Tamba Hali
Encyclopedia
Tamba Boimah Hali is an American football
outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs
in the National Football League
. He was the 20th overall pick out of Penn State
in the 2006 NFL Draft
. Hali grew up in Teaneck
, New Jersey
and is a graduate of Teaneck High School
.
There was not much pre-draft hype for Hali heading into the 2006 NFL Draft until The Sporting News
made his amazing story of escape from war-torn Liberia
at age 10 their April 21, 2006 cover story. NFL scouts
began to take notice, reporting that Hali presented himself in an excellent manner not only in his workout but also in his interview at the NFL Combine. On draft day, the Kansas City Chiefs chose him with the 20th overall pick.
Hali finally became a permanent U.S. citizen
on July 31, 2006 after residing in the United States
for more than a decade.
chemistry professor and Teaneck High School chemistry teacher, in the United States. He has been motivated to become a NFL-caliber player by his desire to reunite with his mother, Rachel Keita, and bring her to the United States after not having seen her for more than twelve years.
Hali was named an All-America
n at Teaneck High School
and the #1 overall prospect in New Jersey
. He also lettered in basketball
.
n, was a unanimous selection as the Big Ten
Defensive Lineman of the Year, and was named first team All-Big Ten following his senior season at Penn State. He was instrumental in helping Joe Paterno
's squad finish 11-1, winning the Big Ten and Orange Bowl titles that season.
He led the Big Ten with 11 sacks
(tied for eighth nationally) and 17 tackles
for loss and earned numerous accolades for his play. He was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy
, presented to the nation's top defensive player, and the Ted Hendricks Defensive End Award
.
Hali's season sack total is tied for sixth-best at Penn State and his 36 career tackles for loss are tied with Matt Millen
for 10th best. Hali received the Robert B. Mitinger Award
, which is given to the Nittany Lion football player who best personifies courage, character and social responsibility.
Hali was named defensive MVP
of the 2006 Senior Bowl
.
. At 6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m), 275 lb (125 kg), Hali is slightly undersized for an NFL defensive end, but compensates by being a great pass rusher.
(* represents NFL Combine
; **represents Penn State Pro Day)
On April 29, 2006, Hali was chosen 20th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in a surprise move. Hali was projected by many analysts to be selected later in the draft, but Kansas City did not hesitate to select the best player possible to help their struggling defense.
"), and the starting position for defensive end.
On July 31, 2006, Hali was excused from the Chiefs two-a-day practices at training camp in River Falls, Wisconsin
and flew back to his home in Teaneck, New Jersey to be sworn in as a permanent citizen of the United States.
On September 28, Hali's mother Rachel arrived in Kansas City, Missouri
and currently lives with Tamba on a one-year visa
. On October 1, she saw her son play for the first time as the Chiefs shut out the San Francisco 49ers
41-0.
Hali won the Mack Lee Hill
award as the top Chiefs rookie for 2006.
At the end of the 2006 NFL season
, Hali led the Chiefs with 8 sacks, 3.5 more than #1 overall draft pick Mario Williams. In 2007, Hali had 7.5 sacks.
Hali moved to right defensive end for the 2008 season
, replacing Jared Allen
.
In 2009 Hali moved to outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense under new head coach Todd Haley
, having had experience at both linebacker and defensive end at Penn State.
In 2010 the Chiefs hired a new defensive coordinator, Romeo Crennel
. Hali finished the season with the most sacks in the AFC, with 14.5. After the 2010 season Hali was invited to his first Pro Bowl, but he declined the invite citing personal reasons.
On August 4th, 2011, Tamba Hali signed a five year, $60 million contract ($35 million guaranteed) with the Chiefs.
Social Studies teacher in Teaneck, New Jersey. Hali in his spare time writes rap music and has a recording studio in his basement.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was the 20th overall pick out of Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. Hali grew up in Teaneck
Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and is a graduate of Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, which is part of the Teaneck Public Schools district in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States...
.
