{{Short description|Canadian and American football player (born 1979)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox gridiron football person | name = Alain Kashama | image = Quick Release (1803143988) (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = Kashama in 2007 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|12|8}} | birth_place = Zaire | death_date = | death_place = | number = 97 | import = no | position1 = Defensive end | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lb = 270 | college = Michigan | high_school = Bramalea Secondary School, Brampton | CFLDraftedYear = 2004 | CFLDraftedRound = 1 | CFLDraftedPick = 8 | playing_years1 = {{NFL Year|2004}} | playing_team1 = Chicago Bears | playing_years2 = {{NFL Year|2005}} | playing_team2 = Seattle Seahawks | playing_years3 = 2006 | playing_team3 = Cologne Centurions | playing_years4 = {{CFL Year|2006}}–{{CFL Year|2008}} | playing_team4 = Montreal Alouettes | playing_years5 = {{CFL Year|2008}} | playing_team5 = Hamilton Tiger-Cats | playing_years6 = {{CFL Year|2009}} | playing_team6 = Calgary Stampeders | career_highlights = | CFL = 972 }} '''Alain Kaleta Olony T. Kashama''' (born December 8, 1979) is a Canadian former professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines.
Kashama also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Cologne Centurions, Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Calgary Stampeders.
==Early life== Kashama was born in Zaire before moving to Brampton, Ontario and then Montreal, Quebec as a child.<ref name="Slam!" /><ref name="French Two" /> Because of this move, Kashama is fluent in French.<ref name="Slam!" /><ref>{{cite news |date=September 30, 2002 |title=Player Comments from Weekly U-M Football Media Luncheon |publisher=University of Michigan |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/football/article.aspx?id=39656 |accessdate=2009-07-01}}{{Dead link|date=October 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> He played high school football at Vieux Montreal, and recorded over 200 tackles and 50 sacks while being ranked as the second best prep player in Canada.<ref name="Slam!" /> During high school, Kashama also played basketball and ran track.<ref name="Wolverines">{{cite web |title=#95 Alain Kashama |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/football/playerbio.aspx?id=112706 |publisher=University of Michigan |accessdate=2009-07-01}}{{Dead link|date=October 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
Kashama attended the University of Michigan, where he majored in African-American studies.<ref name="Slam!">{{cite news|url=http://www.canoe.com/NFLCanadaNews04/0722.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040824143302/http://www.canoe.com/NFLCanadaNews04/0722.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 24, 2004|title=Montreal's Alain Kashama Among the Canadians Battling For Roster Spots As Training Camp Begins|date=July 22, 2004|publisher=Slam! Sports|access-date=2009-07-01}}</ref> He played in 40 games, starting six<ref name="Slam!" /> for the Wolverines football team.<ref name="French Two">{{cite news|url=http://www2.canoe.com/sports/nouvelles/archives/2007/06/20070620-113400.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119011819/http://www2.canoe.com/sports/nouvelles/archives/2007/06/20070620-113400.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2013|title=Alain Kashama a les outils pour devenir un partant|date=June 20, 2007|publisher=Canoe.ca|language=French|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref> Kashama recorded a total of 48 tackles and six sacks.<ref name="French Two" /> During his first three years at Michigan, Kashama was mainly a backup defensive end playing in pass rushing downs and when others were injured.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/football/article.aspx?id=38738|title=Michigan Player Comments Previewing Houston|date=September 1, 2003|publisher=Michigan Wolverines|accessdate=2009-07-01|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070504055607/http://www.mgoblue.com/football/article.aspx?id=38738|archive-date=2007-05-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, after Shantee Orr declared for the 2003 NFL draft, Kashama was expected to start as a senior.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/content/orrs-decision-leave-should-not-bother-fans|title=Orr's decision to leave should not bother fans|last=Smith|first=Joe|date=January 16, 2003|publisher=The Michigan Daily|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref>
==Career== ===Chicago Bears=== After going undrafted in the 2004 NFL draft, Kashama signed with the Chicago Bears on April 26, 2004.<ref name="BaltSun">{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/cs-2004howthebearswerebuilt,0,7785279.story?page=2|title=How the 2004 Bears were built|date=September 8, 2004|work=The Baltimore Sun|accessdate=2009-07-01|archive-date=2011-06-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604155650/http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/cs-2004howthebearswerebuilt,0,7785279.story?page=2|url-status=dead}}</ref> After his signing, the Bears were reportedly starting to, "envision ways in which Kashama could contribute if he keeps improving at his current rate."<ref name="Tribune">{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/678970611.html?dids=678970611:678970611&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+16%2C+2004&author=DAVID+HAUGH&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Bears+doing+flips+over+Michigan+rookie+end&pqatl=google|title=Bears doing flips over Michigan rookie end|last=Haugh|first=David|date=August 16, 2004|publisher=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=2009-07-01|archive-date=2012-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021070455/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/678970611.html?dids=678970611:678970611&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+16,+2004&author=DAVID+HAUGH&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Bears+doing+flips+over+Michigan+rookie+end&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref> He played in three games for Chicago before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks.<ref name="Stamps">{{cite web|url=http://www.stampeders.com/team/player_roster/career/?id=176|title=#97 Alain Kashama|publisher=Calgary Stampeders|accessdate=2009-07-01|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623095448/http://www.stampeders.com/team/player_roster/career/?id=176|archivedate=23 June 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
