Qadry Rahmadan Ismail (born November 8, 1970), nicknamed "the Missile," is a former American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League. He played college football at Syracuse Orange, earning first-team All-American honors in 1991. Selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 1993 NFL draft, Ismail also played for the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens—with whom he won Super Bowl XXXV—and the Indianapolis Colts.
Early life
Qadry Rahmadan Ismail1 was born on November 8, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Ibrahim and Fat'ma Ismail. In 1985, he moved to his grandmother Laura Bauknight's home in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he attended Elmer L. Meyers Junior/Senior High School. There, Ismail and his older brother Raghib were named the inaugural recipients of the Martin Luther King Youth Leadership Award given by the local chapter of the NAACP of Northeast Pennsylvania. In addition to playing high school football, Ismail also ran track.
As a member of the track team, he was ranked the nation's best high school hurdler by Track & Field News in 1988. He finished first at the 110 m high hurdles Golden West Invitational. He was also a two time state team champion in track and field. He was a six-time PIAA AA State champion in the 110 m high hurdles, 300 m intermediate hurdles, and 4 × 100. He was a two-time PIAA AA silver medalist in the 4 × 400, as well as a bronze medalist in the 110 m high hurdles. He was a four time PIAA District II team champion, and 12 time PIAA District II champion. He also earned two WVC team conference championships.
As a member of the football team, he was a two time All-scholastic selection as a wide receiver and defensive back. He was inducted into the PIAA Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was named the 1988 Athlete of the Year by The Citizens' Voice and the Times Leader.
College career
Ismail attended Syracuse University, where he was a member of the football team as well as the track team. Ismail was the first two-sport All-American at Syracuse since Jim Brown in 1957.
As a member of the Syracuse Orange track and field team, Ismail was an All-American in the indoor 55 m hurdles, as well as the outdoor 110 m hurdles. He was also an IC4A 110 m hurdle and 55 m hurdle champion. Ismail was also the Big East champion in the 110 m hurdles, as well as the 55 m hurdle and 4 × 400 relay while also setting Syracuse University's school record in the 55 m hurdles and the 4x400 relay.
As a member of the football team, Ismail was an All-American selection as a kick returner in 1991. He was also a first team All-Big East selection as a wide receiver and kickoff returner, and a second team all-Big East selection as wide receiver.
Career statistics
| Year | Team | GP | Receiving | Rushing | Kick Returns | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 1989 | Syracuse | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 33 | 738 | 22.4 | 0 |
| 1990 | Syracuse | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 32 | 699 | 21.8 | 0 |
| 1991 | Syracuse | 11 | 37 | 693 | 18.7 | 3 | 12 | 216 | 18.0 | 3 | 19 | 475 | 25.0 | 1 |
| 1992 | Syracuse | 11 | 36 | 625 | 17.4 | 2 | 22 | 217 | 9.9 | 3 | 21 | 378 | 18.0 | 0 |
| Career2 | 44 | 73 | 1,318 | 18.1 | 5 | 34 | 433 | 12.7 | 6 | 105 | 2,290 | 21.8 | 1 | |
Professional career
Pre-draft measurables| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0+1⁄2 in(1.84 m) | 192 lb(87 kg) | 31+5⁄8 in(0.80 m) | 9+3⁄4 in(0.25 m) | 4.49 s | 1.59 s | 2.62 s | 35.0 in(0.89 m) |
Ismail was selected in the second round (52nd overall) of the 1993 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings, becoming the highest drafted Syracuse player since Moose Johnston.34
In 1999, he was voted Number 22 on the list of top 100 athletes by the Citizen’s Voice.
