Former NFL linebacker deported to Kenya after decade of legal troubles
US immigration authorities have deported Daniel Adongo, a 37-year-old former Indianapolis Colts linebacker, following years of legal troubles and visa violations.
ICE confirmed Adongo overstayed his visa in 2016, a year after his NFL career ended.
Describing him as a “dangerous individual,” the agency said he was removed from the country on June 20, more than two months after being ordered to leave.
Originally a rugby player from Kenya, Adongo made headlines in 2013 when he switched to American football despite never having played the sport before. His NFL stint lasted two years.
But his post-football life took a darker turn. According to ICE, Adongo was arrested multiple times over the past decade on charges including felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct.
In 2020, he was convicted of criminal mischief and sentenced to 364 days in prison.
Court records also show he spent time in a psychiatric hospital, with his mother and lawyers attributing his struggles to mental illness and injuries from his athletic career.
ICE’s Chicago assistant field office director Douglas Thompson stated: “Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes. This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community.”
Adongo has not commented on the allegations, and his current location remains unclear.