===Seattle Seahawks=== After being traded to the Seahawks, Kashama played in one game with Seattle during the 2005 season. He was allocated to NFL Europe in 2006 and played for the Cologne Centurions during the 2006 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-kashaala001 | title=Alain Kashama | publisher=statscrew.com | accessdate=5 October 2024}}</ref> The Seahawks released him on July 31, 2006.<ref name="TiCats">{{cite web|url=http://www.ticats.ca/roster/show/id/972|title=#77 Alain Kashama|publisher=Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club|accessdate=2009-07-01}}{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
===Montreal Alouettes=== Kashama was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2004 CFL draft but opted to sign with the NFL's Chicago Bears.<ref name="French Two" /> In 2007, Kashama led Montreal in sacks<ref name="French One">{{cite news|url=http://www2.canoe.com/sports/nouvelles/football/alouettes/archives/2009/02/20090223-193745.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118175853/http://www2.canoe.com/sports/nouvelles/football/alouettes/archives/2009/02/20090223-193745.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2013|title=Alain Kashama quitte les Alouettes|date=February 23, 2009|publisher=Canoe.ca|language=French|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref> with eight.<ref name="CFL">{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/index.php/roster/show/id/972|title=CFL.ca bio|publisher=Canadian Football League|accessdate=2009-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617180157/http://www.cfl.ca/index.php/roster/show/id/972|archive-date=2008-06-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kashama also recorded 29 tackles for the Alouettes.<ref name="TiCats Trade">{{cite news|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3716513|title=Ticats Acquire Alain Kashama|date=September 10, 2008|publisher=Our Sports Central|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref> On July 21, 2008, it was reported by ''The Montreal Gazette'' that Kashama was to be traded after suffering a knee injury. Jim Popp, the Alouettes general manager shot down the rumors of a possible trade although he did not deny that teams such as the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos were calling.<ref name="French 3">{{cite news|url=http://www.rds.ca/alouettes/chroniques/256129.html|title=Kashama fait encore partie des plans|date=July 21, 2008|publisher=RDS.ca|language=French|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref>
===Hamilton Tiger-Cats=== Kashama was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on September 10, 2008, for a conditional pick in the 2009 CFL draft.<ref name="TiCats Trade" /> With Hamilton he recorded five tackles and one sack.<ref name="TiCats" /><ref name="CFL" />
===Calgary Stampeders=== On February 24, 2009, Kashama signed with the Calgary Stampeders.<ref name="French One" />
==Personal life== Kashama's brother Fernand is his teammate with Calgary while his cousin Tim Biakabutuka was a running back for the Carolina Panthers. His brother Hakeem also played professional football with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.<ref name="Stamps" /> He credits his cousin for getting him interested in football and said that, "I started to play football after he was drafted in 1996."<ref name="French Two" /> Kashama is nicknamed "Sackmaster" by his teammates.<ref name="Slam!" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/node/37506|title='Sackmaster' finally makes impact|last=McCollough|first=J. Brady|date=September 30, 2002|publisher=The Michigan Daily|accessdate=2009-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225082417/http://www.michigandaily.com/node/37506|archive-date=2012-02-25|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.mgoblue.com/football/playerbio.aspx?id=112706 Michigan Wolverines bio]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} *{{commonscatinline}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kashama, Alain}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Players of Canadian football from Brampton Category:American football defensive ends Category:Canadian football defensive linemen Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrants to Canada Category:Black Canadian players of American football Category:Canadian players of American football Category:Black Canadian sportsmen Category:Michigan Wolverines football players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:Seattle Seahawks players Category:Montreal Alouettes players Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players Category:Calgary Stampeders players Category:Players of American football from Quebec Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo players of Canadian football Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo players of American football Alain Category:Canadian people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Category:Players of American football from Ontario Category:Cégep du Vieux Montréal alumni Category:Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe) players