Samkon Gado facts for kids
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Gado in 2009
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| No. 35, 27, 38 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | November 13, 1982 Kufai, Gombe State, Nigeria |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Samkon Kaltho Gado (born November 13, 1982) is a former professional American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played for teams like the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans. After his football career, Samkon Gado became a doctor specializing in ear, nose, and throat care.
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Early Life and Education
Samkon Gado was born in Kufai, Gombe State, Nigeria. His first name, Samkon, means "truth" in the Tangale language. His last name, Gado, means "inheritance." When he was a baby, his family moved to Wheaton, Illinois, for a short time. They returned to Nigeria when he was two years old.
Later, his father moved to America again in 1990 to study. A year later, a church helped Samkon and his mother also move to America. He attended Ben Lippen School in Columbia, South Carolina. There, he was a talented athlete. He played football, basketball, and baseball. He even earned special honors in football.
College Football Journey
Samkon Gado received a football scholarship to Liberty University. This was a Division I-AA school in Lynchburg, Virginia. During most of his college career, he was a third-string running back. This means he was usually the third choice to play that position. He only started two games.
In his senior year, two teammates got injured. This gave Gado a chance to play more. He had planned to take a "redshirt" year, which means not playing to save a year of eligibility. But he ended up playing a lot. By the end of the season, he was named to the All-Big South team. This was a big achievement for him.
Playing in the NFL
Samkon Gado was not chosen in the 2005 NFL draft. This means no team picked him directly from college. However, the Kansas City Chiefs signed him as a free agent in May 2005. This was after his college coach recommended him.
Kansas City Chiefs
Gado faced a challenge early on. He had a neck injury and could not play in the preseason games. The Chiefs released him in August. But they signed him to their practice squad in September. He was released again in October.
Green Bay Packers
On October 17, 2005, the Green Bay Packers signed Gado to their practice squad. He impressed their scouts with his speed. Soon after, on October 28, he was moved to the main team. This happened because several other running backs on the team got injured.
He made his first NFL appearance on October 29. On November 6, he got a lot of playing time after another player fumbled. On November 13, 2005, Gado started his first NFL game. He played against the Atlanta Falcons. In this game, he ran for over 100 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass. For this amazing performance, he was named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Week. He was the first Packers rookie since 1978 to score three touchdowns in one game.
In December, he had another great game against the Detroit Lions. He ran for 171 yards, which was a record for a Packers rookie. He also had a 64-yard touchdown run. He earned the Rookie of the Week award again. However, he suffered a knee injury later that month. This injury ended his rookie season.
In 2006, the Packers got a new head coach, Mike McCarthy. Gado had a minor groin injury during training camp. He also played a temporary role as a fullback when another player was injured. On September 12, 2006, Gado was traded to the Houston Texans.
Houston Texans
In Houston, Gado reunited with his former Packers coach, Mike Sherman. Sherman was now coaching the Texans' offensive line. Gado was a backup running back for the Texans. In November 2006, he made a key play against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His play helped the Texans win the game.
In 2007, the Texans added another running back, Ahman Green. Gado stayed on the team as a backup. He played in three games, carrying the ball 18 times for 46 yards and one touchdown. In October 2007, the Texans released Gado.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins needed a running back because their starter was injured. They claimed Gado from waivers in late October. He was released in November but then re-signed a few days later. This happened after another Dolphins player got a season-ending injury. Gado scored two touchdowns for the Dolphins in December. He became a restricted free agent in 2008, meaning the Dolphins did not offer him a new contract.
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams signed Samkon Gado on November 4, 2008. This was after two of their wide receivers were injured. He played in one game for the Rams. He was released on November 19.
The Rams re-signed Gado for their 2009 training camp. He got a rib injury during a preseason game. However, he made the final roster and played as a reserve running back that season.
Tennessee Titans
On August 17, 2010, Gado signed with the Tennessee Titans. He was released by the team on September 4, 2010, before the regular season began. This was his last stop in the NFL.
Awards and Achievements
During his first season in the NFL, Samkon Gado earned several honors:
- He was named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Week twice (in weeks 10 and 14).
- He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for November 2005.
- He set a Green Bay Packers team record. He had 171 rushing yards in a single game as a rookie. This happened on December 11, 2005.
Life After Football
Samkon Gado is a Christian. He is married and has four children. While playing football, he also studied at Liberty University. He earned a bachelor's degree in health promotions and took pre-med courses.
In 2015, Samkon graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina. He then became a chief resident in the ear, nose, and throat (otolaryngology) program at Saint Louis University Hospital. During this time, he helped treat patients with COVID-19.
Today, Samkon Gado, MD, works as an ear, nose, and throat specialist in Lynchburg, Virginia. He also co-founded a non-profit organization called The Jonah Inheritance with his sister, Ruth. Their goal is to improve healthcare in Nigeria.
