Israel Idonije is a builder. He built an 11-year NFL career against all odds by developing himself into an elite athlete. Through that process, he realized the formula for building success in sport directly correlates to building success in life. As an entrepreneur, he founded blessed, Athlitacomics, Ask The Doctor and workVAULT to build a meaningful future not only for himself, but to help others build their dreams as well. Also a humanitarian, he founded iF Charities (formerly the Israel Idonije Foundation), which has benefitted over 10,000 youth in Chicago, Winnipeg and West Africa since 2007.
He has received numerous honors on and off the field. In addition to being a member of the Chicago Bears 2006 NFC Championship Team, he led the NFL in blocked punts/field goals in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and has received the NFL’s JB Award and Award for Global Dedication, as well as the Ed Block Courage Award and the Points of Light Award.
Israel was born in Lagos, Nigeria, where he was raised until the age of four. His family then moved to Brandon, Manitoba, where he attended and played football for the University of Manitoba. He now calls Chicago home.
