Tamba Hali Tamba Boimah Hali ( born November 3 , 1983 ) is a Liberia n - born American football outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Pennsylvania State University , and earned All - American honors . The Kansas City Chiefs chose him with the 20th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft , and he has been selected for the Pro Bowl four times . Early years . Hali was born in Monrovia , Liberia . He fled civil war - torn Liberia at age ten , joining his father Henry , a Fairleigh Dickinson University chemistry professor and Teaneck High School chemistry teacher , in the United States . He was motivated to become an 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 . He attended Teaneck High School in Teaneck , New Jersey , and played for the Teaneck Highwaymen high school football team . He was named a high school All - American and the No . 1 overall college football prospect in New Jersey . He also lettered in basketball . College career . Hali received an athletic scholarship to attend Pennsylvania State University , where he played for coach Joe Paterno ' s Penn State Nittany Lions football team from 2002 to 2005 . Following his senior season in 2005 , was recognized as a unanimous All - American , the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year , and a first - team All - Big Ten selection . He was instrumental in helping the Nittany Lions finish 11 – 1 , winning the Big Ten championship and the Orange Bowl 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 tenth 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 most valuable player ( MVP ) of the 2006 Senior Bowl . Professional career . 2006 NFL Draft . Hali entered the 2006 NFL Draft ranked as the # 3 defensive end behind Mario Williams and Kamerion Wimbley . Tamba spent some time as a DT in college . At 6 - 3 , 275 , Hali was slightly undersized for a defensive end in a 4 – 3 defense , and was not initially projected to be a good fit at pass rushing OLB in a 3 - 4 defense . 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 . 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 " Tomahawk " ) , 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 , 2006 , 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 was again moved — this time to outside linebacker — to accommodate new head coach Todd Haley ' s 3 – 4 defense . Hali ' s transformation from an undersized 4 – 3 DE to a 3 – 4 OLB was an amazing one considering his time in college as a DT . In 2010 the Chiefs hired a new defensive coordinator , Romeo Crennel . Hali finished the season with an AFC - leading 14 . 5 sacks , leading to his first invitation to the Pro Bowl . ( Hali declined the invite , citing personal reasons . ) Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli made the signing of Hali to a long - term deal his number - one priority that offseason . Despite a lockout being in place , the two sides signed a five - year , $ 60 million contract ( $ 35 million guaranteed ) on August 4th , 2011 . Hali repaid this loyalty with an All - Pro season , racking up a career - high 83 tackles and leading the team in sacks ( 12 ) for the fifth time in his six seasons as a Chief . He was named an All - Pro and selected to play in the 2012 Pro Bowl . Hali started all 16 games in 2011 and finished second in sacks in the AFC . He tied for third in the conference with four forced fumbles , and racked up 79 tackles , a team - best 12 tackles for loss , and 31 quarterback pressures . Hali moved into fourth place the Chiefs ’ career sacks list that season . On August 20 , 2012 , the NFL suspended Hali for one game for a violation of the league ' s substance abuse policy . On December 26 2012 , Hali was announced the starting Outside Linebacker for the AFC Division in the 2013 Pro Bowl . Career statistics . " Source : NFL . com " 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 school Social Studies teacher in Teaneck , New Jersey . Hali in his spare time writes rap music and has a recording studio in his basement . Hali became a U . S . citizen on July 31 , 2006 . Hali also holds a blue belt in Brazilian jiu - jitsu under Rener Gracie .