Adongo makes NFL debut but Colts fall

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Daniel Adongo, (right #46) with teammates during practice at the NFL team's football training camp in Anderson, Indiana, on July 29, 2013.

What you need to know:

  • The former rugby star only became active on the Colts’ 53-man roster over the weekend, and the linebacker did his best to help his new club on his debut by claiming one kick-off return during the game
  • Adongo came to the Colts from the Southern Kings, the South African Super Rugby franchise for whom he played as a backup lock-flanker in a handful of games this year

Daniel Adongo made history by becoming the first Kenyan to make an appearance in American Football League’s NFL but could do nothing to stop his club Indianapolis Colts from losing 42-28 to Cincinnati.

The former rugby star only became active on the Colts’ 53-man roster over the weekend, and the linebacker did his best to help his new club on his debut by claiming one kick-off return during the game.

Adongo’s Colts however fell behind by 14 points at halftime, a margin that grew to 21 points before the offense roared to life. Still, four touchdowns in the final 30 minutes could not rescue the day as Cincinnati grew its lead back to 21 before winning.

At 1.96 meters, 117 kilograms, Adongo was such an intriguing prospect that his club signed him in July just before training camp opened even though he had never played American football, and the 24 year old did much to suggest that he could become a household in the game soon.

“The day he got here he was like crawling, and now he’s up and walking, running as a toddler, Now he’s looking at all the defenses, looking at special teams. Studying guys’ body types and different pass rush moves to get on them, just learning everything he can about the game and it’s so exciting to see.

He has his notebook in front of him, he has his iPad in front of him, he’s looking at stuff. The guy is being a technician to the game.

And that’s what I love to see because it’s going to transition on the field.” teammate Cory Reading talked of Adongo in the run up to this match.

Adongo came to the Colts from the Southern Kings, the South African Super Rugby franchise for whom he played as a backup lock-flanker in a handful of games this year.

He played in South Africa’s second-tier championship in the first halves of 2011 and 2012 before playing in New Zealand’s ITM Cup competition for Counties Manukau, and signing on for the Kings.

Indianapolis (8-5) claimed their crown despite losing to the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals (9-4).