Oday Aboushi
Oday Aboushi | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 5, 1991 Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Former American football offensive guard |
| Years active | 2013–2022 |
| Known for | NFL player for New York Jets, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams |
Oday Aboushi (born June 5, 1991) is a former American football offensive guard of Palestinian-American descent. He played collegiate football at the University of Virginia before being chosen by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft. Throughout his professional career, Aboushi also had stints with the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, and Los Angeles Rams.
Early life
Aboushi was born in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. He attended Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, where he was a member of the school's football team.
College career
From 2009 through 2012, Aboushi played for the Virginia Cavaliers football squad at the University of Virginia. During his tenure, he started in 37 out of 43 games and earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as a senior in 2012.
New York Jets
Selected 141st overall in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft by the New York Jets, Aboushi inked a four-year rookie deal on May 10, 2013; contract details were not publicly disclosed.
He did not appear in any games during his initial season. The following year, Aboushi started ten contests after stepping in for an injured starter.
In August 2015, he was suspended without pay for one game—resulting in a loss of approximately $34,400—for breaching the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy. The Jets released him on September 15, 2015, immediately after his suspension concluded.
Houston Texans
The day after his release from the Jets, on September 16, 2015, Aboushi was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans.
Seattle Seahawks
Aboushi signed with the Seattle Seahawks on March 17, 2017. He started eight games at right guard before suffering a dislocated shoulder in Week 15, which led to his placement on injured reserve on December 13, 2017.
Oakland Raiders
On July 28, 2018, Aboushi joined the Oakland Raiders, reconnecting with offensive line coach Tom Cable. However, he was released on September 1, 2018.
Arizona Cardinals
Aboushi signed with the Arizona Cardinals on October 23, 2018.
Detroit Lions
On March 14, 2019, Aboushi agreed to a one-year contract worth $2 million with the Detroit Lions. He re-signed with Detroit on March 27, 2020; although released during final roster cuts on September 5, he was re-signed by the team the next day. During Week 2 of that season, he incurred a $5,221 fine from the NFL for unnecessary roughness.
Los Angeles Chargers
Aboushi signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on March 20, 2021, and was designated as the starting right guard for that season. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in Week 5 and was subsequently placed on injured reserve on October 12, ending his season prematurely.
Los Angeles Rams
Aboushi became a member of the Los Angeles Rams practice squad on September 14, 2022, and was elevated to the main roster just six days afterward. On December 26, he faced a one-game suspension due to an altercation after a game involving Randy Gregory, but this suspension was rescinded the following day.
Personal life
Born as the ninth child among ten siblings, Aboushi's parents are Palestinian immigrants from Beit Hanina, a district in East Jerusalem. His sister is Tahanie Aboushi, a civil rights attorney and candidate for Manhattan District Attorney representing the Democratic Party. Proficient in both English and Arabic, he stands out as one of the few active Muslim players in the NFL and maintained his Ramadan fasting while training at Virginia. In 2011, he was recognized by the U.S. Department of State alongside eleven other Muslim athletes for their achievements. Aboushi holds the distinction of being among the earliest Palestinian athletes to compete in NFL history.
On July 12, 2013, the Jewish organization Anti-Defamation League publicly supported Aboushi against unfounded claims branding him as a 'Muslim extremist,' clarifying that embracing Palestinian identity should not be equated with extremism or anti-Semitism.
See also
External links
- Living people
- 1991 births
- American football offensive tackles
- American football offensive guards
- American people of Palestinian descent
- Muslims from New York (state)
- Players of American football from Brooklyn
- Xaverian High School alumni
- Virginia Cavaliers football players
- New York Jets players
- Houston Texans players
- Seattle Seahawks players
- Oakland Raiders players
- Arizona Cardinals players
- Detroit Lions players
- Los Angeles Chargers players
- Los Angeles Rams players