About Omar

Omar Gaither (born March 18, 1984 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is a football player for the Philadelphia Eagles.  He was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.  He played college football at Universityof Tennessee.

COLLEGE

A two-year starter at Tennessee, Gaither recorded 210 tackles with 6 sacks and 23 TFLs. As a senior, finished with 78 tackles, 4 sacks, 7.5 TFLs, and 4 FFs en route to his 2nd straight All-SEC 2nd team honors. Had a career-high 92 tackles, including 12.5 TFLs as a junior when he took over the SAM linebacker duties.

PERSONAL:

  • Is the son of Michael and Mary Gaither. Has two brothers, Saeed and Joshua, and one older sister, Tanesha
  • Earned All-America honors at Myers Park HS and North Carolina defensive MVP honors in the 2001 Shrine Bowl
  • Averaged 14 pts. and 10 rebounds in basketball as a senior and was recruited by Princeton and Wagner. Also participated in the hurdles and long jump
  • Played on the same AAU basketball team as former Wake Forest guard and friend Justin Gray. Also played against former Duke guard J.J. Redick in high school
  • Names Mark Harris, his AAU basketball coach and steel salesman in Charlotte, as one of his top mentors. ""He taught us the value of hard work and how it makes you successful. He taught us great life lessons and I always make a point to go out to dinner with him when I'm back in Charlotte.""
  • Enjoys reading books that are inspirational, including one of his favorites, "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work." Still owns his copy of "Clifford the Big Red Dog," his favorite book as a child
  • His favorite non-football team is the University of North Carolina basketball squad. Names Michael Jordan and Ed Cota as his two favorite Tar Heels.
  • Is a self-proclaimed "movie buff" and says that the best movie of all-time is "Shawshank Redemption"
  • Says that if he was not a football player he would be a lawyer. "I love to argue and prove my point."
  • Would like to get into the real estate business when his playing days are over
  • Is a member of the Eagles offseason basketball team
  • Played the trumpet when he was younger
  • Earned a degree in sports management, minored in business and earned SEC All-Academic honors 3 times
  • Full name: Omar Thabiti Gaither