Former Kenyan NFL Player Daniel Adongo Deported from US Over Visa Overstay

NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Kenyan rugby international and ex-National Football League (NFL) player Daniel Adongo has been deported from the United States after immigration authorities found that he had overstayed his visa and cited his criminal record as grounds for removal.

According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Adongo, 37, was removed from the United States on June 20, 2026, following an order issued by a U.S. Department of Justice immigration judge in March 2026. The agency said Adongo had remained in the country after his visa expired in 2016, nearly a year after his NFL career came to an end.

ICE said Adongo's removal was also based on his criminal history in the United States, including a 2020 conviction for criminal mischief involving property damage, for which he was sentenced to nearly one year in jail. The agency also cited previous arrests on allegations including felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct, although it did not state that those arrests resulted in convictions.

"This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he's been removed. Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes," ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson said in a statement.

ICE said Adongo was detained under provisions of the Laken Riley Act, legislation that requires immigration authorities to detain certain undocumented immigrants charged with or convicted of specified offences while removal proceedings are underway.

From Kenyan rugby star to NFL history-maker

Adongo's story was once celebrated as one of the most remarkable journeys in international sport.

Born in Nairobi, he first made his name in Kenyan rugby before earning a place with South African Super Rugby franchise the Southern Kings. His athleticism caught the attention of NFL scouts despite having no previous experience in American football.

In 2013, Adongo signed with the Indianapolis Colts through the NFL's international player development programme, becoming one of the few Kenyan-born athletes to reach the league. After converting from rugby to American football, he played as a linebacker and appeared in five NFL games across the 2013 and 2014 seasons before leaving the franchise in 2015.

His rapid rise from rugby fields in Kenya to one of the world's biggest sporting leagues was widely hailed as an inspiration for aspiring African athletes.

Career overshadowed by legal troubles

After leaving professional football, Adongo remained in the United States, where he later encountered a series of legal problems.

According to ICE, he overstayed his visa after it expired in 2016 and accumulated several encounters with law enforcement over the following years. His 2020 criminal mischief conviction ultimately became a significant factor in his immigration proceedings.

An immigration judge ordered his removal in March 2026, and ICE executed the deportation three months later.

A cautionary end to a remarkable sporting journey

Adongo's deportation marks a dramatic turn for an athlete who once symbolised the growing opportunities for African sportsmen beyond traditional disciplines.

His transition from Kenyan rugby to the NFL remains one of the continent's most unique sporting success stories. However, his post-playing years were marred by legal and immigration challenges that ultimately led to his removal from the United States.

Neither Adongo nor his representatives had publicly commented on the deportation at the time of publication.