Gibran Hamdan
Encyclopedia
Gibran Latif Hamdan is a former professional American football
quarterback
in the National Football League
and NFL Europa. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins
in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Indiana
.
Hamdan has also been a member of the Amsterdam Admirals
, Seattle Seahawks
, San Francisco 49ers
, Miami Dolphins
and Buffalo Bills
.
He is the first person of Pakistani descent to play in the NFL.
when she married his father, a Palestinian
nuclear engineer who attended the University of Illinois but met her on a business trip. Hamdan was born in San Diego, but his family moved to Kuwait
when he was three.
The family—which includes his younger brother, Bush—was on vacation back in San Diego when Iraq
invaded Kuwait in 1991, destroying the family home and possessions. The Hamdans stayed in the U.S., and his mother took a job cutting hair until the family eventually settled in Potomac, Maryland
.
Hamdan saw his first action at Winston Churchill High School
in Potomac, MD as a backup quarterback. After his sophomore year, Hamdan transferred to Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School
in Arlington, Virginia. As the football team's starting quarterback, he led the Northern Virginia
area in passing yards, becoming Virginia Independent Schools Player of the Year and earning first-team all-league and district honors. Hamdan also was a starting center for the school’s basketball team and played baseball for the 15-and-under U.S. National Baseball team.
. His yardage total was seventh-best in Indiana history. He was named Big Ten
Co-Player of the Week for his 24-of-36, 310-yard and career-high four touchdown performance in 32-29 win over Wisconsin
. Hamdan also played baseball at Indiana.
in the 2003 NFL Draft
. Though he was impressive in training camp, the team originally decided to keep just two quarterbacks entering the regular season. He was on the team's practice squad the first ten weeks of his rookie season before being signed to the active roster. He suited up for all five of the remaining games, and Hamdan finally made his NFL
debut on December 27 during the last two minutes of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles
, achieving one first down while going 1-for-2 for seven yards.
Hamdan played in NFL Europa in the spring of 2004, where he was backup quarterback behind third-year NFL Europe veteran Clint Stoerner
. He was released by the Redskins in September following training camp.
and once again allocated to NFL Europa. Though originally winning the starting quarterback job for the Amsterdam Admirals
over Kurt Kittner
, a broken collarbone cut short Hamdan's season. In the four games he started he posted 39 completions out of 75 attempts for a total of 556 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He was once again released at the conclusion of training camp.
In January 2006, Hamdan was re-signed by the Seahawks and allocated to NFL Europa for the third straight year. A broken ankle injury incurred on the first down of the first drive of game seven cut short his season once again, Hamdan was the league's leading passer and earned Offensive Most Valuable Player
honors. He started seven games and posted 102 completions out 162 attempts for a total of 1629 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, posting a perfect passer rating
in the third game of the season against Frankfurt Galaxy
. He holds the record for average passer rating for the season in NFL Europe at 113.4. This would not be enough to make the Seahawks however, as he was waived on August 28, 2006.
claimed Hamdan off waivers but released him a few days later. On September 3, he was signed to the 49ers' practice squad.
, the Seahawks elected to re-sign Hamdan to their active roster on October 24 to provide depth. He was inactive for six games with the Seahawks before being released on December 5 and added to the team's practice squad.
on February 6, 2007. He was released at the conclusion of the preseason on September 1.
signed Hamdan to their practice squad after an injury to starting quarterback J.P. Losman
. The Bills released Craig Nall
and promoted Hamdan to the teams 3rd QB on October 19. Due to injury of Trent Edwards
, Hamdan was promoted to backup quarterback for the game between the Bills and the Bengals on November 4, 2007.
Appeared in 3 preseason games during the 2008 campaign completing 30/47 passes for 258 yards avareging 5.5 yards, a 63.8% completion rate with no touchdowns or interceptions for a passerrating of 78.1. Started the final preseason game against the Detroit Lions
but left the game early in the 4th quarter due to a concussion.
Hamdan was promoted backup quarterback for the last two games of the 2008 season pushing J. P. Losman back to third string, who had lost his starting role earlier that year to Trent Edwards.
