Solomon Elimimian facts for kids
Elimimian walking in a Grey Cup parade in 2011.
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| Born: | October 21, 1986 Calabar, Nigeria |
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| Career information | |
| CFL status | International |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| College | Hawaii |
| High school | Crenshaw (Los Angeles, California) |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2008 | Buffalo Bills* |
| 2010–2011 | BC Lions |
| 2012 | Minnesota Vikings* |
| 2012 | Cleveland Browns* |
| 2012–2018 | BC Lions |
| 2019–2020 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| *Pre-season and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| CFL All-Star | 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| CFL West All-Star | 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 |
| Career stats | |
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Solomon Elimimian was born on October 21, 1986. He is a former professional Canadian football player who played as a linebacker. He is also the current president of the Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA).
Solomon played for nine seasons with the BC Lions. In 2010, he was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie. Later, in 2014, he won two big awards: the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award and the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. He was the first player whose main job was defense to win the league's Most Outstanding Player Award. He was also the first player to win three different CFL awards in his career. Before playing professionally, he played college football for the Hawaii Warriors. He went to Crenshaw High School in South Los Angeles, California.
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Early Life and College Football
Solomon Elimimian started playing football when he was in ninth grade. He played at Crenshaw High School in South Los Angeles, California.
Playing for the Hawaii Warriors
When he was a senior at the Hawaii Warriors, Solomon made 121 tackles and four sacks. A tackle is when a defensive player stops an offensive player who has the ball. By the end of his four years with the Warriors, Solomon had set a school record. He had made 434 tackles, which was more than any other player in the school's history.
Solomon Elimimian's Pro Career
After college, Solomon Elimimian joined the National Football League (NFL). He played in two preseason games for the Buffalo Bills. However, he was released by the Bills in September 2009.
Joining the BC Lions
On May 19, 2010, Solomon signed with the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League (CFL). In his first year, he played in 16 games. He made 77 tackles, five sacks, and 11 special teams tackles. Because of his great performance, he won the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award for the 2010 season.
In the 2011 season, other CFL players voted Solomon as the league's "hardest hitter." He finished that season with 98 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. That year, he helped the Lions win the 99th Grey Cup, which is the championship game of the CFL.
Time in the NFL
After two successful years in the CFL, Solomon signed a two-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL. But he was released by the Vikings in August 2012. He then joined the Cleveland Browns practice squad in September 2012 but was released a few days later.
Returning to the BC Lions
Solomon Elimimian returned to the BC Lions during the 2012 CFL season. He played in only 6 games that season and made 12 tackles. He signed a new contract with the Lions in February 2013.
In 2013, Solomon was named the Defensive Player of the Week for Week 6. This was after he forced a fumble and made an interception in a game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He ended the 2013 season with 73 tackles, 3 sacks, and 3 interceptions.
Record-Breaking Season in 2014
Solomon had an amazing 2014 CFL season. He set a new CFL record for the most tackles in a single season with 143. He was far ahead of the second-place player that year. Besides his tackles, he also had 5 sacks, 1 interception, and 3 fumble recoveries. A fumble recovery is when a player picks up a ball that an opponent dropped.
For his incredible performance, he won the 2014 CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award and the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. He was the first player who mainly played defense to win the league's Most Outstanding Player Award. He was also the first player to win three different CFL awards in his career.
In 2015, the BC Lions extended Solomon's contract. However, he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in August 2015. He finished that season with 44 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 interception.
Later Years with the Lions
In Week 11 of the 2016 season, Solomon broke the Lions' record for most tackles in a single game, making 14 tackles against the Toronto Argonauts. For the second time in his career, he led the league in tackles, finishing the 2016 season with 129. He was named the league's Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the second time.
In the 2017 season, Solomon had another career-best year. He broke his own CFL record for tackles in a season, raising it to 144. He was named the Lions' Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
In 2018, Solomon played in the first four games, making 26 tackles. However, he had wrist surgery and missed several weeks. He was officially released by the BC Lions on April 30, 2019. He left the Lions as the team's all-time leader in tackles, with 745 tackles in 118 games.
Playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
On May 9, 2019, the Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Solomon Elimimian. He missed the first three games but still played very well. He finished third in defensive tackles in the league with 88, which was the most in the Western Division. He was named a divisional All-Star. He also forced a fumble and had four sacks. Solomon helped the Roughriders finish first in the West Division for the first time in ten years.
Solomon Elimimian officially retired from professional football on February 9, 2021. On March 16, 2023, he was announced as a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame 2023 class. This was his first year of being eligible for the Hall of Fame.
Leading the CFL Players' Association
On February 7, 2020, Solomon Elimimian was chosen as the President of the Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA). The CFLPA is a group that represents the players in the CFL. He took over from Jeff Keeping, who had been the president before him.
