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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported former Indianapolis Colts player Daniel Adongo, who briefly played in the National Football League, after he violated a previous order to leave the United States.
As reported by FOX 59, 37-year-old Daniel Ogama Adongo was deported by ICE officers in Chicago last month following a string of arrests and off-field issues both during and after his NFL career. In an announcement, the federal agency shared that Adongo had overstayed his 2016 visa he used after his NFL career ended in 2015.
Adongo, standing at 6-foot-5, was a former rugby player in Kenya who made the transition to American football with the Colts in the summer of 2013. Indianapolis signed him to its practice squad, despite him not having any experience playing football, giving him a shot at off-ball linebacker.
After spending several months on the Colts’ practice squad, Adongo was added to the 53-man roster late in the 2013 NFL season and made his debut on Dec. 8 on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. According to Pro Football Reference, he played in five games over two seasons with 100 snaps coming on special teams and just a single snap with the Colts’ defense.
Following multiple stints on the practice squad and active roster, he was waived by the team on Dec. 17, 2015, following allegations of domestic violence and two police calls to investigate alleged incidents. The first alleged incident occurred on Oct. 24, with the second taking place on Dec. 10, with the subsequent call leading to his release.
“This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he’s been removed. Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes.”
ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson in a statement on the deportation of former Indianapolis Colts player Daniel Adongo
Adongo’s family later reported having multiple concerns about their son’s behavior and mental health following his NFL career. In May, the Indianapolis Star reported that he had been in ICE custody for months in Indiana. In that report, Dr. Jason Jaronik noted concerns about the former Colts linebacker being “acutely psychotic” and potentially dealing with the effects of a traumatic brain injury. From 2015–2023, there were multiple alleged instances of domestic violence and threats made to both an Uber driver and a police officer.
Following the most recent criminal charges filed under the Laken Riley Act, requiring detention for specific crimes of any migrants who are in the United States illegally, Adongo previously had been arrested for felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct well before a Department of Justice immigration judge ordered his removal from the country in March. According to FOX News, Adongo was deported on June 20.
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