:Rashaan Salaam

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Rashaan Salaam

| image = Rashaan Salaam holding Heisman trophy in 1994.jpg

| alt =

| caption = With the Heisman Trophy in 1994

| number = 31, 29

| position = Running back

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1974|10|8}}

| birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|12|5|1974|10|8}}

| death_place = Boulder, Colorado, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 225

| high_school = La Jolla Country Day (San Diego)

| college = Colorado (1992–1994)

| draftyear = 1995

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 21

| pastteams = * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1995|1997}})

Oakland Raiders (1999)*
Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1999}})
Green Bay Packers (1999)
Memphis Maniax (2001)
San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2003}})*
Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2004}})*

| highlights = * UPI NFC Rookie of the Year (1995)

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

| statlabel1 = Rushing yards

| statvalue1 = 1,684

| statlabel2 = Rushing average

| statvalue2 = 3.6

| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 13

| statlabel4 = Receptions

| statvalue4 = 16

| statlabel5 = Receiving yards

| statvalue5 = 120

| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue6 = 1

| pfr = SalaRa00

| CollegeHOF = 2494

}}

Rashaan Iman Salaam (October 8, 1974 – December 5, 2016) was an American football running back. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes from 1992 to 1994, became the fourth college player to tally more than 2,000 rushing yards in a season, and won the Heisman Trophy and Doak Walker Award in 1994. He was picked by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft, and played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Bears (1995–1997) and the Cleveland Browns (1999). Salaam died by suicide on December 5, 2016.{{cite news |last1=Rohan |first1=Tim |title=Death of a Heisman Winner: The Fall of Rashaan Salaam |url=https://www.si.com/college/2019/12/10/rashaan-salaam-death-heisman |access-date=December 14, 2019 |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=December 10, 2019}}

Early life

Born in San Diego, California,National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/player/rashaansalaam/2502804/profile Rashaan Salaam], Retrieved February 5, 2012. Salaam was the son of former Cincinnati Bengals running back Teddy Washington (later Sulton Salaam, after converting to Islam).{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/18/sports/pro-football-notebook-dad-son-duos-run-up-the-score.html|title=PRO FOOTBALL: NOTEBOOK; Dad-Son Duos Run Up the Score|last=Smith|first=Timothy|date=June 18, 1995|access-date=October 22, 2014}} A practicing Muslim,Chicago Tribune, "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/04/30/dodging-doubt-like-tacklers/ Dodging Doubt Like Tacklers]," Chicago Tribune (April 30, 1995). Retrieved December 9, 2015. he attended La Jolla Country Day School in suburban San Diego,databaseFootball.com, Players, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120121195849/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SALAARAS01 Rashaan Salaam]}}. Retrieved February 5, 2012. and played eight-man football. Salaam ran for over 100 yards in every game except against Christian High of El Cajon, coached by Dale Peterson. He was recognized as a high school All-American, and was later inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame.City News Service, "[http://lajollalight.com/2010/11/29/la-jolla-country-day-grad-rashaam-salaamtops-list-of-50-best-san-diego-football-players/ La Jolla Country Day grad Rashaan Salaam tops list of 50 best San Diego football players] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809152114/http://www.lajollalight.com/2010/11/29/la-jolla-country-day-grad-rashaam-salaamtops-list-of-50-best-san-diego-football-players/ |date=August 9, 2011 }}," La Jolla Light (November 29, 2010). Retrieved February 5, 2012.

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 and quarterbacks Steve McNair of Alcorn State and Kerry Collins of Penn State."[http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/08/10/former-bear-rashaan-salaam-sells-off-heisman-ring/ Former Bear Rashaan Salaam Sells Off Heisman Ring]," CBS Chicago (August 10, 2011). Retrieved February 5, 2012. Salaam also won the Walter Camp and Doak Walker awards.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19941130&id=SFBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w-sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1398,7610885|title=Salaam wins award|agency=Associated Press|work=Eugene Register-Guard|page=5C|date=November 30, 1994|access-date=December 7, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.timescall.com/ci_29965377/former-cu-buffs-bieniemy-salaam-college-football-hall|work=Longmont Times Call|title=Former CU Buffs Bieniemy, Salaam on College Football Hall of Fame ballot|first=Brian|last=Howell|date=June 1, 2016|access-date=December 7, 2016}}

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 0 7/8

| weight = 228

| bench = 21

| arm span = 32 1/8

| hand span = 9

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=23693 |title=Rashaan Salaam, Combine Results, RB - Colorado |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=October 9, 2022}}

