Diego, and ended up as the co-host for Football Night in San Diego. He hosted the show for two and a half seasons (2006–2008) before getting one last shot in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. Television career With his playing career over, Akbar turned his focus to the broadcast booth in addition to his philanthropic work, serving as an analyst for the Mtn. Network and CBS Sports Network for two years, while also taking voice and acting classes. He also founded Rush The Passer, a year-round athletic, academic and life skills program for youth in Southern California. In 2010 he was approached by reality producer Mark Burnett to be part of a three-man athlete team for his latest project on ABC, Expedition Impossible. His team "The Football Players" finished in 4th place on the show. That role, and the exposure that came with it, helped further Akbar’s exposure. , he has joined the NFL Network as a member of the NFL Fantasy Live cast of hosts. In 2013, he became a co-host alongside Matt Iseman for American Ninja Warrior being broadcast on G4, Esquire Network, and NBC. Akbar is also the co-host of Team Ninja Warrior alongside Iseman, a spin-off of American Ninja Warrior that debuted on Esquire Network in 2016, and American Ninja Warrior Junior with Iseman on Universal Kids in 2018. Akbar and Iseman provide their voices as themselves in American Ninja Warrior: Challenge. On May 10, 2018, Gbaja-Biamila threw out the first pitch at Citizens Bank Park prior to a game between the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies which was widely seen as being among the worst. On September 2, 2021, it was announced that Akbar Gbaja-Biamila would join The Talk as a permanent co-host, and the second full-time male co-host on the show. Gbaja-Biamila appeared as a guest co-host on multiple episodes in June and July. Personal life Name meaning Akbar’s full name is Akbar Olúwakẹ́mi Ìdòwú Gbàjà-Bíàmílà. Akbar is Arabic and means "greatest." His middle and last names are of the Yoruba language. The middle names, “Olúwakẹ́mi” means "God takes care of me" and “Ìdòwú” is a name given to a child born after twins. (One of his older brothers is Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila who was also a pro football player.) Their last name, Gbàjà-Bíàmílà, or Gbaja-Biamila means "One who, while fighting, pretends to be separating a fight." This name comes from his paternal