Troubled former NFL linebacker Daniel Adongo

The Indianapolis Colts took a flyer on an spectacular athlete from Kenya 13 years in the past, but a story that started with an inspirational backdrop has taken an more and more acquainted flip: Daniel Adongo was deported from the United States last month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed.

According to ICE, Adongo, 37, overstayed his visa after his temporary NFL profession ended in 2015 and he remained in Indiana. The former linebacker and African rugby star was arrested a number of occasions over the past 9 years for crimes including felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct. He also confirmed indicators of mental sickness, according to court data.

“This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he’s been removed,” ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson said in a assertion. “Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes.”

Adongo was launched by the Colts after taking part in in two video games in 2013 and three in 2015, principally on particular groups. The workforce cut ties with him after police had been called to a home in Fishers, Ind., to verify on a lady who lived with Adongo.

According to a police report, the girl’s pal contacted law enforcement. Adongo was not at the residence at the time, and the girl declined medical help. The Hamilton County prosecutor’s workplace reviewed the case and didn’t charge Adongo.

However, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Adongo started exhibiting more and more erratic conduct. In 2017, an Indiana decide discovered him mentally incompetent to stand trial in a prison case in which he was charged with intimidation and prison mischief and ordered him dedicated to a state psychiatric hospital for analysis and commentary, according to the Indianapolis Star.

The only crime Adongo has been convicted of is a prison mischief misdemeanor in 2020 for which he was sentenced to 364 days in jail, according to ICE. Other fees for intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct had been dismissed.

Judges twice discovered Adongo incompetent to stand trial, according to court filings, including one case in which an professional witness testified that Adongo was acutely psychotic and presumably suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy — mind trauma — from taking part in soccer and rugby.

Members of Adongo’s household described in court filings a dramatic character change in him after his taking part in profession ended and expressed concern that he struggled to access mental health treatment.

ICE held Adongo without bond for a number of months under the Laken Riley Act, a federal law signed Jan. 29, 2025, that requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain undocumented immigrants without bond when arrested for particular crimes. He was deported one month in the past.

Adongo was the first of two Kenyans to play in the NFL. The second was guard Rees Odhiambo, who performed in 16 video games from 2016 to 2018 for the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.