Abram Elam facts for kids

Abram Elam (born October 15, 1981) is a former professional American football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL). Abram played for teams like the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and Kansas City Chiefs. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at the University of Notre Dame and Kent State University.

Early Life and High School Sports

Abram Elam grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. He chose to attend Cardinal Newman High School. There, he was a talented athlete in both football and basketball.

Football Achievements

In football, Abram played both quarterback and defensive back. This means he played on offense and defense! In his final year, he threw for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also ran for over 500 yards and 11 touchdowns. His great performance earned him honors like All-state player. He was also named Palm Beach County Player of the Year.

Basketball Success

Abram was also a star in basketball. He helped his high school team win two state championships. He was named to the All-conference team for his skills. He was the first student in his school's history to play four years in two different sports.

College Football Journey

Abram received a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame. He first tried playing quarterback. But soon, he moved to the safety position. He did not play in any games during his first year. In his second year, he played in 11 games. He made 29 tackles and had 2 interceptions.

After Notre Dame, Abram attended Palm Beach Community College. He later enrolled at Kent State University in 2004. In his senior year at Kent State, he played in 11 games. He made 64 tackles, which was third-best on his team. He also had 3 interceptions, tying for the team lead.

Professional Football Career

Abram Elam began his NFL journey in 2005. He was not chosen in the NFL draft. However, he was signed by a team afterward.

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins signed Abram as an undrafted free agent in May 2005. This means he joined the team without being drafted. He was with the team for a short time before being waived.

Dallas Cowboys (First Time)

In 2006, the Dallas Cowboys signed Abram. He played mostly on special teams. Special teams are units that play during kickoffs and punts. He made 15 tackles on special teams that year. In 2007, he was released by the team before the season started.

New York Jets

The New York Jets signed Abram in September 2007. He quickly became a starter at safety. He started 8 games in 2007 and 9 games in 2008. In 2009, the Jets traded Abram to the Cleveland Browns. This trade helped the Jets get a high draft pick. They used that pick to choose quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Cleveland Browns

With the Cleveland Browns, Abram was a starting safety. In 2009, he led the team with 88 tackles. He also had a sack and forced a fumble. In 2010, he continued to play well. He recorded 79 tackles and 2 interceptions. He also forced 2 fumbles and recovered 2 fumbles.

Dallas Cowboys (Second Time)

Abram returned to the Dallas Cowboys in 2011. He signed a one-year contract. He was named the starting safety for the team. He started every game that season. He made 79 tackles, which was second-best on the team. He was not re-signed after the season ended.

Kansas City Chiefs

In 2012, Abram signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. He joined the team to add depth to their safety position. He played in 12 games for the Chiefs. He was not re-signed at the end of the year, which marked the end of his NFL career.

Family in Football

Abram Elam comes from a family of football players. His younger brother, Matt Elam, also played in the NFL. Matt was a safety for the Baltimore Ravens.

Abram's son, Kaiir Elam, also became a professional football player. Kaiir played defensive back for the University of Florida. He was then chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. This means he was one of the first players picked that year!