# Akbar Gbaja-Biamila
**Akbar Gbaja-Biamila** (full name Akbar Oluwakemi-Idowu Gbaja-Biamila) is an American television host and former [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) linebacker and defensive end who is best known as the longtime co-host of NBC's competition series "American Ninja Warrior" and a host of CBS's daytime talk show "The Talk".[1](https://thetvdb.com/people/8002179-akbar-gbajabiamila) • [2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) He played five seasons in the NFL with the [Oakland Raiders](https://www.edgepedia.org/oakland-raiders), San Diego Chargers, and [Miami Dolphins](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-dolphins) before retiring in 2008, then built a second career in sports broadcasting and television hosting.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Akbar Oluwakemi-Idowu Gbaja-Biamila[1](https://thetvdb.com/people/8002179-akbar-gbajabiamila) |
| Born | May 6; Los Angeles native who grew up in the Crenshaw district[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) |
| NFL career | Five years as a linebacker and defensive end with the Raiders, Chargers, and Dolphins, 2003 to 2008[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) • [3](https://www.nfl.com/players/akbar-gbaja-biamila/stats/career) |
| Career statistics | 31 games, 19 total tackles, 2 sacks[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/akbar-gbaja-biamila/stats/career) |
| College | San Diego State University, degree in communications and new media studies[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) |
| Broadcasting | NFL Network analyst from 2012; co-host of "American Ninja Warrior" and "Good Morning Football"[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) |
| Author | "Everyone Can Be a Ninja: Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams" (2019)[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) |
## Early life and college
Gbaja-Biamila was born on May 6 and grew up in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles with his parents, both of whom were born and raised in Nigeria, and six siblings.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) He played college football at [San Diego State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-diego-state-university), where he was a team captain as a senior, and graduated with a degree in communications and new media studies.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) • [4](https://storage.googleapis.com/sdsu-prod/2024/06/21/TEl5EaytPsCe1048PZgQz7wnkVz0MMijFQKQ1veC.pdf) In 2005 he completed a certified entrepreneurship program at the Wharton School of Business.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila)
He is the younger brother of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the [Green Bay Packers](https://www.edgepedia.org/green-bay-packers) defensive end, and the two brothers are San Diego State alumni whose on-field records have led SDSU writers to call them one of the school's notable sibling duos.[5](https://aztecsforlife.com/warriors/sdsu-football/kabeer-and-akbar-gbaja-biamila/)
## NFL career
During a five-year NFL career spent at linebacker and defensive end, Gbaja-Biamila appeared for the Oakland Raiders, the [San Diego Chargers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-diego-chargers), and the Miami Dolphins, stepping away from the sport in 2008.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) League records list him with the Raiders at defensive end and linebacker in 2003 and 2004.[6](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2024/LV.pdf)
His statistical career was modest. NFL.com's career log shows 31 games played across four recorded seasons: 13 games with the Raiders in 2003, 14 in 2004, 3 with the Chargers in 2006, and 1 with the Dolphins in 2007, with career totals of 19 tackles, 6 assists, 2 sacks, and 2 passes defended.[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/akbar-gbaja-biamila/stats/career)
## Broadcasting and television career
**Early broadcast work.** While still playing for the Chargers, Gbaja-Biamila contributed to KSWB, an NBC radio affiliate in San Diego, and co-hosted "Football Night in San Diego" from 2007 to 2008. After retiring, he served as an analyst for the Mountain Network and [CBS Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/cbs-sports) before joining the [NFL Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/nfl-network) in 2012.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila)
**American Ninja Warrior.** Gbaja-Biamila is a long-standing host of NBC's "American Ninja Warrior," co-hosting alongside [Matt Iseman](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-iseman), and the two have also appeared together in related programming and interviews across the show's many seasons.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/Akbar-Gbajabiamila/) His commentary drew wide attention in 2014 when gymnast [Kacy Catanzaro](https://www.edgepedia.org/kacy-catanzaro) became the first woman to qualify for the show's final round; he said of her run, "I've seen greatness during my NFL career... and I am really in awe of Kacy."[8](https://time.com/2992359/first-woman-american-ninja-warrior-kacy-catanzaro/)
**The Talk and return to NFL Network.** Gbaja-Biamila serves as host of "The Talk," CBS's Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show, alongside Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O'Connell, and [Sheryl Underwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/sheryl-underwood).[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) He also appeared on the reality series "Fight to Survive" on [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw) and the Roku Channel, and returned to the NFL Network as a host of "Good Morning Football" with Jamie Erdahl, Kyle Brandt, and Peter Schrager, making his debut on the show in July 2024.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) • [9](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621237020) He has been described in podcast coverage as an Emmy-nominated television host.[10](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-nfl-to-tv-stardom-akbar-gbajabiamila-on-identity/id1768651631?i=1000745047718)
## Writing, producing, and philanthropy
Gbaja-Biamila became a published author in 2019 with his debut book, "Everyone Can Be a Ninja: Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams."[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) He also executive produced the 2020 award-winning film "Sylvie's Love."[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila)
His community work includes founding Rush the Passer, a year-round athletic, academic, and life skills program for youth in [Southern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/southern-california), and serving on the boards of the Asomugha Foundation, which creates educational opportunities for impoverished communities, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila) He has more recently launched the podcast "One54 Africa," dedicated to telling stories from across the [African diaspora](https://www.edgepedia.org/african-diaspora).[10](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-nfl-to-tv-stardom-akbar-gbajabiamila-on-identity/id1768651631?i=1000745047718)
Gbaja-Biamila resides in Los Angeles with his wife, four children, and two dogs.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila)
## References
1. [Akbar Gbajabiamila, TheTVDB](https://thetvdb.com/people/8002179-akbar-gbajabiamila)
2. [Akbar Gbajabiamila bio, Paramount Press Express / CBS Entertainment](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=akbar-gbajabiamila)
3. [Akbar Gbaja-Biamila Career Stats, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/akbar-gbaja-biamila/stats/career)
4. [San Diego State Football game notes (2022)](https://storage.googleapis.com/sdsu-prod/2024/06/21/TEl5EaytPsCe1048PZgQz7wnkVz0MMijFQKQ1veC.pdf)
5. [Kabeer and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, Aztecs For Life, SDSU](https://aztecsforlife.com/warriors/sdsu-football/kabeer-and-akbar-gbaja-biamila/)
6. [All-Time Raiders, NFL media guide (2024)](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2024/LV.pdf)
7. [Akbar Gbajabiamila, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/Akbar-Gbajabiamila/)
8. [Watch This Woman Completely Own the American Ninja Warrior Course, Time](https://time.com/2992359/first-woman-american-ninja-warrior-kacy-catanzaro/)
9. [Akbar Gbajabiamila, Apple Snapshot](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621237020)
10. [From NFL to TV Stardom: Akbar Gbajabiamila, We're Out of Time podcast, Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-nfl-to-tv-stardom-akbar-gbajabiamila-on-identity/id1768651631?i=1000745047718)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Defensive ends › Retired and historical defensive ends*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license