Rashaan Salaam
October 8, 1974 - December 5, 2016

Rashaan Iman Salaam was born October 8, 1974, in San Diego, California to Khalada Salaam-Alaji and Sultan Abdus-Salaam. He was a devoted older brother to Jabali Rafiq Alaji. Rashaan received his formal education at Community Preparatory School, Bell Junior High School and La Jolla Country Day School.
Rashaan developed an early love for football, securing the running back position for the Skyline Tigers Pop Warner Football Team. In high school he played eight man football at La Jolla Country Day winning City and State championships. His excellence academically and on the football field made him a natural recruit directly from high school by the University of Colorado (CU). Rashaan proved to be a record breaking standout resulting in his becoming a runaway winner of the 1994 Heisman. During the same time period he was just the fourth player in collegiate football history to surpass the 2,000-yard mark in rushing. Constantly a record breaker, Rashaan was the overwhelming winner in the voting for the Doak Walker Award, an honor bestowed upon the nations top collegiate running back. Rashaan is still considered to be among the greatest players ever to wear a Colorado uniform. He was inducted into CUs Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012 and was on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame for the first time in 2014.
Rashaan was a first-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears. He played three seasons for the Bears, and was named National Football Conference Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1995. He also played briefly with the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers.
Injuries caused his early retirement, but it did not dampen his spirit of excellence. Rashaan co-founded the Art of War a mixed martial arts company in The Republic of China, where he travelled often. He was involved in other national and international business enterprises. In addition to his entrepreneurial success Rashers true passion was to give back to the youth. In 2011, Rashaan developed the Serving People In Need Foundation (SPIN), its focus was to empower youth by developing leadership skills through athletic activities.
Rashaan Iman Salaam was a man who was loved by many and will be truly missed.
Rashaan departed this life on December 5, 2016. He is survived by his mother, Khalada Salaam-Alaji, step-father Hakim Alaji ; father, Sultan Abdus-Salaam and step-mother Baheejah Abdus-Salaam; and siblings, Jabali Alaji and Atiya Henry. Uncle Phillip Shelley, Aunt LaVonda McIntyre, and a host of cousin, other relatives, and friends.
Good Friends, Greg Morrissey of Chicago, Erika Holmes, T.J. Cunningham and Shelley Martin of Colorado. Erik Norwood, and all of the Skyline and Brookhaven Families

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