The former Indianapolis Colts linebacker overstayed his visa in 2016, a year after his NFL career ended
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NEED TO KNOW
- Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan to play in the NFL, has been deported to his home country
- The former Indianapolis Colts linebacker faced multiple arrests and convictions over the past decade
- His family claims he struggles with mental health issues, which they believe stemmed from his sports career
A former NFL player has been deported to his home country by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
On Saturday, July 25, ICE confirmed in a news release that Daniel Adongo was removed from the United States on June 20. The former Indianapolis Colts linebacker from Kenya overstayed after his visa expired in 2016, a year after his NFL career ended.
Before his deportation,Adongo, 36, was imprisoned at Miami Correctional Facility while being detained by ICE, Indy Star reported.
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Adongo, 36, has been arrested multiple times over the past decade for crimes including felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct. He was convicted of criminal mischief with damage in 2020 and sentenced to 364 days in jail.
The former rugby player signed with the Colts in 2013, according to ESPN. In December 2015, he was released from the team after police visited his Indianapolis home following a report from a woman he lived with.
Adongo was not at the house when police arrived, per the outlet.
According to a police report obtained by ESPN, the woman texted a friend saying she needed help. The friend contacted the police and when they arrived at the residence, the woman said she did not want medical assistance and couldn’t explain the reason for the text.
Adongo’s most recent criminal charges fall under the Laken Riley Act, a federal statute that requires the detention for illegal immigrants in the U.S.
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Adongo was the first Kenyan to play in the NFL. The Nairobi-born athlete initially played rugby professionally in South Africa and New Zealand before switching his sporting career to American football, per The Sunday Guardian.
He moved to the U.S. for the first time in 2013 after signing with the Colts. He featured in five games, mainly as an outside linebacker, in the two seasons he played for the team.
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Adongo’s family claims that over the past decade he suffered from mental health issues, which they believe developed during his time playing sports.
In 2017, the former NFL star spent time at a psychiatric facility after a judge deemed him incompetent following a psychiatric examination, per Indy Star.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Colts for comment.
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