31 Facts About Brendon Ayanbadejo

Oladele Brendon Ayanbadejo is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker and special teamer who played in the National Football League and Canadian Football League for thirteen seasons.

Brendon Ayanbadejo was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 1999.

Brendon Ayanbadejo has been a member of the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins of the NFL, the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, and BC Lions of the CFL.

Brendon Ayanbadejo was born in Chicago to a Nigerian father and an American mother of Irish descent.

Brendon Ayanbadejo attended Santa Cruz High School, where he played as a tight end.

For college Brendon Ayanbadejo enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played college football for the UCLA Bruins.

Brendon Ayanbadejo was first-team all-Pac-10 his senior season with four sacks against arch-rival USC's Carson Palmer.

Brendon Ayanbadejo was one of 15 players on UCLA's late 1990s teams involved in the handicapped parking placard scandal.

Brendon Ayanbadejo was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League as an undrafted free agent on April 23,1999.

Brendon Ayanbadejo served on the practice squad of the Falcons and the Chicago Bears before being picked up by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in 2000, and spent time with them and the Toronto Argonauts.

Brendon Ayanbadejo played the 2001 season with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, and played for the BC Lions of the CFL in 2002.

In 2004, Brendon Ayanbadejo made a play that led to one of the biggest upset comebacks in Monday Night Football history.

Brendon Ayanbadejo caught it for the interception, and the Dolphins went on to win the game by one point.

Brendon Ayanbadejo was selected to consecutive Pro Bowls as a special teamer in 2006 and 2007.

On March 6,2008, Brendon Ayanbadejo signed a four-year, $4.9 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

Brendon Ayanbadejo again made the Pro Bowl that season for his special teams contributions.

In 2009, Brendon Ayanbadejo began to contribute more on the Ravens defense.

In week three against the Cleveland Browns, Brendon Ayanbadejo recorded six tackles, one of which was for a loss, a sack, and an interception.

In week 4 against the Patriots, Brendon Ayanbadejo tore a quadriceps muscle.

Brendon Ayanbadejo said after the game he could miss the rest of the year and was placed on the Injured Reserve list two days later.

On October 24,2011, Brendon Ayanbadejo was ejected from a game for striking Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Guy Whimper in the face.

In 2013, Brendon Ayanbadejo helped the Ravens defeat Indianapolis and Denver in the playoffs, and move on to defeat the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

Brendon Ayanbadejo never started a single game for the Ravens during the 2012 season, spending most of his time on special teams.

Brendon Ayanbadejo was released by the Ravens on April 3,2013.

Brendon Ayanbadejo serves as an occasional game analyst on NFL on Fox coverage.

Brendon Ayanbadejo has since said that he has received widespread support in the world of football.

Later that month Brendon Ayanbadejo spoke in support of NBA player Jason Collins, who became the first publicly gay active athlete to play in any of four major North American pro sports leagues.

Brendon Ayanbadejo is the younger brother of former fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo.

Obafemi Brendon Ayanbadejo was cut by the Chicago Bears on October 1,2007, after the fullback finished serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances.

Brendon Ayanbadejo wrote for the Santa Cruz Sentinel his first several years in the NFL.

Brendon Ayanbadejo has advocated for the passage of the FIT Kids Act, federal legislation that would require school districts to report on students' physical activity and to give youngsters health and nutritional information.