}}

The Chicago Bears selected Salaam in the first round, with the 21st overall selection, of the 1995 NFL draft.{{cite web|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-30/sports/ct-spt-0501-mitchell-rashaan-salaam-bears-chicago--20120430_1_lazier-nfl-draft-day|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502001336/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-30/sports/ct-spt-0501-mitchell-rashaan-salaam-bears-chicago--20120430_1_lazier-nfl-draft-day|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2012|title=Catching up with former Chicago Bear Rashaan Salaam|access-date=December 6, 2016}}Pro Football Hall of Fame, Draft History, [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/story.aspx?story_id=2031 1995 National Football League Draft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630103117/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/story.aspx?story_id=2031 |date=June 30, 2012 }}. Retrieved February 5, 2012. He played for the Bears from 1995 to 1997. As a rookie, he rushed for 1,074 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SalaRa00.htm Rashaan Salaam]. He was also UPI NFC Rookie of the year.Retrieved February 5, 2012. However, he also lost 9 fumbles and averaged just 3.6 yards per carry. Problems with injuries, fumbles, and marijuana use{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0501-mitchell-rashaan-salaam-bears-chicago--20120430,0,1086766.column|title=Catching up with former Chicago Bear Rashaan Salaam|website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=December 6, 2016}} led him to spend only three years with the Bears. During his two final years with Chicago, Salaam mustered only 608 combined yards.{{cite web|last=Russell |first=Dalton |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/chicago-bears-top-five-turkeys-franchise-history-153900262--nfl.html |title=Chicago Bears: Top Five Turkeys in Franchise History |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=November 28, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204053031/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/chicago-bears-top-five-turkeys-franchise-history-153900262--nfl.html |archive-date=December 4, 2013 }} The Bears traded Salaam to the Miami Dolphins before the 1998 season, but it was undone when Salaam failed a physical examination.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1696&dat=19980425&id=9vEaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=20cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4599,3197773|title=Miami pulls out on trade with Bears|agency=Associated Press|page=3B|work=The Daily News|date=April 25, 1998|access-date=December 7, 2016}} Salaam spent {{nfly|1999}} with the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers, but only played in two games for the Browns that year.

Salaam briefly played in the XFL for the Memphis Maniax in 2001,{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-rashaan-salaam-dead-20161206-story.html|title=Former Bear Rashaan Salaam found dead at 42|first=Dan|last=Wiederer|website=Chicago Tribune |date=December 7, 2016 |access-date=December 7, 2016}} but injury cut his season short and the league folded after one season. He finished the year with 528 yards gained.{{cite web|url=http://www.all-xfl.com/memphismaniax/team/roster/rashaansalaam.htm|title=Memphis Maniax Roster: Rashaan Salaam|access-date=December 7, 2016}}

Salaam launched what appeared to be a final attempt at an NFL career in {{nfly|2002}}, beginning with a much publicized training at the Cris Carter Speed School.{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-03-04/sports/0303030481_1_rashaan-salaam-ki-jana-carter-cris-carter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220081114/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-03-04/sports/0303030481_1_rashaan-salaam-ki-jana-carter-cris-carter|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 20, 2016|title=Future In The Past|access-date=December 6, 2016}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/49ers-release-Salaam/96461061828580/|title=49ers release Salaam|access-date=December 6, 2016}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18221607/former-heisman-trophy-winning-running-back-rashaan-salaam-died|title='94 Heisman winner Salaam dead at age 42|date=December 6, 2016|access-date=December 7, 2016}}

NFL career statistics

class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
colspan="2"\| Legend
Bold \| Career high

class="wikitable mw-collapsible"

colspan="2"| Legend

Bold

| Career high

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Rushing ! colspan="5"\| Receiving
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
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 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SalaRa00.htm Career]	33	20	471	1,684	3.6	42	13	16	120	7.5	18	1

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/12/06/rashaan-salaam-dead-heisman-trophy-winner-university-of-colorado/95054912/|title=Rashaan Salaam, former Heisman winner and NFL first rounder, found dead in park|website=USA Today }} 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.{{cite web | url = http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18370902/autopsy-shows-former-chicago-bears-colorado-buffaloes-rb-rashaan-salaam-shot-head | title = Former Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam's death ruled a suicide | work = ESPN | date = December 29, 2016 | access-date = December 29, 2016}} Salaam's blood-alcohol content was reportedly three times the legal driving limit and he had THC in his system.{{cite web | title = Autopsy says former CU star Rashaan Salaam shot himself in the head | work = The Denver Post | url = http://www.denverpost.com/2016/12/29/rashaan-salaam-suicide-autopsy/ | date = December 29, 2016 | access-date = December 29, 2016}}

Salaam's family did not consent to neuropathological tests that would have revealed whether he had previously sustained chronic head trauma, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. They declined{{Cite web |date=2019-12-11 |title=Inside the troubled life and death of 1994 Heisman winner Rashaan Salaam |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28256851/1994-heisman-trophy-winner-rashaan-salaam-burden-carry |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} to have his brain tested to determine whether his depression had been linked to such injuries from his days as a player.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/sports/rashaan-salaam-brain-trauma.html?_r=0 |title=Rashaan Salaam's Family Declines to Test His Brain for Trauma |work=The New York Times |date=December 29, 2016 |access-date = December 31, 2016}}