The National Football League (NFL) is American football’s elite-level competition. Youngsters from far and wide dream of pulling on one of the 32 NFL teams’ uniforms, stepping out onto the field in front of 70,000 or 80,000 adoring fans, and earning salaries most people can only dream of. Although American football is not a sport usually associated with Nigeria, a handful of Nigerians are plying their trade in the NFL; some earn astronomical sums.

There are currently 11 players of Nigerian descent on the active roster of NFL franchises. Some are only embarking on their American football journey this season, but the four players you are about to learn about are key players for their respective teams. Indeed, one of them has already captured the sport’s most sought-after prize, the coveted Super Bowl.

Nelson Agholor – Baltimore Ravens

Every Super Bowl betting guide has the Baltimore Ravens as one of the favorites to walk away with this season’s trophy. Nelson Agholor’s performances in a Baltimore Ravens uniform is one of the reasons why those Ravens are flying high.

Born in Lagos in May 1993, Agholor moved to the United States when he was five. By the time Agholor was attending the University of Southern California, scouts ranked him as the third-best wide receiver in his class.

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Agholor as the 20th overall pick during the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft; he signed a four-year rookie contract worth $9.4 million with a $5.1 million signing bonus. Agoholor spent five seasons with the Eagles, and was part of the team that won the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 2017

Agoholor moved to the Las Vegas Raiders but only spent one season there before signing a two-year, $26 million contract with the New England Patriots. His time in New England were not his best years, and he signed a one-year deal worth $3.25 million with the Baltimore Ravens in March 2024. To date, Agoholor has featured in 15 games for the Ravens, receiving 324 yards and scoring four touchdowns.

David Onyemata – Atlanta Falcons

David Onyemata was born in Lagos in November 1992 but moved to Winnipeg, United States, on his own in 2011 so he could attend the University of Manitoba. Onyemata had never seen American football before arriving in the United States but became hooked on the game at university, becoming a star player for the Manitoba Bisons.

The New Orleans Saints selected Onyemata as the 120th overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. Onyemata signed a four-year $2.88 million contract with a $542,000 signing bonus. Despite being selected late in the draft, Onyemata quickly became one of the first names on the Saints’ team sheet. In March 2020, he signed a three-year contract extension worth $27 million.

Onyemata left the Saints for the Atlanta Falcons in March 2023, putting pen to paper on a three-year, $35 million contract. The Falcons have an outside chance of reaching this year’s Super Bowl.

Samson Ebukam – Indianapolis Colts

Samson Ebukam was born in Lagos in May 1995, and moved to the United States when he was nine. After playing in several positions for his high school, Ebukam settled on becoming a defensive end during his college days at Eastern Washinton University.

The Los Angeles Rams selected Ebukam as the 125th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. His first contract spanned four years and was worth $3.01 million plus a $613,000 signing bonuses. He struggled for starts during his rookie season but became a regular starter in 2018. Ebukam spent another two seasons with the Rams before heading to the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, signing a two-year $12 million deal with a $3.5 million bonus.

Ebukam became an Indianapolis Colts player in March 2023 and earned the largest contract of his career. His three-year deal will earn him $24 million plus a massive $9 million signing bonus.

Emmanuel Ogbah – Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are enjoying an excellent season in 2023, and are one of the favorites for Super Bowl glory. Emmanuel Ogbah is one of the reasons for the Dolphins’ return to form. Born in Lagos in November 1993, Ogbah moved to Houston, Texas, United States, at nine, eventually attending Oklahoma State University to play college football.

The Cleveland Browns selected Ogbah as the 32nd overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, earning a four-year contract worth $6.6 million plus a $3 million signing bonus. His superb form earned him a move to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, but a torn pectoral in Week 10 ruled him out for the remainder of the season, and the Chiefs won the Super Bowl without him.

Ogbah moved to the Miami Dolphins in March 2020, signing a two-year, $15 million deal. After finishing back-to-back seasons with nine sacks, the Dolphins rewarded Ogbah with a four-year, $65 million extension with a $13 million signing bonus. Unfortunately, Ogbah tore his tricep, again, in Week 10, and will play no further part in the Dolphins’ quest for the Super Bowl this season.

Conclusion

American football is not a sport that is usually linked with Nigerian athletes. Yet, the four players in this article have not only made it into the NFL but are considered some of the best players in their respective positions.

Nelson Agholor has already won a coveted Super Bowl ring and could get his hands on another this season with the high-flying Baltimore Ravens. Tough-tackling David Onyemata is a feared opponent, while Samson Ebukam is a stand-out player for the Indianapolis Colts. Then there is Emmanuel Ogbah, whose $65 million contract is the largest awarded to a player of Nigerian descent in the long history of the NFL.

These four players are living proof that you can become whoever or whatever you want to be if you have enough determination and are prepared to work hard enough to follow and achieve your dreams.