March 15, 2019
Ali Haji-Sheikh made a name for himself throughout the 1980s as a kicker in the National Football League, successively for
the New York Giants, the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Redskins. His name was known throughout the football world, although probably mainly because his name stood out from everybody else’s.
Haji-Sheikh was born in Michigan, but raised in Texas, where his dad, Abdolhossein, taught mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Texas in Arlington. His dad coached Ali in both soccer and football.
At the University of Michigan, Ali earned a degree in geology—and set a Big Ten record by converting 76 consecutive extra points.
After the 1987 season, he retired from pro football and moved back to Michigan. He and his wife have five children and he now works in the luxury car business in Birmingham, Michigan, while also coaching soccer. He is now 58.
