Rocket Ismail facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rocket Ismail

Ismail in 2023
No. 25, 86, 81
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1969-11-18) November 18, 1969 (age 55) Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:	Meyers (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)
College:	Notre Dame (1988–1990)
NFL Draft:	1991 / Round: 4 / Pick: 100
Career history
Toronto Argonauts (1991–1992) Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders (1993) Carolina Panthers (1996) Dallas Cowboys (1999)
Career highlights and awards
Grey Cup champion (79th) Grey Cup MVP (1991) Frank M. Gibson Trophy (1991) CFL All-Star (1991) Walter Camp Award (1990) Sporting News Player of the Year (1990) Unanimous All-American (1990) First-team All-American (1989)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 363 Receiving yards: 5,295 Receiving touchdowns: 28
Player stats at PFR
College Football Hall of Fame

Raghib Ramadian "Rocket" Ismail (born November 18, 1969) is a former American football player known for his incredible speed. He played the wide receiver position, catching passes and scoring touchdowns. Ismail was a star player in college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He later played professionally in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL).

Ismail was so good in college that he was named an All-American, an honor for the best players in the country. In the NFL, he had two seasons where he gained over 1,000 yards from catching passes. He was also a star in the CFL, winning the Most Valuable Player award in the championship game. Many people consider him one of the greatest college football players of all time.

Early Life and High School

Raghib Ismail was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but he grew up in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He went to Elmer L. Meyers Junior/Senior High School, where his amazing athletic talent first started to show.

Football Career

A Star at Notre Dame

Ismail became famous while playing for the University of Notre Dame. In 1988, his team, the Fighting Irish, won the College Football National Championship. His speed made him a threat to score every time he touched the ball.

In a 1990 game against Colorado, Ismail returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown. This amazing play would have won the game, but it was called back because of a penalty. After that season, he finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, which is given to the best player in college football.

Ismail was so popular that he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine twice. Because of his success, everyone expected him to be the number one pick in the 1991 NFL draft.

Amazing Speed on the Track

Besides football, Ismail was also a track star at Notre Dame. He was one of the fastest runners in the country. He could run the 100 meters in just 10.2 seconds. He even finished second in the 55-meter sprint at the national college championships in 1991.

Playing in the Canadian Football League

Instead of going straight to the NFL, Ismail made a surprise decision. He signed a huge contract with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). His contract was worth $18.2 million over four years, which was the largest in football history at the time.

In his first season in 1991, Ismail helped the Argonauts win the Grey Cup, the CFL's championship. He scored an 87-yard touchdown on a kickoff return in the game and was named the Most Valuable Player.

Ismail played one more season in Canada before deciding to join the NFL. During his second season, he was involved in a sideline brawl, for which he later apologized.

CFL statistics

National Football League Career

Because Ismail went to the CFL first, he wasn't picked at the start of the NFL draft. The Los Angeles Raiders selected him in the fourth round, hoping he would one day play for them.

Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

In 1993, Ismail joined the Raiders. He played with the team for three seasons, including their first season back in Oakland in 1995. After three years with the team, he was traded to the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina Panthers

Ismail played for the Panthers for three seasons. His best year was in 1998, when he had a breakout season. He caught 69 passes for 1,024 yards and scored eight touchdowns. This performance showed everyone he could be a top receiver in the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys

In 1999, the Dallas Cowboys signed Ismail. He became the team's main receiver after star player Michael Irvin had a career-ending injury. Ismail had his best season ever, catching passes for 1,097 yards and six touchdowns.

Unfortunately, Ismail's career was affected by injuries. In 2000, he hurt his knee and missed the last six games. Another injury in 2002 during training camp forced him to miss the entire season. He was released by the Cowboys in 2003 and announced his retirement from football.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Life After Football

Ismail on the USS Norfolk submarine in 2007.

After retiring from football, Rocket Ismail stayed busy. He worked as a TV analyst for ESPN's College GameDay and co-hosted a show about the Dallas Cowboys. He also appeared on several TV shows, including Pros vs. Joes and a celebrity bull riding competition.

In 2008, he coached a team called the Bouncers in Slamball, a sport that combines basketball and trampolines. Today, Ismail is an inspirational speaker who shares his story with schools, companies, and churches.

Personal Life

Ismail is married to his wife, Melanie, and they have four children. Football runs in his family. His younger brother, Qadry Ismail, was also a wide receiver in the NFL and was nicknamed "The Missile." Another brother, Sulaiman, was called "The Bomb." Their mother was sometimes called "The Launch Pad" because of her sons' nicknames.

Ismail's son, Raghib Jr., also played college football. His nephew, Qadir Ismail, is currently a wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders.