Former Kenyan National Football League (NFL) player Daniel Adongo has been deported from the United States after overstaying his visa and facing multiple criminal charges, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The 37-year-old, who played as a linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, was removed from the US on June 20, 2026, after receiving a deportation order on March 23, 2026. ICE announced the deportation in a statement released on Saturday.
Visa Overstay and Criminal Charges
According to ICE, Adongo remained in the United States after his visa expired in 2016, the same year his NFL career came to an end.
The agency said he had been arrested several times over the past decade. The reported offences include felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct.
ICE described Adongo as a “dangerous individual” and said his removal made the community safer.
“Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes,” ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson said.
Rise from Rugby to the NFL
Adongo gained international attention in 2013 when he transitioned from rugby to American football despite having no previous experience in the sport.
His remarkable journey earned him a place with the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent two seasons before leaving the league in 2015.
Mental Health Concerns
Following his football career, Adongo faced legal and mental health challenges.
The Indianapolis Star previously reported that he spent time in a psychiatric hospital. His mother and lawyers reportedly said he struggled with mental illness and injuries, which they believed may have been linked to his athletic career.
In 2017, a judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation after Adongo was charged with intimidation and criminal mischief. He was later found incompetent to stand trial and admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
Court proceedings were delayed several times after he failed additional psychiatric evaluations.
Prison Sentence and Deportation
ICE said Adongo was convicted of criminal mischief involving property damage in 2020. He received a sentence of 364 days in prison.
The agency also said his most recent charges fell under the Laken Riley Act, a US law signed by President Donald Trump in January 2025. The law requires undocumented immigrants arrested for theft or violent offences to remain in custody while awaiting trial.
ICE did not disclose where Adongo was deported. The former athlete has not publicly commented on the allegations or his removal from the United States.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, more than 40 Kenyan nationals have been arrested by ICE as part of immigration enforcement operations.
