Samkon Gado Samkon Kaltho Gado ( born November 13 , 1982 ) is a Nigerian - American former running back of American football . He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2005 . He played college football at Liberty . Gado has also played for the Green Bay Packers , Houston Texans , Miami Dolphins and St . Louis Rams . Early years . Born in Kufai , Taraba State , Nigeria , Gado moved to Columbia , South Carolina from Nigeria when he was nine years old . He attended Ben Lippen School in Columbia , where he was a four - sport letterwinner ( football , track , soccer , and basketball ) . Gado posted 10 games of over 200 yards as a high school football running back . Gado was named Athlete of the Year as a junior , rushing for 2 , 100 yards and 31 touchdown s . He served as team captain in his senior campaign . He played for current Comedian , and former high school head football coach Marty Simpson . His high school teammates referred to him as the " Nigerian Nightmare , " the nickname of former Kansas City Chief running back Christian Okoye . Gado donned the jersey number 35 out of respect for Okoye while in Green Bay and Houston . College career . Gado played college football at Liberty University , an FCS school in Lynchburg , Virginia . Although Gado only started two games in his college career ( playing behind fellow backs Dre Barnes and Eugene Goodman ) , his contributions to the team were significant . He played in 39 games during his college career , amassing a total of 273 carries for 1 , 631 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns . He also caught a total of 38 passes for 486 yards and six receiving touchdowns . His most significant numbers came in his senior year , where he proved his value to the offense by carrying the ball 138 times for 938 yards and a team - high eleven rushing touchdowns . Awards and honors . Gado received the following awards for his performances at Liberty University : Professional career . Kansas City Chiefs . Because of his relatively quiet role as a backup running back at a I - AA school , Gado went undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft and was eventually signed by the Kansas City Chiefs in May 2005 . Gado was unable to make the Chiefs active roster in part due to an injury suffered during training camp , and was eventually waived from the practice squad after the first month of the season . Kansas City running backs coach James Saxon was impressed by Gado ' s ability , but there was no room on the Chiefs roster to retain him . Nonetheless , Saxon spoke highly of him to other teams such as the Green Bay Packers . Kansas City head coach Dick Vermeil also encouraged Gado to continue playing football . Green Bay Packers . On October 17 , the Green Bay Packers brought Gado in for a workout . The personnel officials and coaches were won over by a 40 - yard dash time of 4 . 43 seconds and signed Gado on the spot to their practice squad . Gado ' s future in the NFL might have ended there were it not for the unfortunate circumstances of the Packers ' 2005 season . Despite being one of the premier running teams of the past few years , the Packers saw a dramatic drop in production due to the loss of both of their starting guards from the previous season and due to nagging injuries to star running back Ahman Green . Both Green and backup Najeh Davenport were eventually lost to season - ending injuries , forcing the Packers to promote Gado to the active roster alongside third - string back Tony Fisher and such players as ReShard Lee and Noah Herron . Gado made his NFL debut , only two weeks after being signed to the Packers roster , with an eight - yard carry on October 30 , 2005 in a 21 - 14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals . It was his only carry of the game . One week later , he was given much more playing time against the Pittsburgh Steelers . Though Fisher was officially the starter of the game , Gado carried the ball 23 times for 62 yards and scored his first NFL rushing touchdown in the 20 - 10 loss . Coaches and teammates were impressed by Gado ' s performance against a strong Pittsburgh defense . Gado began to be considered a " feel good story " for the 2005 NFL season as a nobody backup suddenly showing real potential when given the chance . The sudden media attention was also due to Gado ' s polite and humble personality both in interviews and on the field . After Gado ' s touchdown in the Steelers game , he reportedly walked up to and thanked every one of his offensive lineman for helping him to score . On November 13 , 2005 , Gado started his first NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons . He responded to the challenge with an outstanding performance that instantly turned him into a