Rashaan Salaam

Rashaan Iman Salaam (October 8, 1974 – December 5, 2016) was an American professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons, primarily with the Chicago Bears. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1994 after becoming the fourth college player to have more than 2,000 rushing yards in a season.

Selected by the Bears in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft, Salaam's tenure was marked by injuries, frequent fumbles, and drug use, leading to his release following the 1996 season. He pursued a comeback in 1999 with the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers, but appeared in only two games with the former. Salaam last played professionally for the Memphis Maniax of the XFL in 2001. He was posthumously inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

Early life Born in San Diego, California, Salaam was the son of former Cincinnati Bengals running back Teddy Washington (later Sulton Salaam, after converting to Islam). A practicing Muslim, he attended La Jolla Country Day School in suburban San Diego, and played eight-man football. He was recognized as a high school All-American, and was later inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame.

College career Salaam attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he played for the Buffaloes from 1992 to 1994. As a junior in 1994, Salaam had one of the best individual seasons in college football history, rushing for a school-record 2,055 yards and becoming only the fourth college running back to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He also amassed 24 touchdowns and helped lead Colorado to an 11–1 record, including a 41–24 win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, and a No. 3 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. The Buffaloes' only loss of the season was to Big Eight Conference rival Nebraska, which finished undefeated and ranked first in both major polls as national champions.

Salaam had four consecutive 200-yard rushing games during the season, his best effort coming against the Texas Longhorns, when he set a school record with 362 yards total offense in a 34–31 win at Austin. He was a unanimous All-American and winner of the Heisman Trophy in December, beating out running back Ki-Jana Carter of Penn State, quarterbacks Steve McNair of Alcorn State and Kerry Collins of Penn State, and defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Salaam also won the Walter Camp and Doak Walker awards.

Professional career

The Chicago Bears selected Salaam in the first round, with the 21st overall selection, of the 1995 NFL draft. He played for the Bears from 1995 to 1997. However, he also lost 9 fumbles and averaged just 3.6 yards per carry. Problems with injuries, fumbles, and marijuana use led him to spend only three years with the Bears. During his two final years with Chicago, Salaam mustered only 608 combined yards. The Bears traded Salaam to the Miami Dolphins before the 1998 season, but it was undone when Salaam failed a physical examination . but injury cut his season short and the league folded after one season. He finished the year with 528 yards gained.

Salaam launched what appeared to be a final attempt at an NFL career in , beginning with a much publicized training at the Cris Carter Speed School. He was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers in 2003, but was released in the penultimate round of cuts in August, despite receiving accolades from head coach Dennis Erickson.

Salaam was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on February 20, 2004, but was suspended by the Argos in May, ending his football career.

Career statistics NFL Legend Bold Career high

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1995 CHI 16 11 296 1,074 3.6 42 10 7 56 8.0 18 0 1996 CHI 12 6 143 496 3.5 32 3 7 44 6.3 11 1 1997 CHI 3 3 31 112 3.6 17 0 2 20 10.0 18 0 1999 CLE 2 0 1 2 2.0 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0Career 33 20 471 1,684 3.6 42 13 16 120 7.5 18 1

College Year Team GP Rushing Receiving Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds TD 1992 Colorado 7 27 158 5.9 1 1 0 0 1993 Colorado 9 161 844 5.2 8 13 118 0 1994 Colorado 11 298 2,055 6.9 24 24 294 0 Career 27 486 3,057 6.3 33 38 412 0

Awards and honors NFL UPI NFC Rookie of the Year (1995) Brian Piccolo Award (1995)

College Heisman Trophy (1994) Walter Camp Award (1994) Doak Walker Award (1994) Jim Brown Trophy (1994) Chic Harley Award (1994) Unanimous All-American (1994) SN Player of the Year (1994) Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year (1994) 2× First-team All-Big Eight (1993, 1994) Colorado Buffaloes No. 19 retired

Death On December 5, 2016, 42-year-old Salaam was found dead in a city park (Eben G. Fine) in Boulder, Colorado. An autopsy was performed because authorities found a note near the body and were investigating it as a possible suicide. Several weeks later on December 29, it was confirmed that the manner of death was suicide, specifically a gunshot wound to the head, in a report released by the Boulder County coroner's office. Salaam's blood-alcohol content was reportedly three times the legal driving limit and he had THC in his system.