Gibran Hamdan

Infobox NFLactive


width=
caption=Gibran Hamdan signing the game ball after a 35-31 victory over Rhein Fire in week 5 of the 2006 season.
currentteam=Buffalo Bills
currentnumber=10
currentposition=Quarterback
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|2|8
birthplace=San Diego, California
heightft=6
heightin=4
weight=220
debutyear=2003
debutteam=Washington Redskins
highlights=
* NFL Europe Offensive MVP (2006)
college=Indiana
draftyear=2003
draftround=7
draftpick=232
pastteams=
* Washington Redskins (2003-2004)
* Amsterdam Admirals (2004-2006)
* Seattle Seahawks (2005-2006) *
* San Francisco 49ers (2006) *
* Miami Dolphins (2007) *
* Buffalo Bills (2007-present):*Inactive and/or practice squad member only
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=TD-INT
statvalue1=0-0
statlabel2=Passing yards
statvalue2=7
statlabel3=QB Rating
statvalue3=58.3
nfl=HAM142624

Gibran Latif Hamdan (born February 8, 1981 in San Diego, California) is a professional American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana.

Personal

Growing up in North Potomac, Maryland, Hamdan attended Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School and was a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball.

His mother was a 16-year-old from Pakistan when she married his father, a Palestinian territories-born nuclear engineer who attended the University of Illinois but met her on a business trip. Hamdan was born in San Diego, but his family moved to Kuwait when he was three.

The family -- which includes his younger brother, Bush -- was on vacation back in San Diego when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1991, destroying the family home and possessions. The Hamdans stayed in the U.S., and his mother took a job cutting hair until the family eventually settled in Potomac, Md.

Hamdan's parents still live in the Washington, D.C., area, and his father works for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. His brother Bush is a junior reserve quarterback at Boise State University.

High school career

Hamdan attended Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. As the football team's starting quarterback, he led the Northern Virginia area in passing yards, becoming Virginia Independent Schools Player of the Year and earning first-team all-league and district honors. Hamdan also was a starting center for the school’s basketball team. Played baseball for the 15-and-under U.S. National Baseball team.

College career

Hamdan attended Indiana University where he posted 2,115 yards and nine touchdowns during his senior year for the Indiana Hoosiers. His yardage total was seventh-best in Indiana history. He was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week for his 24-of-36, 310-yard and career-high four touchdown performance in 32-29 win over Wisconsin. Hamdan also played baseball at Indiana.

Professional career

Hamdan was originally a seventh-round (232nd overall) by the Washington Redskins in the 2003 NFL Draft. Though he was impressive in training camp, the team originally decided to keep just two quarterbacks entering the regular season. He was on the team's practice squad the first ten weeks of his rookie season before being signed to the active roster. Hamdan made his NFL debut on December 27 against the Philadelphia Eagles, going 1-for-2 for seven yards.

Hamdan played in NFL Europa in the spring of 2004, where he was backup quarterback behind third year NFL Europe veteran Clint Stoerner. Was released by the Redskins in September following training camp. He was out of the league until 2005 when he was signed by the Seattle Seahawks and once again allocated to NFL Europa. Though originally winning the starting quarterback job for the Amsterdam Admirals over Kurt Kittner, a broken collarbone cut short Hamdan's season. In the 4 games he started he posted 39 completions out of 75 attempts for a total of 556 yards, 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He was once again released at the conclusion of training camp.

In January 2006, Hamdan was re-signed by the Seahawks and allocated to NFL Europa for the third straight year. A broken ankle injury incurred on the first down of the first drive of game 7 cut short his season once again, Hamdan was the league's leading passer and earned Offensive Most Valuable Player honors. He started 7 games and posted 102 completions out 162 attempts for a total of 1629 yards, 12 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, posting a perfect passer rating in the 3rd game [http://images.nfl.com/images/nfleurope/stats/2006/04012006_fra_ams_stats.pdf] [http://www.nfleurope.com/news/story/9357025] of the season against Frankfurt Galaxy. He holds the record for average passer rating for the season in NFL Europe at 113.4. This would not be enough to make the Seahawks however, as he was waived on August 28, 2006.

The San Francisco 49ers claimed Hamdan off waivers but released him a few days later. On September 3, he was signed to the 49ers' practice squad. Due to an injury to starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, the Seahawks elected to re-sign Hamdan to their active roster on October 24 to provide depth. He was inactive for six games with the Seahawks before being released on December 5 and added to the team's practice squad.

After Hamdan's contract with the Seahawks expired in January, he was signed to a future contract with the Miami Dolphins on February 6, 2007. He was released at the conclusion of the preseason on September 1. On September 26, the Buffalo Bills signed Hamdan to their practice squad after an injury to starting quarterback J. P. Losman. The Bills released Craig Nall and promoted Hamdan the teams 3rd QB on October 19. Due to injury of 2nd string QB Trent Edwards, Hamdan was promoted to backup quarterback for the game between the Bills and the Bengals on November 4, 2007

External links

* [http://www.buffalobills.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=122771 Buffalo Bills Bio]
* [http://www.hamdanfootball.com/ Hamdan Football Camps]