JULY 3, 1993

BELIZIAN GARIFUNA NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NFL) TACKLE RAKEEM NUNEZ-ROCHES BORN

Rakeem, born in Dangriga, Belize, migrated with his family to Alabama (AL) at age 8. Playing football at Central High School, Phenix City, AL, he recorded 132 career tackles, 17 sacks, 4 fumbles, was Second-team All-Area and an AL Top 50 player. Attending University of Southern AL (USA) from 2011-14 and majoring in Biological Sciences, Nuñez-Roches made the Conference USA All-Freshman team. In 4 seasons at USA, he recorded 110 tackles (49 solo & 23 for a loss) 5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles (FF). Entering the 2015 NFL Draft, Rakeem, drafted in the 6^th Round by the Kansas City (KC) Chiefs, became the 1^st Belizean born player drafted in the NFL. From 2015-17, Nuñez-Roches played in 34 games with KC, starting in 16. Released in May of 2018, he played from 2018-22 for the Tampa Bay (TB) Buccaneers appearing in 68 games, starting in 22. In 2020, he was a member of the TB team that won Super Bowl LV.  On March 17, 2023, Nuñez-Roches signed a 3-year, $12 million contract with the New York Giants.

Sources: 

Wellington C. Ramos, “Rakeem Nunez Roches became the first Garifuna Belizean American to win a Super Bowl Championship,” The San Pedro Sun, 2/8/2021.  Retrieved 4/6/2023, Rakeem Nunez Roches became the first Garifuna Belizean American to win a Super Bowl Championship - The San Pedro Sun

Wikipedia

Photo:  Jeffrey Beall, 12/31/2017. Permissive Use.