Ola Adeniyi

Ola Adeniyi's Biography

Olasunkanmi “Ola” Adeniyi, born on September 12, 1997, is a multi-faceted Nigerian-American professional football player. Born in Nigeria, Adeniyi’s journey to the American sporting scene was predicated on a move to the United States when he was six years old, a transition orchestrated by his mother, Esther, who was tirelessly striving to improve the standards of life for the family. Adeniyi, along with his older brother Olamide, initially stayed with a relative in Nigeria for a span of two years before reuniting with their mother in Houston, Texas.

Nurturing a dream to excel in football, Adeniyi kick-started his school-boy career at George Bush High School in Fort Bend County, Texas. As a senior at his school, he showcased promising talent, laying the foundation of his future career with a record of 76 tackles, 18 of which were for loss, and netting five sacks. His strong performance at the highschool level secured him a place on the Toledo Rockets’ team in 2014, the roster where Adeniyi would hone his skills for the approaching professional scene.

Despite joining the Rocket roster, Adeniyi did not immediately enter the field. He decided to redshirt his true freshman year in 2014, a decision that paid off the following year. In 2015, he finally got the chance to shine, playing in seven games as a backup. The following year, in 2016, proved to be Adeniyi’s breakout year. As a redshirt sophomore, Adeniyi played an active role in all 13 of Toledo’s games, even starting in 12. His impressive performance yielded 49 tackles, eight for loss, and four sacks.

The momentum carried forward into his redshirt junior year in 2017. He starred in all 14 of Toledo’s games, indicating his growing command over the sport. To his rapidly growing resume, he added 66 tackles, 20 of which were for losses, 8.5 sacks, and an exemplary three forced fumbles. His achievements were acknowledged with a place on the 2017 All-MAC Second Team. Following the fruitful season, Adeniyi declared himself for the 2018 NFL draft, the large stage beckoning to him.

Adeniyi’s professional career took off with the Pittsburgh Steelers signing him on April 28, 2018 as an undrafted free agent. However, an injury setback placed him on injured reserve in September. His commitment and recovery efforts saw him return to the active roster in December.

In December 2019, during Week 9 of the season against the Indianapolis Colts, Ola Adeniyi made his presence felt. He forced a fumble on Chester Rogers during a kick return, which was successfully recovered by his teammate, highlighting his tactical acumen.

In furtherance of his career, Adeniyi signed with the Tennessee Titans on March 22, 2021. Besides providing backup as a linebacker, he capitalized on his core special team skills. He ended the season ranking third on the team in terms of special teams tackles and secured a career-high of 2.5 sacks on defense.

Despite a neck injury in October 2022, sidelining him on the injured reserve, Adeniyi’s perseverance and effort allowed him to return to form in December. However, shortly after his return, he was released by the Titans on December 12, 2022.

In an interesting turn of events, the day after his release from the Titans, Adeniyi signed a deal bringing him back to his first NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. This sturdy Nigerian-American’s career, continually showcasing strength and determination, remains an inspiration for many aspiring athletes.