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. He was known as a very fast wide receiver. Rocket Ismail played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in college. After college, he played in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL).

Ismail was a top college player, earning "All-American" honors. He had two seasons in the NFL where he gained over 1,000 yards receiving. In the CFL, he was an All-Star and won the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player award in 1991. College Football News once named him one of the top 100 greatest college football players ever.

Rocket Ismail's Early Life

Ismail was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He grew up in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He went to Elmer L. Meyers Junior/Senior High School.

Rocket Ismail's Football Journey

College Football Star

Rocket Ismail first became famous playing for the University of Notre Dame. His team, the Fighting Irish, won the national championship in 1988. They also played in two Orange Bowl games.

In one game, he almost scored a winning touchdown on a 91-yard punt return. But the play was called back because of a penalty. After the 1990 season, Ismail was second in voting for the Heisman Trophy. This award goes to the best college football player.

During a 1989 game against Michigan, Ismail returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice. He also received many awards, including being named an All-American.

Ismail was expected to be the first player picked in the 1991 NFL draft. But he surprised everyone by signing a big contract with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. Even so, the Los Angeles Raiders still picked him in the NFL draft.

Track and Field Skills

Ismail was also a talented track athlete at Notre Dame. He could run the 100 meters in just 10.2 seconds. He also ran the 55 meters very fast. In 1991, he finished second in the 55-meter sprint at a national college championship.

Playing in the Canadian Football League

After college, Ismail joined the Toronto Argonauts in Canada. The team offered him a huge contract. It was one of the biggest deals in North American football at the time.

Ismail joined the Argonauts for the 1991 season. In his first game, he had an exciting 73-yard kick return. He ended his first season by playing in the 79th Grey Cup, which is like the Super Bowl of Canadian football. He scored an 87-yard touchdown on a kickoff return. He was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player as his team won the championship. He was also named a CFL All-Star that year.

In 1992, Ismail continued to be a great kick returner. However, the Argonauts team did not do as well that year. After the 1992 season, Ismail decided to leave the CFL. He then signed with the Los Angeles Raiders in the NFL.

NFL Career Highlights

Even though he signed with a Canadian team, the Los Angeles Raiders still drafted Ismail in 1991. This meant they would own his rights if he ever came to the NFL.

Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

In 1993, Ismail played his first season in the NFL. He gained 353 receiving yards. The next year, he had 513 receiving yards and five touchdowns. In 1995, the Raiders moved back to Oakland. Ismail recorded 491 receiving yards that season.

Carolina Panthers

In 1996, Ismail was traded to the Carolina Panthers. In 1996, he had 214 receiving yards. In 1997, he gained 419 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns.

His best year with the Panthers was in 1998. He caught 69 passes for 1,024 yards and scored eight touchdowns. This was a huge season for him.

Dallas Cowboys

In 1999, the Dallas Cowboys signed Ismail as a free agent. After another player was injured, Ismail became the team's main wide receiver. He had his best NFL season, gaining 1,097 yards and scoring six touchdowns.

In 2000, he got a serious knee injury. He missed the last six games of the season. In 2001, he had another injury to the same knee.

Ismail retired from football in March 2003.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Life After Football

Ismail aboard USS Norfolk (SSN-714) in 2007

After retiring from football, Rocket Ismail has appeared on TV. He was a football analyst for ESPN's College GameDay. He also co-hosted a show called Cowboys Game Night.

Ismail also appeared on a show called Pros vs. Joes. He was a contestant on Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge on CMT.

In 2008, he coached a team called the Bouncers in the extreme sport of Slamball.

Personal Life and Family

Raghib Ismail is married to Melanie Ismail. They have four children.

He is the older brother of two other football players. His brother Qadry Ismail was nicknamed "The Missile" and played in the NFL. His other brother, Sulaiman Ismail, was nicknamed "The Bomb". Their mother was sometimes called "The Launch Pad" because of her sons' nicknames.

Ismail is now an inspirational speaker. He shares his story with companies, schools, and churches. His son, Raghib Jr., also played college football. His nephew, Qadir Ismail, is a wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens.