Biography
Nnamdi Asomugha (born July 6, 1981) is a former All-Pro NFL defensive back hailing from Los Angeles, California. He launched his professional football career with the Oakland Raiders after being selected in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. A four-time All-Pro, Asomugha became one of the league’s premier defensive backs, earning starting spots in the Pro Bowls of 2008, 2009, and 2010. During the 2011 offseason, he was regarded as the top free agent available and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated following his signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. On December 27, 2013, he signed a one-day contract with the Oakland Raiders to retire after 11 NFL seasons. Before entering the NFL, Asomugha excelled as a free safety at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a degree in corporate finance.
Asomugha made his acting debut in 2008 on the CW sitcom The Game. In 2009, he portrayed Ken Shaw in the season premiere of Friday Night Lights Season 4, titled East of Dillon. In 2010, he guest-starred as Walle in the TNT drama Leverage’s Season 3 episode, The Scheherazade Job. In fall 2012, he appeared in his first feature film, Fire with Fire, alongside Bruce Willis, Josh Duhamel, and Rosario Dawson. He also wrote, produced, and starred in his first short film, Double Negative, released in 2013.
Nnamdi serves as chairman of the Asomugha Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit he established with his family. The foundation supports two primary initiatives: the Asomugha College Tour for Scholars (ACTS) and Orphans and Widows in Need (OWIN). ACTS is an 18-month mentorship program where Asomugha personally leads a group of high-achieving high school students on an all-expenses-paid trip to visit colleges and universities in a selected city. After returning, the students participate in leadership, civic, and humanitarian activities, emphasizing that true success includes giving back. OWIN, founded by Asomugha’s mother, Dr. Lilian Asomugha, aims to empower widows and orphans in Africa through education, spiritual support, and vocational training to achieve economic independence.