A restricted free agent
in the 2009 offseason, Hamdan was re-signed by the Bills on February 26 as the Buffalo Bills. The signing of Ryan Fitzpatrick
put him back to third string at the start of the 2009 trainingcamp.
Attended the NFL broadcasters bootcamp in 2009 and featured his own weekly show on the Buffalo Bills website named 'Hanging Ten with Hamdan'.
Appeared in 4 preseason games with 32/48 attempts completed for 427 yards averaging 8.9 yards, a 66.7% completion rate, one touchdown and 2 interceptions for a passerrating of 84.3.
Hamdan was waived on November 19, 2009, in favor of Brian Brohm
, who was signed off the Green Bay Packers
' practice squad. The Bills re-signed Hamdan on December 22, 2009, after injuries to Fitzpatrick and Edwards, with cornerback
Terrence McGee
going on injured reserve
to make room for Hamdan on the roster.
of the Canadian Football League
. He retired from football on June 4, 2010.
.
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
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...
and NFL Europa. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
.
Hamdan has also been a member of the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, 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...
, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
He is the first person of Pakistani descent to play in the NFL.
Early years
Hamdan's mother was a 16-year-old from PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
when she married his father, a Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
nuclear engineer who attended the University of Illinois but met her on a business trip. Hamdan was born in San Diego, but his family moved to Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
when he was three.
The family—which includes his younger brother, Bush—was on vacation back in San Diego when Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
invaded Kuwait in 1991, destroying the family home and possessions. The Hamdans stayed in the U.S., and his mother took a job cutting hair until the family eventually settled in Potomac, Maryland
Potomac, Maryland
Potomac is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named for the nearby Potomac River. The population was 44,822 at the 2000 census. The Potomac area is known for its very affluent and highly-educated residents. In 2009 CNNMoney.com listed Potomac as the fourth...
.
Hamdan saw his first action at Winston Churchill High School
Winston Churchill High School
Winston Churchill High School may refer to a number of schools, all named after Winston Churchill, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955.-Canada:*Winston Churchill High School in Lethbridge, Alberta...
in Potomac, MD as a backup quarterback. After his sophomore year, Hamdan transferred to Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School
Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School
Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School was founded in 1957 in Arlington County, Virginia. It was operated by the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, but has been under the direction of the Diocese of Arlington since 1974. The school is named for Bishop Denis J...
in Arlington, Virginia. As the football team's starting quarterback, he led the Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
area in passing yards, becoming Virginia Independent Schools Player of the Year and earning first-team all-league and district honors. Hamdan also was a starting center for the school’s basketball team and played baseball for the 15-and-under U.S. National Baseball team.
College career
Hamdan attended Indiana University where he posted 2,115 yards and nine touchdowns during his senior year for the Indiana HoosiersIndiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
. His yardage total was seventh-best in Indiana history. He was named 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...
Co-Player of the Week for his 24-of-36, 310-yard and career-high four touchdown performance in 32-29 win over Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Hamdan also played baseball at Indiana.
Washington Redskins
Hamdan was a seventh-round (232nd overall) pick by the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. Though he was impressive in training camp, the team originally decided to keep just two quarterbacks entering the regular season. He was on the team's practice squad the first ten weeks of his rookie season before being signed to the active roster. He suited up for all five of the remaining games, and Hamdan finally made his NFL
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...
debut on December 27 during the last two minutes of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, achieving one first down while going 1-for-2 for seven yards.
Hamdan played in NFL Europa in the spring of 2004, where he was backup quarterback behind third-year NFL Europe veteran Clint Stoerner
Clint Stoerner
Clinton Jacob Stoerner is an American football quarterback. He is currently a free agent.-High school years:...
. He was released by the Redskins in September following training camp.
First stint with Seahawks
Hamdan was out of the league until 2005 when he was signed by the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
and once again allocated to NFL Europa. Though originally winning the starting quarterback job for the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
over Kurt Kittner
Kurt Kittner
Kurt Kittner is a former American football player for the Chicago Bears. He was a quarterback for the University of Illinois during their 2001 Big Ten Championship.-High school career:...