There was not much pre-draft hype for Hali heading into the 2006 NFL Draft until The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
made his amazing story of escape from war-torn Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
at age 10 their April 21, 2006 cover story. NFL scouts
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
began to take notice, reporting that Hali presented himself in an excellent manner not only in his workout but also in his interview at the NFL Combine. On draft day, the Kansas City Chiefs chose him with the 20th overall pick.
Hali finally became a permanent U.S. citizen
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
on July 31, 2006 after residing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for more than a decade.
Early years
Hali fled civil war-torn Liberia at age ten, joining his father Henry, a Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
chemistry professor and Teaneck High School chemistry teacher, in the United States. He has been motivated to become a NFL-caliber player by his desire to reunite with his mother, Rachel Keita, and bring her to the United States after not having seen her for more than twelve years.
Hali was named an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n at Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, which is part of the Teaneck Public Schools district in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States...
and the #1 overall prospect in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He also lettered in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
College career
Hali was named a 2005 consensus All-America2005 College Football All-America Team
The 2005 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports, College...
n, was a unanimous selection as the Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Defensive Lineman of the Year, and was named first team All-Big Ten following his senior season at Penn State. He was instrumental in helping Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
's squad finish 11-1, winning the Big Ten and Orange Bowl titles that season.
He led the Big Ten with 11 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
(tied for eighth nationally) and 17 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
for loss and earned numerous accolades for his play. He was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
, presented to the nation's top defensive player, and the Ted Hendricks Defensive End Award
Ted Hendricks Award
The Ted Hendricks Award is given annually to college football's top defensive end. The award is named after Ted Hendricks, who is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is presented by his own 501 foundation, called the Ted Hendricks...
.
Hali's season sack total is tied for sixth-best at Penn State and his 36 career tackles for loss are tied with Matt Millen
Matt Millen
Matthew George "Matt" Millen is an American former National Football League linebacker and a former executive. Millen played for the Oakland Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. In Millen's 12-year NFL playing career, he played on four Super Bowl-winning teams...
for 10th best. Hali received the Robert B. Mitinger Award
Robert B. Mitinger Award
The Robert B. Mitinger Award is presented to Penn State Nittany Lions football players who personify courage, character and social responsibility. It was first awarded in 2004 and is named for the former Penn State All-American tight end and San Diego Chargers linebacker, Bob Mitinger who later...
, which is given to the Nittany Lion football player who best personifies courage, character and social responsibility.
Hali was named defensive MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the 2006 Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
.
2006 NFL Draft
In 2006, Hali entered the NFL draft ranked as the #2 defensive end behind North Carolina State's Mario WilliamsMario Williams
Mario Jerrel Williams is an American football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was selected first overall by the Texans in the 2006 NFL Draft...
. At 6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m), 275 lb (125 kg), Hali is slightly undersized for an NFL defensive end, but compensates by being a great pass rusher.
| Pre-draft measureables | ||||||||||
| Ht | Wt | 40-yard dash 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20 ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
Broad | BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-3 * | 275 lb * | 4.87 ** | X | X | 4.31 ** | 7.28 ** | 30 in. ** | 8'10" ** | 18 ** | 17 * |
NFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
; **represents Penn State Pro Day)
On April 29, 2006, Hali was chosen 20th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in a surprise move. Hali was projected by many analysts to be selected later in the draft, but Kansas City did not hesitate to select the best player possible to help their struggling defense.
Kansas City Chiefs
Making an early impression in Chiefs camp, Tamba Hali has earned the nickname of "The TambaHawk" (a take on "TomahawkTomahawk (axe)
A tomahawk is a type of axe native to North America, traditionally resembling a hatchet with a straight shaft. The name came into the English language in the 17th century as a transliteration of the Powhatan word.Tomahawks were general purpose tools used by Native Americans and European Colonials...
"), and the starting position for defensive end.
On July 31, 2006, Hali was excused from the Chiefs two-a-day practices at training camp in River Falls, Wisconsin
River Falls, Wisconsin
River Falls is a city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 15,000 at the 2010 census, making it the second largest city in the Twin Cities Wisconsin suburbs, which is the eighth largest metropolitan area in the state...
and flew back to his home in Teaneck, New Jersey to be sworn in as a permanent citizen of the United States.
