Lucas Niang

Lucas Niang's Biography

Lucas Balthazar Niang, an American professional football player born August 18, 1998, is an offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL). Raised in New Canaan, Connecticut, Niang established himself as a promising athlete early on, excelling not only in football, but also in basketball and tennis. He was born in New York City, then lived in Geneva, Switzerland from ages 4 to 6, before his family returned to the United States and settled in New Canaan. Niang’s introduction to football began in 3rd grade when he joined the Pop Warner league.

By high school, Niang stood out, earning recognition as a two-time All-FCIAC selection in his junior and senior years. He also received an All-State First-team Selection accolade during his final season at New Canaan High School. As a key player for the high school team, Niang contributed significantly to their success, leading the Rams to three consecutive state championships from 2013 to 2015.

As he prepared to take his football career to the collegiate level, Niang drew considerable attention from scouts. He received approximately 40 scholarship offers from highly-ranked schools including Texas Christian University (TCU), Penn State, Auburn, Miami, and Georgia. Ultimately, he chose to enroll at TCU. During his inaugural year there, he played in 12 of the team’s 13 games. It was during his sophomore year that he transitioned successfully into a starting position, and this eventually led TCU to the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time.

In his junior year, Niang’s consistent performance and exceptional resilience led him to achieve an impressive feat. Over the season’s 13 matches, he did not yield a single sack. This outstanding performance earned him 2nd Team All-Big 12 honors and contributed to TCU’s victory over California in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.

Before starting his senior season, numerous entities in the sporting world begun recognizing Niang’s talent. He was named 1st Team Preseason All-Big 12, The Athletic identified him as one of college football’s top offensive linemen, and NFL executive Gil Brandt listed Niang as one of the finest offensive line prospects for the 2020 NFL draft. ESPN’s Todd McShay marked Niang as a projected first-round draft pick and the best offensive tackle for the 2020 NFL draft.

Unfortunately, Niang had to prematurely conclude his final collegiate season after damaging his hip labrum. Despite this setback, Niang’s past performances garnered attention from the Kansas City Chiefs, who selected him in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft as the 96th overall pick. However, Niang opted to sit out the 2020 season due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the 2021 season, Niang was named the Chiefs starting right tackle and started in seven of the first nine games. However, he encountered challenges with injuries, compelling him to miss several games due to a shoulder injury and a torn patellar tendon. Nonetheless, he had an impressive year in 2022 when he helped the Chiefs secure the Super Bowl LVII victory against the Philadelphia Eagles, making him the first French national to ever play and win a Super Bowl match.

Niang continued his winning streak by claiming a back-to-back Super Bowl victory in 2023 when the Chiefs triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. Despite these successes, he was temporarily let go by the Chiefs in August 2024, only to be re-signed to the practice squad later.

Niang’s unique cultural background sets him apart as not only a NFL player but also a global citizen. As a dual citizen of the United States and France, he speaks fluent French, a skill honed by his parents who migrated from France to the United States. Niang’s father hails from France, while his mother is a native of the Côte d’Ivoire. This multicultural upbringing is part of what makes Niang’s journey to the NFL as inspiring as it is extraordinary.