Tamba Hali

I really first learned of Tamba Hali from a Sporting News article prior to the 2006 NFL Draft. Before that I only knew of him as terrific defensive end from Penn St with a real cool name. I learned then and know now that there is so much more to the fantastic pass rusher of the Kansas City Chiefs. His story is remarkable.

Tamba Hali was born in Monrovia, Liberia. His childhood was a front row seat to a civil war. Death and destruction was all around him. At age 10, he got out and joined his father in Teaneck, New Jersey. By the time Tamba Hali reached Teaneck High School it became easily apparent that he had quite the talent for football. A possible future in the NFL would provide the resources to be able to bring his mother to the United States. This became further motivation to excel at the sport. His talent and motivation took him to Penn St. where he continued to excel on and off the field. He won the Robert B Mitinger Award for his courage, character and social responsibility. On the field he was the Big 10 Defensive Lineman of the Year and an All-American.  His play helped Penn St to an 11-1 record, a Big 10 championship and a victory in the Orange Bowl. He impressed NFL decision makers at the Scouting Combine more with his interviews than his obvious athletic skills. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Tamba Hali with the 20th pick of the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

On July 31, 2006 Tamba Hali left the Kansa City Chiefs training camp to return to Teaneck, NJ so that he could be sworn in as a permanent citizen of the United States. Perhaps his greatest thrill as an NFL football player came when he was able to bring his mother to Kansas City on September 28, 2006. Three days later she saw her son play football for the first time in a 41-0 Chiefs defeat of the San Francisco 49ers. Everything else has been gravy but Tamba Hali has made it great gravy. After bouncing around on the Chiefs defensive line for a few years, he found a natural fit in 2009 as a pass rushing outside linebacker in the team's new 3-4 defense. A year later new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel really turned Tamba Hali loose on the league to the tune of an AFC-leading 14.5 sacks. He answered that with 12 more sacks last year. Tamba Hali earned Pro Bowl recognition both seasons. He'll make a habit of that. He's a pass rushing beast. When talking heads speak of the top pass rushing linebackers in the league they often start with DeMarcus Ware, Terrell Suggs and Clay Matthews. They need to revise that order. Tamba Hali is right there. Peyton Manning will likely want to go back to the AFC South after facing Kansas City twice.

It's easy to cheer for Tamba Hali. I started with that Sporting News article. It's not right for any child to experience what he experienced. He's lucky to have survived. As fantastic as Tamba Hali is on the football field it sounds like it all pales to the person off the field. Besides, I just love saying Tamba Hali.

All NFL players have a story.