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by | Mar 29, 2018 | Tellima

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Donald Amechi Igwebuike // ⓘ(born December 27, 1960) is a Nigerian-born former American football kicker who played professionally for the National Football League (NFL)'s Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1985 to 1989.[1] He was selected by the Buccaneers in the tenth round of the 1985 NFL Draft.[2] He is the seventh place all-time scorer for the Buccaneers with 416 overall points.[3] Often kicking barefoot, Igwebuike also played for the 1990 Minnesota Vikings and in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Baltimore Stallions in 1994 and the Memphis Mad Dogs in 1995. Earlier, he attended Clemson University and was brought on as the kicker for the football team on the recommendation of his childhood friend and graduating Clemson kicker Obed Ariri. He agreed to join the team as long as he could continue playing for the soccer team, and took a football scholarship to save the soccer team a slot. His first attempt, a 52-yarder, was during the first American football game he had ever attended.[4] He started as the kicker for the Tigers' 1981 national championship team.

In November 1990, Igwebuike was indicted by a federal grand jury on felony charges that he assisted a $1 million heroin smuggling plot.[5] He was acquitted in April 1991.[6]

Personal life

Igwebuike is a first cousin, once removed to Pittsburgh Steelers running back Godwin Igwebuike.

References

  1. ^ "Donald Igwebuike Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  2. ^ "1985 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  3. ^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers Career Scoring Summary Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  4. ^ Wertheim, Jon (July 22, 2020). "NFL Kicker Donald Igwebuike: 30 Years After Unusual Saga". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Viking Place-Kicker Is Indicted on Heroin-Smuggling Charges
  6. ^ "Igwebuike acquitted of drug smuggling". The New York Times. April 16, 1991. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.


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