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 Nigerian-American doctor who specializes in ear, nose, and throat care. Before becoming a doctor, he was a professional American football player. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for teams like the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, and St. Louis Rams. He played college football at Liberty University.
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Early Life and Moving to America
Samkon Gado was born in Kufai, Gombe State, Nigeria, on November 13, 1982. His first name, Samkon, means "truth" in the Tangale language, and his last name means "inheritance."
When Samkon was just six months old, his family moved to Wheaton, Illinois, in the United States. His father studied at Wheaton College there. They returned to Nigeria when Samkon was two years old. In 1990, his father moved back to America to get a special degree in divinity. A year later, a church in South Carolina helped Samkon and his mother also come to the United States.
Samkon went to Ben Lippen School in Columbia, South Carolina. He was a talented athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He even earned special honors in football for being one of the best players in the state.
College Football Journey
Samkon Gado received a football scholarship to Liberty University, which was a Division I-AA school at the time. During his time with the Liberty Flames, he was mostly a backup running back. He only started two games.
However, in his senior year, injuries to two of his teammates gave Samkon a big chance to play. He had originally planned to take a year off from playing, but he ended up playing a lot. Because of his strong performance, he was named to the All-Big South team at the end of the season.
Professional Football Career
After college, Samkon Gado was not chosen in the 2005 NFL draft. However, the Kansas City Chiefs signed him in May 2005. He faced a neck injury and was later released. He then joined their practice squad but was released again.
Green Bay Packers
On October 17, 2005, the Green Bay Packers signed Gado to their practice squad. He impressed them with his speed. On October 28, he was moved to the main team because several other running backs were injured.
Samkon made his NFL debut on October 29, 2005. In a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he got a lot of playing time after another player fumbled.
On November 13, 2005, Samkon Gado started his first NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons. He had an amazing game, running for over 100 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass. This great performance earned him the NFC Offensive Rookie of the Week award. He was the first Packers rookie since 1978 to score three touchdowns in one game.
In December 2005, he had another fantastic game against the Detroit Lions, rushing for 171 yards. This set a new rookie record for the Packers and earned him another Rookie of the Week award. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury later that month, which ended his rookie season.
In 2006, Gado was traded to the Houston Texans.
Other NFL Teams
With the Houston Texans, Samkon Gado reunited with a former coach. He played as a backup running back. In November 2006, he made a crucial play that helped the Texans win a close game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played for the Texans until October 2007.
After leaving the Texans, the Miami Dolphins picked him up. He scored two touchdowns for them in December 2007.
In November 2008, Gado signed with the St. Louis Rams. He played in one game before being released. He rejoined the Rams for the 2009 season and played as a reserve running back.
His last stop in the NFL was with the Tennessee Titans in August 2010, but he was released before the regular season began.
Awards and Honors
During his rookie season in 2005, Samkon Gado received several awards:
- NFC Offensive Rookie of the Week (Weeks 10 and 14)
- NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (November 2005)
- He set a Green Bay Packers rookie record for most rushing yards in a single game (171 yards on December 11, 2005).
Life After Football
Samkon Gado is a Christian and is married with four children. While playing football, he also studied health and pre-med courses at Liberty University.
In 2015, Samkon graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina. He then completed his training to become an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Saint Louis University Hospital. During his training, he helped treat patients with COVID-19.
Today, Samkon Gado, MD, works as an ear, nose, and throat doctor in Lynchburg, Virginia. He also co-founded a non-profit organization called The Jonah Inheritance with his sister, Ruth. This organization works to improve healthcare in Nigeria, his home country.
