Siddeeq Shabazz

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1981)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Siddeeq Shabazz

| image =

| caption =

| number = 28, 39, 26, 29, 20, 8

| position = Safety, linebacker

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|2|5}}

| birth_place = Frankfurt, West Germany

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lbs = 205

| high_school = Anthony (NM) Gadsden

| college = New Mexico State

| draftyear = 2003

| draftround = 7

| draftpick = 246

| pastteams =

Oakland Raiders ({{NFL Year|2003}})
Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2003}}–{{NFL Year|2004}})
Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2005}})*
Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2005}})*
New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2005}})
Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2006}})*
→ Rhein Fire ({{NFL Year|2006}})
Edmonton Eskimos ({{CFL Year|2007}}–{{CFL Year|2008}})
Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2009}})
Las Vegas Locomotives ({{UFL Year|2010}})*
Calgary Stampeders ({{CFL Year|2010}})

| cflstatus =

| highlights =

2× First-team All-Sun Belt (2001–2002)

|pfr=ShabSi20

| cfl-archive = https://web.archive.org/web/20120216194030/http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/1006

}}

Siddeeq Muneer Shabazz (born February 5, 1981) is an American former professional football safety and linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football at New Mexico State.

Shabazz was also a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Rhein Fire, Edmonton Eskimos, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Las Vegas Locomotives and Calgary Stampeders.

Early life

Shabazz was born in Frankfurt, Germany but moved to Chaparral, New Mexico when he was four or five years old. Shabazz's parents were Muslim but Shabazz himself did not start practicing Islam until college before eventually stopping.{{cite news|last1=Bender|first1=Jim|title=Siddeeq Shabazz earns honours|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226222651/http://www.torontosun.com/sports/football/2009/08/06/10375516-sun.html|accessdate=26 December 2016|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=August 6, 2009}}

Shabazz attended Gadsden High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

College career

Shabazz joined the New Mexico State Aggies as a running back in 1998 and redshirted that season.{{cite web | url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft/tracker/player?id=6779 | title=Siddeeq Shabazz | publisher=ESPN | accessdate=June 10, 2024}} He then played as a defensive back from 1999 to 2002. He was a backup from 1999 to 2000. Shabazz started every game in 2001, totaling 107 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups, earning first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors.{{cite web | url=https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2001/12/4/GEN_10447.aspx | title=2001 Football All-Conference Teams Announced: MT's Wes Counts named 2001 Player of the Year | publisher=sunbeltsports.org | date=December 4, 2001 | accessdate=June 10, 2024}} He also started every game the following season in 2002, accumulating 93 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and two interceptions, garnering unanimous first-team All-Sun Belt recognition.

Professional career

Shabazz was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He officially signed with the team on July 25, 2003. He played in four games for the Raiders in 2003, recording one solo tackle, before being waived on September 30, 2003.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ShabSi20.htm | title=Siddeeq Shabazz | publisher=Pro-Football-Reference | accessdate=June 10, 2024}}

Shabazz signed with the Atlanta Falcons on October 1, 2003. He appeared in seven games for the Falcons during the 2003 season, totaling seven solo tackles and one fumble recovery. He played in 15 games in 2004, accumulating nine solo tackles and two assisted tackles. Shabazz was waived on April 25, 2005.

He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals on April 28, 2005, but was waived on May 31, 2005.

Shabazz signed with the Washington Redskins on August 17, 2005. He was waived on September 3, 2005.

He was signed by the New Orleans Saints on October 12, 2005. He appeared in two games for the Saints in 2005, recording one solo tackle, before being waived on November 7, 2005.

Shabazz signed with the Miami Dolphins on January 13, 2006. He was allocated to NFL Europe in 2006, where he played for the Rhein Fire during the 2006 NFL Europe season. He played in 10 games, starting seven, for the Fire, recording 44 tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception and four pass breakups.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/s/shab00100.html | title=Siddeeq Shabazz | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=June 10, 2024}} Shabazz was waived by the Dolphins on August 29, 2006.

Shabazz was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on January 29, 2007.{{cite news | title=Eskimos sign DB pair | work=Edmonton Journal | date=January 30, 2007 | pages=C5}} He played in 18 games in 2007, totaling 78 tackles on defense, 17 special teams tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. He started all 18 games for the Eskimos during the 2008 season, accumulating 63 tackles on defense, six special teams tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception. Shabazz was named the CFL defender of the week for the final week of the 2008 season after accumulating eight tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/eskimos-top-cfl-weekly-awards-1.741040 | title=Eskimos top CFL weekly awards | publisher=cbc.ca | date=November 5, 2008 | accessdate=June 10, 2024}}

On February 16, 2009, Shabazz was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for Kai Ellis.{{cite web | url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/eskimos-trade-shabazz-for-ellis-sign-koch-gordon-plus-lloyd-1.370596 | title=Eskimos trade Shabazz for Ellis, sign Koch & Gordon plus Lloyd | publisher=ctvnews.ca | date=February 16, 2009 | accessdate=June 10, 2024}} He signed a contract extension with the Blue Bombers on May 26, 2009.{{cite web | url=https://www.cfl.ca/2009/05/26/bombers-extend-vets-shabazz-bowman/ | title=BOMBERS EXTEND VETS SHABAZZ, BOWMAN | publisher=cfl.ca | date=May 26, 2009 | accessdate=June 10, 2024}} He appeared in 16 games, starting 15 games, for the Blue Bombers in 2009, recording 72 tackles on defense, 13 special teams tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns. Shabazz was named the CFL defender of the month for July 2009. He was released by the Blue Bombers on April 16, 2010, a move that surprised Shabazz.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.918534 | title=Bombers release linebacker Shabazz | publisher=cbc.ca | date=April 16, 2010 | accessdate=June 10, 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/shabazz-puzzled-by-release | title=Shabazz Puzzled By Release | publisher=Vancouver Sun | date=April 19, 2010 | accessdate=June 10, 2024 | author=Beamish, Mike}}

Shabazz later signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives on United Football League but was released on September 8, 2010.{{cite web | url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/481224-miami-dolphins-alumni-update-september-2010 | title=Miami Dolphins Alumni Update: September 2010 | publisher=Bleacherreport.com | date=October 3, 2010 | accessdate=June 10, 2024 | author=Nelson, Chris, J.}}

He was signed to the practice roster of the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL on October 7, 2010.{{cite web | url=https://www.stampeders.com/2010/10/07/stamps-add-three-to-practice-roster/ | title=STAMPS ADD THREE TO PRACTICE ROSTER | publisher=stampeders.com | date=October 7, 2010 | accessdate=June 10, 2024}} He was later promoted to the active roster and played in two games for the Stampeders in 2010, totaling two tackles on defense and one special teams tackle.