Америкалық футболшы және телешоу жүргізушісі Акбар Гбаджабиамила

American football player and talk show co host

Akbar Oluwakemi Idowu Gbajabiamila is a former professional American football player in the National Football League (NFL) who is a commentator and co host on the American Ninja Warrior television series. He is a former analyst for the NFL Network and is currently one of the co hosts of The Talk on CBS. Gbajabiamila grew up in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles with his mother and father, both of whom were born and raised in Nigeria, and his six siblings. Among his siblings is former Green Bay Packers defensive end Kabeer Gbaja Biamila. Before starting his professional career, Gbajabiamila played college football at San Diego State University. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Gbaja Biamila played for two other teams, the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins. Gbajabiamila currently co hosts The Talk on CBS and American Ninja Warrior on NBC, as well as the Universal Kids spin off show, American Ninja Warrior Junior. Gbajabiamila released his first book, Everyone Can Be a Ninja on May 7, 2019.

Gbaja Biamila was born in Los Angeles, California to Nigerian immigrant parents. He is one of seven children. He attended Crenshaw High School in South Los Angeles, where he was a star basketball player on teams that were part of the Willie West Jr. coaching era. Gbaja Biamila moved to play football during his senior year. He was an all league and all conference choice. He was also named the team's defensive lineman of the year, compiling 11 sacks and 74 tackles in his senior campaign.

Gbaja Biamila went undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft and later signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent. He made the team out of training camp and played in 13 of the team's 16 regular season games. with his first and only sack of the season coming against Daunte Culpepper, then with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2004, Gbaja Biamila split time between defensive end and linebacker, occasionally filling in for players such as Travian Smith and Tyler Brayton. He appeared in 14 games for the Raiders during the regular season and was inactive for two games. He accumulated a career high 14 tackles (11 solo) and added a sack on the year.

With his playing career over, Akbar turned his focus to the broadcast booth in addition to his philanthropic work, serving as an analyst for the Mtn. Network and CBS Sports Network for two years, while also taking voice and acting classes. He also founded Rush The Passer, a year round athletic, academic, and life skills program for youth in Southern California. In 2010 he was approached by reality producer Mark Burnett to be part of a three man athlete team for his latest project on ABC, Expedition Impossible. The pair also co hosts Team Ninja Warrior, a spin off of American Ninja Warrior that debuted on Esquire Network in 2016, and American Ninja Warrior Junior together on Universal Kids in 2018. On May 10, 2018, Gbaja Biamila threw out the first pitch at Citizens Bank Park before a game between the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies which was widely seen as being among the worst. On September 2, 2021, it was announced that Akbar Gbaja Biamila would join The Talk as a permanent co host, and the second full time male co host on the show. Gbaja Biamila appeared as a guest co host on multiple episodes in June and July.

Akbar's full name is Akbar Olúwakẹ́mi Ìdòwú Gbàjà Bíàmílà. Akbar is Arabic and means "greatest". His middle and last names are of the Yoruba language. The middle name, "Olúwakẹ́mi" means "God takes care of me" and "Ìdòwú" is a name given to a child born after twins. (One of his older brothers is Kabeer Gbaja Biamila who was also a pro football player.) Their last name, Gbàjà Bíàmílà, or Gbaja Biamila means "One who, while fighting, pretends to be separating a fight." This name comes from his paternal great great grandfather who was 7 feet (2 m) tall and was the village moderator in his Nigerian village.

Akbar is married and has four children. His wife is Chrystal Gbajabiamila. His ancestry is Nigerian of Yoruba ethnicity. Both of his parents were Muslim, until his mother converted to Christianity. He was raised in a Sunni Muslim household but converted to Christianity while in college. In 2000, his father, Mustapha, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In 2002, his mother, Bolatito, died in a car crash. While a member of the Chargers in 2006, Akbar routinely drove back and forth from San Diego to Los Angeles to spend time with his father.

Gbaja Biamila currently serves as a board member for the Asomugha Foundation, an organization aimed at creating better educational opportunities for impoverished communities.