Abdul Salaam, born Larry Faulk, was born to the late Azlene Nicholson and Hayward Faulk on February 12, 1953. He passed away on October 8, 2024. Salaam played football at Woodward High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. After graduating from Woodward High School in 1972, he married Debbie Rawls, who lived across the street from himContinue Reading
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Abdul Salaam, born Larry Faulk, was born to the late Azlene Nicholson and Hayward Faulk on February 12, 1953. He passed away on October 8, 2024.
Salaam played football at Woodward High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. After graduating from Woodward High School in 1972, he married Debbie Rawls, who lived across the street from him whom he met when they were children. He majored in business at Kent State University, while playing both nose guard and linebacker with Kent State’s “Carat Gold” defense. He earned first-team All -Mid-American Conference three straight seasons.
Known as Larry Faulk when drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round (188th overall) of the 1976 NFL draft, he changed his name to Abdul Salaam, which means “soldier of peace,” in 1977 because he wanted serenity in his life. He added: “The only thing that anybody can do is reach peace. And in reaching peace you have to have knowledge and understanding. When you’re at peace with your mind, you can conquer anything. You know, your religion is your own personal thing,” he told Newsday in 1977. “The changing of the name is something that you feel inside of you. I felt inside of me that I wanted my name to represent what I am. Abdul Salaam. It’s an appropriate name for me.”
The Jets went 3-11 on each of Salaam’s first two seasons in the National Football League, however, he was soon joined by Joe Klecko, Mark Gastineau, and Marty Lyons on the Jets’ defensive line to form one of the top defensive lines in the NFL, known as the “New York Sack Exchange.” The four combined for 66 sacks in 1981 to lead the Jets to their first playoff game since 1969. In November 1981, Salaam, Gastineau, Klecko, and Lyons were invited to ring the ceremonial opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange that served as the inspiration for their nickname.
He was survived by his wife Debra; sons Lawrence and Omar Salaam, and William Reece (Heidi); daughter Latonia Jones (Troy); “FOREVER daughter Monique Salaam”; grandchildren, Na’Ima and Aaliyah Salaam, William Allen, Karen, Gemiyah and Kayla Webster, and Jillian and Brigit Reece; sisters Rasheedah (Sharif) Angela Hosley, Felicia Faulk, and Traci Faulk; and as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He will never be forgotten and will be sadly missed.
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Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home
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