On September 28, Hali's mother Rachel arrived in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and currently lives with Tamba on a one-year visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
. On October 1, she saw her son play for the first time as the Chiefs shut out the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
41-0.
Hali won the Mack Lee Hill
Mack Lee Hill
Mack Lee Hill was an American college and professional football player. He played running back at Southern University and for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs for two seasons , before dying while undergoing knee surgery, days after a game against the Buffalo Bills.He made the...
award as the top Chiefs rookie for 2006.
At the end of the 2006 NFL season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
, Hali led the Chiefs with 8 sacks, 3.5 more than #1 overall draft pick Mario Williams. In 2007, Hali had 7.5 sacks.
Hali moved to right defensive end for the 2008 season
2008 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2008 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 49th season, and third with head coach Herman Edwards at the helm. The Chiefs failed to improve on their 4-12 record from 2007 with the youngest team in the NFL as part of their "youth movement." The season turned out to be the worst in the...
, replacing Jared Allen
Jared Allen
-Kansas City Chiefs:Allen was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and signed for a one-year, $100,000 contract. On May 21, 2007, Allen, as a restricted free agent, signed the Chiefs' one-year tender offer of $2.35 million for the 2007 season. Allen credited his early...
.
In 2009 Hali moved to outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense under new head coach Todd Haley
Todd Haley
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.-Early...
, having had experience at both linebacker and defensive end at Penn State.
In 2010 the Chiefs hired a new defensive coordinator, Romeo Crennel
Romeo Crennel
Romeo Crennel is the former head coach of the Cleveland Browns and current defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. Before becoming the head coach of the Browns, Crennel won three Super Bowls in four seasons as the defensive coordinator of the New England...
. Hali finished the season with the most sacks in the AFC, with 14.5. After the 2010 season Hali was invited to his first Pro Bowl, but he declined the invite citing personal reasons.
On August 4th, 2011, Tamba Hali signed a five year, $60 million contract ($35 million guaranteed) with the Chiefs.
Career statistics
Source: NFL.com| Defense | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | AST | PD | SACK | FF | FR | INT |
| 2006 | Kansas City | 16 | 61 | 44 | 17 | 4 | 8.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 | Kansas City | 16 | 58 | 46 | 12 | 2 | 7.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | Kansas City | 16 | 54 | 43 | 11 | 2 | 3.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | Kansas City | 16 | 62 | 44 | 16 | 1 | 8.5 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | Kansas City | 15 | 47 | 29 | 12 | 3 | 14.5 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 66 | 279 | 208 | 70 | 12 | 41.5 | 18 | 4 | 1 | |
Personal life
Hali has an older half-brother, also named Tamba. This stems from a tradition in the Kissi culture wherein the second son born to a woman is always named "Tamba." (The first is traditionally named "Saah.") When the Hali family is together, they call the eldest "Big Tamba" and his 6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m), 275-pound (125 kg) half-brother "Little Tamba". He also has a brother (Saah Hali) who is a middle schoolMiddle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
Social Studies teacher in Teaneck, New Jersey. Hali in his spare time writes rap music and has a recording studio in his basement.
External links
- Official Website
- "Hali Featured on Cover of The Sporting News" gopsusports.com, April 12, 2006
- "By the grace of God, I am alive." The Sporting NewsThe Sporting NewsSporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, April 13, 2006 - "Hali getting mixed signals" northjersey.com, April 24, 2006
- "Hali has come too far to stop short," USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, March 1, 2006 - "The great escape: Hali travels amazing road to achieve football stardom," Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, February 25, 2006 - "Hali wrecks Wisconsin to earn Player of Week award," USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, November 6, 2005 - Hali gets sized for his first Chiefs jersey VIDEO
- "Chiefs rookie Hali becomes U.S. citizen," NFL.com, August 1, 2006