Elijah Nkansah

Elijah Nkansah's Biography

Elijah Osei Sefah Nkansah was born on December 28, 1994, to Amy Coppess and Shadrack Nkansah. The couple had married in 1992, and two years after Elijah’s birth, his brother Isaiah came into the world. The family’s roots go back to Ghana, where Shadrack was born before he migrated to America in the late 1980s. Shadrack Nkansah met his future wife, Amy, during his time at Anderson University in Indiana.

Elijah’s father was a dedicated man with a well-rounded skill set. He worked as a chemical engineer for Cincinnati-based company, Procter & Gamble. Apart from his professional life, Shadrack was a passionate athlete, often participating in marathons. Despite his vibrant energy and zest for life, Shadrack fell victim to cancer and passed away at the age of 37 in 2002.

Following in their father’s athletic footsteps, both Elijah and his brother Isaiah were drawn to football. The love for the sport sprung during Elijah’s high school days at William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. His talent earned him first-team all-league and second-team all-district honors in his senior year. After a successful high school career, Elijah graduated in 2013.

Going further in his football endeavor, Elijah became an integral part of the football team at Toledo. During his tenure at Toledo, he honed his skills and played as a left tackle for the last two years, leading his team to win UT’s first MAC Championship in over a decade in 2017.

Engaged in the field, he also focused on his academics and majored in Criminal Justice. A versatile man, Elijah’s journey saw many ups and downs. Following his university days, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans, and later was part of the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans.

In the NFL, Elijah made his debut wearing #75 on December 23, 2018, in a match against the Kansas City Chiefs. This game marked a vital milestone in his career as he scored his first touchdown. However, things didn’t always go as planned, and by August 31, 2019, he went back to being a free agent only to get signed to various practice squads and active rosters of different teams over the next couple of years.

Whether it was the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, or Cleveland Browns, his purpose and determination often led him back to the field. Despite the fluctuations in his professional career, Elijah kept pushing forward in pursuing football, eventually signing a reserve/future contract with the Cleveland Browns on January 11, 2022.

Unfortunately, on August 16, 2022, Elijah’s career took an unfortunate turn; he was waived with an injury designation only to be released on October 7, 2022.

Elijah’s journey is far from ordinary – from being a high school footballer, representing his college team, to taking bold strides in the NFL. His persistence and tenacity are worth drawing lessons from. Even today, as a free agent, Elijah’s legacy shines on in the realm of American football.