In 1999 with the Baltimore Ravens, Ismail led the team with 68 catches, 1,105 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, including career-high 258 yards in one game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.5 What might have been the high-water mark of Ismail's career and potential crowning moment came on January 28, 2001, when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants 34–7 in Tampa, Florida, in Super Bowl XXXV. Ismail caught a 47-yard reception and earned his first Super Bowl ring.6
In 2002, Ismail signed a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts as a #2 wide receiver behind Marvin Harrison.7
NFL career statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Kick Returns | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 1993 | MIN | 15 | 3 | 19 | 212 | 11.2 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 4.7 | 6 | 0 | 42 | 902 | 21.5 | 47 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | MIN | 16 | 3 | 45 | 696 | 15.5 | 65 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 807 | 23.1 | 61 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1995 | MIN | 16 | 1 | 32 | 597 | 18.7 | 85 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 1,037 | 24.7 | 71 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 1996 | MIN | 16 | 2 | 22 | 351 | 16.0 | 54 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 527 | 18.8 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | MIA | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 166 | 20.8 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | NO | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 590 | 21.1 | 39 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1999 | BAL | 16 | 16 | 68 | 1,105 | 16.3 | 76 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 55 | 13.8 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | BAL | 15 | 13 | 49 | 655 | 13.4 | 53 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 51 | 25.5 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | BAL | 16 | 15 | 74 | 1,059 | 14.3 | 77 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 | IND | 14 | 14 | 44 | 462 | 10.5 | 42 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 137 | 68 | 353 | 5,137 | 14.6 | 85 | 33 | 5 | 25 | 5.0 | 7 | 0 | 189 | 4,135 | 21.9 | 71 | 0 | 13 | 7 | |
Broadcast career
After retiring from the NFL, Ismail began a career in broadcasting, spending time with Comcast Sports Net, BET Black College Football, and ESPN before becoming part of the Ravens’ broadcast team.8 In March 2017, it was announced that Ismail would be a color commentator for the Baltimore Brigade of the Arena Football League.9
Personal life
Ismail is the brother of Raghib "The Rocket" Ismail and Sulaiman "The Bomb" Ismail. He has three children Qalea, Qadry, and Qadir from his marriage to Holly Oslander Ismail. Ismail is a sports performance coach (Missile Training) at the Sports Factory in Bel Air, Maryland. He has worked with hundreds of athletes helping them improve on their fitness and speed.
Ismail served as the head coach of the Patterson Mill High School boys track and field team from 2011 to 2019. His daughter, Qalea, plays basketball at Princeton University.10 In 2017, his son, Qadry, began playing wide receiver at Mercyhurst University.11 In December 2017, his son, Qadir, signed to play quarterback at Villanova, before transferring to play at Samford.12 Qadir is currently a tight end for the Las Vegas Raiders.
References
Jackel, Peter (August 3, 1997). "Packers receiver Ismail again must defend his honor before NFL critics". The Journal Times. Racine, Wisconsin. p. 15. Retrieved June 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20869339/packers_receiver_ismail_again_must/ ↩
"Qadry Ismail College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/qadry-ismail-1.html ↩
"1993 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1993/draft.htm ↩
"Syracuse Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 18, 2024. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/syracuse/drafted.htm ↩
"1999 Baltimore Ravens Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 26, 2025. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rav/1999.htm ↩
"Super Bowl XXXV - Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Giants - January 28th, 2001". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 18, 2024. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200101280nyg.htm ↩
Chappell, Mike (February 27, 2002). "Colts release Ismail for cap savings". Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20870455/colts_release_ismail_for_cap_savings/ ↩
Parasiliti, Bob (April 14, 2018). "At Ravens Roost, Ismail dishes on why football matters". Retrieved June 11, 2018. https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/sports/at-ravens-roost-ismail-dishes-on-why-football-matters/article_ddb290aa-4050-11e8-a557-3f5a073b9f6f.html ↩
Allen, Scott (March 21, 2017). "Santana Moss will do color commentary for Washington's Arena Football League team". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved March 22, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2017/03/21/santana-moss-will-do-color-commentary-for-washingtons-arena-football-league-team/ ↩
"2015-2016 W. Basketball Roster Qalea Ismail". GoPrincetonTigers.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018. https://goprincetontigers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=9785 ↩
"Mercyhurst Athletics - Qadry Ismail". HurstAthletics.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018. http://hurstathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=9549&path=football ↩
Rapay, Eugene (December 20, 2017). "Quarterback Qadir Ismail signs Letter of intent". VUHoops.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017. https://www.vuhoops.com/2017/12/20/16803196/villanova-football-national-signing-day-2017-quarterback-qadir-ismail-signs-letter-of-intent ↩