Salaam was born in San Diego, California,[2] the son of former Cincinnati Bengals running back Teddy Washington (later Sulton Salaam, after converting to Islam).[3] He was a practicing Muslim.[4] He attended La Jolla Country Day School in suburban San Diego,[5] and played eight-man football. He ran for over 100 yards in every game except against Christian High of El Cajon, coached by Dale Peterson. He was recognized as a high school All-American. He was later inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame.[6]
College career
Salaam attended the University of Colorado, where he played for the Colorado Buffaloes football team from 1992 to 1994. As a junior in 1994, Salaam had one of the best individual seasons in college football history, rushing for a school-record 2,055 yards and becoming only the fourth college running back to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He also amassed 24 touchdowns and helped lead Colorado to an 11–1 record, including a 41–24 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 1995 Fiesta Bowl, and a No. 3 finish in the final Associated Press Poll. The Buffaloes' only loss of the season was to the Big Eight Conference rival Nebraska Cornhuskers, which finished undefeated and ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and United Press International polls at season's end. Salaam had four consecutive 200-yard rushing games during the season, his best effort coming against the Texas Longhorns, when he set a school record with 362 yards total offense in a 34–31 Colorado win in Austin. He was a unanimous All-American and winner of the Heisman Trophy in December, beating out running back Ki-Jana Carter of Penn State and quarterbacks Steve McNair of Alcorn State and Kerry Collins of Penn State.[7] Salaam also won the Walter Camp Award and Doak Walker Award.[8][9][1]
The Chicago Bears selected Salaam in the first round, with the 21st overall selection, of the 1995 NFL draft.[11][12] He played for the Bears from 1995 to 1997.[2] As a rookie, he rushed for 1,074 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.[11][13] However, he also lost 9 fumbles and averaged just 3.6 yards per carry. Problems with injuries, fumbles, and marijuana use[14] led him to spend only three years with the Bears. During his two final years with Chicago, Salaam mustered only 608 combined yards.[15] The Bears traded Salaam to the Miami Dolphins before the 1998 season, but the trade was undone when Salaam failed a physical examination with Miami.[16][1] Salaam spent 1999 with the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers, but only played in two games for the Browns that year.[13]
Salaam briefly played in the XFL for the Memphis Maniax in 2001,[17] but injury cut his season short and the league folded after one season. He finished the year with 528 yards gained.[18]
Salaam launched what appeared to be a final attempt at an NFL career in 2002, beginning with a much publicized training at the Cris Carter Speed School.[19] He was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers in 2003 but subsequently let go in August, in the second-to-last round of cuts, despite receiving accolades from then 49ers head coach Dennis Erickson.[20]
Salaam was found dead on December 5, 2016, in a park in Boulder, Colorado. An autopsy was performed because authorities found a note near the body and were investigating it as a possible suicide.[21][22]
On December 29, it was confirmed that the manner of death was suicide, specifically a gunshot wound to the head, in a report released by the Boulder County coroner's office.[23] Salaam's blood-alcohol content was reportedly three times the legal driving limit and he had THC in his system.[24][1]
Salaam's family did not consent to neuropathological tests that would have revealed whether he had previously sustained chronic head trauma, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. They declined[25] to have his brain tested to determine whether his depression[1] had been linked to such injuries from his days as a player.[26]