, a broken collarbone cut short Hamdan's season. In the four games he started he posted 39 completions out of 75 attempts for a total of 556 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He was once again released at the conclusion of training camp.
In January 2006, Hamdan was re-signed by the Seahawks and allocated to NFL Europa for the third straight year. A broken ankle injury incurred on the first down of the first drive of game seven cut short his season once again, Hamdan was the league's leading passer and earned Offensive Most Valuable Player
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...
honors. He started seven games and posted 102 completions out 162 attempts for a total of 1629 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, posting a perfect passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
in the third game of the season against Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
. He holds the record for average passer rating for the season in NFL Europe at 113.4. This would not be enough to make the Seahawks however, as he was waived on August 28, 2006.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ersSan 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...
claimed Hamdan off waivers but released him a few days later. On September 3, he was signed to the 49ers' practice squad.
Second stint with Seahawks
Due to an injury to starting quarterback Matt HasselbeckMatt Hasselbeck
Matthew Michael Hasselbeck is a National Football League quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and traded to Seattle in 2001. After becoming the starter in 2003, Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances and...
, the Seahawks elected to re-sign Hamdan to their active roster on October 24 to provide depth. He was inactive for six games with the Seahawks before being released on December 5 and added to the team's practice squad.
Miami Dolphins
After Hamdan's contract with the Seahawks expired in January, he was signed to a future contract with the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on February 6, 2007. He was released at the conclusion of the preseason on September 1.
Buffalo Bills
On September 26, 2007, the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
signed Hamdan to their practice squad after an injury to starting quarterback J.P. Losman
J.P. Losman
Jonathan Paul "J. P." Losman is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills 22nd overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
. The Bills released Craig Nall
Craig Nall
Craig Matthew Nall is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
and promoted Hamdan to the teams 3rd QB on October 19. Due to injury of Trent Edwards
Trent Edwards
Trent Edwards is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, Hamdan was promoted to backup quarterback for the game between the Bills and the Bengals on November 4, 2007.
Appeared in 3 preseason games during the 2008 campaign completing 30/47 passes for 258 yards avareging 5.5 yards, a 63.8% completion rate with no touchdowns or interceptions for a passerrating of 78.1. Started the final preseason game against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
but left the game early in the 4th quarter due to a concussion.
Hamdan was promoted backup quarterback for the last two games of the 2008 season pushing J. P. Losman back to third string, who had lost his starting role earlier that year to Trent Edwards.
A restricted free agent
Restricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
in the 2009 offseason, Hamdan was re-signed by the Bills on February 26 as the Buffalo Bills. The signing of Ryan Fitzpatrick
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Ryan Joseph Fitzpatrick is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Harvard....
put him back to third string at the start of the 2009 trainingcamp.
Attended the NFL broadcasters bootcamp in 2009 and featured his own weekly show on the Buffalo Bills website named 'Hanging Ten with Hamdan'.
Appeared in 4 preseason games with 32/48 attempts completed for 427 yards averaging 8.9 yards, a 66.7% completion rate, one touchdown and 2 interceptions for a passerrating of 84.3.
Hamdan was waived on November 19, 2009, in favor of Brian Brohm
Brian Brohm
Brian Joseph Brohm is an American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, who was signed off the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
' practice squad. The Bills re-signed Hamdan on December 22, 2009, after injuries to Fitzpatrick and Edwards, with cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Terrence McGee
Terrence McGee
Terrence Dewayne McGee is an American football cornerback and kick returner who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by Bills in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
going on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
to make room for Hamdan on the roster.
Toronto Argonauts
On March 10, 2010, it was announced that Hamdan had signed a one year plus an option contract with the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He retired from football on June 4, 2010.
Alial Fital
On January 22, 2011, Hamdan launched the clothing line Alial Fital. Focusing on online sales via the website www.alialfital.com, Hamdan produces men's short and long sleeve polos.Personal life
Hamdan is married to Jenny Grant, granddaughter of former NFL and CFL head coach Bud GrantBud Grant
Harry Peter "Bud" Grant, Jr is the former longtime American football head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for eighteen seasons. Grant was the second and fourth head coach of the team...
.