookie Record Samon Gado Runs For 171 Yards, Shattering the Packers' Single-Game Rookie Mark".Wisconsin State Journal.RetrievedDecember 22,2019.
  7. ^Gash, Morry (November 12, 2005)."Samkon Gado will make his first pro start Sunday".Chippewa Herald.RetrievedMay 11,2020.
  8. ^abHuber, Bill (November 18, 2005)."Gado gets rookie honor".247Sports.RetrievedMarch 25,2020.
  9. ^"Samkon Gado Named NFC Offensive Player Of The Week; Barnett, Longwell Nominated".Green Bay Packers.November 15, 2005.RetrievedMay 11,2020.
  10. ^ab"Samkon Gado Selected As Rookie Of The Week".Green Bay Packers.December 14, 205.RetrievedMarch 25,2020.
  11. ^"Knee injury ends season for Packers rookie RB Gado".ESPN.December 21, 2005.RetrievedMarch 25,2005.
  12. ^Huber, Bill (August 17, 2006)."Training camp notes".247Sports.RetrievedMarch 25,2020.
  13. ^"Training Camp Report: Rookie O-linemen Moll, Spitz To Open '06 Season As Starters".Green Bay Packers.August 20, 2006.RetrievedMarch 25,2020.
  14. ^"Packers » News » Press Releases » September 13, 2006: Packers Acquire Morency from Texans for Gado".Archived fromthe originalon October 17, 2006.RetrievedSeptember 13,2006.
  15. ^"Texans stun Jaguars again 13-10".NFL.July 26, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon March 25, 2020.RetrievedMarch 25,2020.
  16. ^"Rams release guard after arrest for assaulting wife".Chicago Tribune.October 24, 2007.RetrievedMarch 25,2020.
  17. ^"Dolphins Add RB Samkon Gado".RealGM.October 26, 2007.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
  18. ^Fialkov, Harvey (November 29, 2007)."Team's back(s) to square one".South Florida Sun Sentinel.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
  19. ^"Grading the Dolphins".Miami Herald.December 10, 2007.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
  20. ^RotoTimes - Samkon Gado - Fantasy Football ProfileArchived2008-07-05 at theWayback Machine
  21. ^"Gado Signs Free Agent Contract with Rams".Liberty Flames football.November 5, 2008.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
  22. ^Fallstrom, R.B. (September 4, 2009)."Takeaways send Rams past Chiefs".The State Journal-Register.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
  23. ^"Jackson among Rams to miss practice with illness".Houston Texans.December 18, 2009.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
  24. ^Nelson, Chris J. (September 16, 2020)."Miami Dolphins Alumni Update: August 2010".Bleacher Report.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
  25. ^"NFL Roster Cuts: Titans Release QB Chris Simms, S Myron Rolle, RB Samkon Gado".SB Nation.September 4, 2010.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
  26. ^"Samkon Gado Named NFL Rookie Of The Month".Green Bay Packers.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
  27. ^"Field Ministry".
  28. ^"Former NFL Running Back Now a SLU Otolaryngology Resident".
  29. ^abcReiner, Olivia (June 19, 2020). "How former Packers RB Gado turns to surgical precision".Green Bay Press-Gazette.Gannett.
  30. ^Schefter, Adam (June 7, 2007)."Gado's Absence not a Bad One".NFL.Archived fromthe originalon June 10, 2007.RetrievedJune 8,2007.
  31. ^HealthCare4PPL."Dr. Samkon K Gado - Otolaryngology, Lynchburg VA".healthcare4ppl.RetrievedMarch 14,2022.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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