household name for Packer faithful . Gado rushed 23 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns , and also caught a one - yard touchdown pass from Brett Favre , as the Packers won 33 - 25 . Gado received the NFL Rookie of Week 10 award for the game . Gado became the first player in NFL history to score three touchdowns on his 23rd birthday . For the next three weeks Gado excelled in the starting position . He recorded two more 100 - yard performances - 111 against the Philadelphia Eagles and 171 against the Detroit Lions - and scored a rushing touchdown in three straight games . He was once again awarded the Rookie of the Week award , this time for his Week 14 game against the Lions . Gado ' s season ended on a sprained MCL in a December 19 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens . Before the injury , he had looked very strong against a notable Ravens defense , rushing six times for 45 yards . Though it was possible that Gado would recover in time to play the season finale , the team decided that risking any further injury to the rookie wasn ' t necessary , and placed Gado on injured reserve . Gado ' s 2006 preseason rushing numbers were unremarkable , and did not stand out among other competitors for the running back position . Ultimately , former teammate Najeh Davenport was released at the end of the preseason , and Gado remained on the squad . Gado started the 2006 season as a backup running back . On September 13 , 2006 , after the first week of the NFL regular season , Gado was traded to the Houston Texans for running back Vernand Morency . Houston Texans . Gado ' s best moment of the 2006 season was a game at the Jacksonville Jaguars . The Texans sealed the victory when coach Gary Kubiak gambled on fourth - and - 1 at the Houston 41 - yard line with a minute remaining , winning by 3 . Samkon Gado , who finished with 67 yards rushing , picked up enough for the first down . " You ' ve got to give your team a chance to win , " Kubiak said . " Was it the smartest thing ? I don ' t know , but where we are headed with our football team we got to send a message to our football team about the way we are going to play and what we are going to be about . " On October 23 , 2007 the Texans released him after promoting Adimchinobi Echemandu to their third - string RB . Gado had rushed for only 46 yards on 18 attempts with 1 TD . Miami Dolphins . Shortly before Gado ' s release from Houston , the Miami Dolphins lost starting running back Ronnie Brown to a torn ACL . As a result , the Dolphins claimed Gado off waivers . However , he did not see playing time for his first few games in a Dolphins uniform . After Miami ' s backup running back , Jesse Chatman went down , they re - signed Ricky Williams , a former Dolphin who had done several stints in - and - out of the league , and subsequently cut Gado . However , Williams was injured in his first game back , and Miami re - signed Gado . Gado contributed over the next several weeks , including scoring a touchdown in a game won by the previously 0 - 13 Dolphins . Gado , a restricted free agent in the 2008 offseason , was not tendered a contract by the team . " The Palm Beach Post " reported on May 15 , 2008 that Gado has a tryout scheduled with the New England Patriots . St . Louis Rams . Gado was signed by the St . Louis Rams on November 4 , 2008 after wide receiver s Drew Bennett and Dante Hall were placed on injured reserve . The Rams released Gado on November 19 to make room for offensive tackle Anthony Davis . After spending the rest of the 2008 season out of football , Gado was re - signed to a future contract by the Rams on January 5 , 2009 . Tennessee Titans . On August 17 , 2010 , Gado signed with the Tennessee Titans . He was released on September 4 , 2010 . Awards and honors . Gado received two NFL awards for his rookie performance : In addition , Gado holds a couple of Green Bay franchise records for a rookie . Personal . Gado is a member of the Samantia Club in Houston . Gado received a bachelor ' s degree in health promotions while taking pre - med courses at Liberty University ; he has already taken the MCAT and plans to retake it on July 13 , 2007 . Gado plans to follow up his football career by becoming a medical missionary in his native country . A fall 2006 TV spot highlighted Gado ' s internship at a hospital in Green Bay . His father , Jeremiah Gado , initially left Nigeria in 1990 to study at Columbia International University , and now regularly visits Nigeria for mission work . Gado was named on the Phil Simms All Iron team for his contribution to the community . Gado now resides in Columbia , South Carolina . As of June 2012 , Gado had recently completed his first year at The Medical University of South Carolina .