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Ayo Oyelola (born 19 October 1998) is an English professional football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL).

Early life

From East London, he was a keen soccer player in his youth, and featured in the academy at teams such as Chelsea, Southend United, Dagenham and Redbridge and Ebbsfleet. He started playing American Football at the University of Nottingham, where he graduated with a law degree in 2020.

Career

CFL

He started out as a linebacker before transitioning to Safety. He was drafted 22nd in the 2021 CFL global draft by Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He made his debut for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League on 23 November 2021 against the Calgary Stampeders.

NFL

In December 2020, it was announced that Oyelola had been one of eleven athletes from around to world to selected to participate in the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP). He did not secure a contract with an NFL team and decided to play in the CFL. In January 2022 it was announced that he was again selected to be a part of the NFL IPP, this time involving 13 athletes from around the world. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars later that year. He was waived by the Jaguars on 30 August 2022. He resigned to their practice squad the next day and spent the remainder of the 2022/203 season on the practice squad.

In January 2023, he signed a futures/ reserve contract with the Jaguars, but was waived again at the conclusion of training camp and resigned to the practice squad, where he spent the remainder of the season.

In January 2024, he signed a futures/ reserve contract with the Jaguars. He was waived on 15th April 2024.

He was signed on an international development contract by the Pittsburgh Steelers in September 2024, and joined their practise squad.

References

1. "Ayo Oyelola". Fox Sports. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
2. ^ Hogwood, Cameron (October 10, 2023). "Ayo Oyelola: Jacksonville Jaguars safety embraces crisp British air on UK homecoming". Sky Sports. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
3. "UoN graduate signed by National Football League (NFL) team". Nottingham.ac.uk. May 13, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
4. ^ Peach, Simon (June 15, 2022). "Ayo Oyelola: Ex-teammate of Mason Mount and Declan Rice with eyes on NFL career". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
5. "Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign 2021 CFL Global Draft pick Ayo Oyelola". American Football International. June 1, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
6. Malchow, Alex (November 23, 2021). "UK linebacker Ayo Oyelola makes CFL debut with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers". American Football International. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
7. Dixon, Andre (January 11, 2022). "NFL: THREE BRITISH PLAYERS MAKE THE IPP". Verge Magazine. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
8. Barney, Justin (August 30, 2022). "Jaguars cuts: Recent draft picks Jay Tufele, Gregory Junior among team's final cuts". news4jax.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
9. Adamski, Chris (September 2, 2024). "Steelers sign British DB Ayo Oyelola to practice squad". Triblive. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
10. Gregson, Rob (September 2, 2024). "Steelers finalize their roster by taking advantage of one of the NFL's smartest rules". atozsports.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.

• 1998 births
• Living people
• Alumni of the University of Nottingham
• American football safeties
• Black British sportsmen
• English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
• English players of American football
• Expatriate players of American football
• International Player Pathway Program participants
• Sportspeople from London
• Canadian Football League players
• Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
• English expatriate sportspeople in Canada