Tim Biakabutuka facts for kids

Tshimanga "Tim" Biakabutuka (born January 24, 1974) is a former professional American football player. He was a running back, a player who carries the ball. Tim played college football at the University of Michigan from 1993 to 1995. He was chosen as the eighth player overall in the 1996 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers. This team is part of the National Football League (NFL).

Tim holds a special record for the Michigan Wolverines football team. He rushed for 1,818 yards in 1995, which is the most in a single season for the team. He was also the first person from Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) to play in the NFL.

Early Life and Football Start

Tim Biakabutuka moved from Zaire to Canada with his family when he was four years old. They settled in the Montreal area, where his family still lives today. He did not start playing football until his high school in Longueuil created a team.

After finishing grade 11, he went to Vanier College in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. His amazing football skills there earned him the nickname "Touchdown Tim." He also received a scholarship to play college football at the University of Michigan.

College Football Career

Tim Biakabutuka joined the University of Michigan in 1993. He played for the Michigan Wolverines football team until 1995.

Freshman and Sophomore Years

In 1993, as a freshman, Tim was a backup player. He played behind other running backs like Tyrone Wheatley. However, he had a great game against Purdue on November 6, 1993. In that game, he ran for 140 yards and scored two touchdowns.

As a sophomore in 1994, Tim was still a backup. He started only one game. Even so, he ran for 783 yards that season. He had four games where he ran for over 100 yards.

Record-Breaking Season

In 1995, Tim became the main starting running back for the Wolverines. That year, he broke the team's single-season rushing record. He ran for a total of 1,818 yards on 303 carries. This means he averaged 6.0 yards every time he carried the ball.

One of his most famous games was on November 25, 1995. He ran for an incredible 313 yards against the Ohio State team. Michigan won that game 31–23. His 313-yard performance is the second-highest in Michigan's history for a single game.

Professional NFL Career

The Carolina Panthers picked Tim Biakabutuka in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft. He was the eighth player chosen overall.

During his time in the NFL, Tim often faced injuries. He never played more than 12 games in any single season. He played in 51 games over six seasons, from 1996 to 2001. He started 35 of those games.

Overall, he gained 2,530 rushing yards and 789 receiving yards. He scored a total of 17 touchdowns. While playing for the Panthers, he became the first running back to have two touchdown runs of 60 yards or more in the same game.

Life After Football

Tim Biakabutuka lives in Matthews, North Carolina. He owns eight Bojangles restaurants in Augusta, Georgia.

He has several cousins who also played American or Canadian football. These include Hakeem Kashama, Alain Kashama, Kalonji Kashama, and Fernand Kashama. Tim's nephew, Jérémie Biakabutuka, plays hockey in the QMJHL. His rights were acquired by the Anaheim Ducks in a trade during the 2024–25 season.

See also

• Lists of Michigan Wolverines football rushing leaders
• List of Montreal athletes
• List of famous Montrealers