This article explores the extraordinary NFL journey of Eli Ankou, a 30-year-old defensive tackle from Ottawa who has defied the odds to play in 36 regular-season games with six different teams since 2017. Ankou's story is one of perseverance, marked by stints with nine clubs and numerous releases, but his focus has shifted from personal gain to playing for the dreams of his teammates.
Eli Ankou 's NFL journey is far from ordinary. The 30-year-old defensive tackle from Ottawa has defied the odds, playing in 36 regular-season games (three starts) with six different teams since 2017. His path has been anything but linear, marked by stints with nine clubs, some more than once. The Houston Texans (twice), Atlanta Falcons (three times), and currently, the Buffalo Bills (three) are among the teams who have welcomed him.
Ankou's resilience is evident in the way he has navigated the challenges of being traded once and released/waived at least 12 times, including five instances since joining the Bills in 2021. 'It's very challenging,' Ankou admitted. 'Finding the reasons to be in the game and even play it in the first place are quintessential to what you should be looking for pretty much from the day you start. That's what will keep you grounded throughout the entire experience.' His NFL journey began after college at UCLA, signing with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He's also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans. His contributions on the field include 49 tackles (19 solo), three quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks across teams like Jacksonville, Cleveland, Dallas, Tennessee, Atlanta, and Buffalo. While he made five tackles in two games with the Bills this year, he was also released twice and spent a significant portion of the season on the practice roster. 'It's weird (because) I've grown and changed over time,' Ankou reflected. 'If you asked me when I was a rookie what drove me, I'd say obviously helping out my family and the people around me, achieving my dream of playing in the NFL and obviously the pay, the pay is huge. Ultimately when you're able to do all of those things you really must challenge yourself with, 'OK, what now … what are you looking for out of this game?' Ankou discovered a new driving force this season. As part of a talented Buffalo Bills team led by NFL MVP Josh Allen, they finished atop the AFC East with a 13-4 record before securing playoff victories against the Denver Broncos (31-7) and the Baltimore Ravens (27-25). Their championship aspirations ultimately ended in a heart-wrenching 32-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. 'Ultimately for me, it became more so about playing for the guys beside me,' Ankou explained. 'Everyone in that room, whether you're asking someone like Josh Allen, (defensive end) Greg Rousseau, any of those guys, the common denominator was winning the Super Bowl. The question then becomes, 'What can I do to help them achieve their goal … and at the same time achieve mine?' If you conduct yourself in such a manner that you're playing for the dreams of the guy beside you, ultimately you find fulfilment in that.'Ankou's dedication to his teammates extends beyond the field. After each NFL season, he has his teammates sign his helmet, which he proudly displays at his Florida home. He currently has eight helmets, but the one from this year's Bills team holds a special meaning for him. 'With a situation like this where you're going back and forth with a team, man, I won't lie, it's very challenging and mentally trying,' he said. 'Ultimately though, I had to look at the big picture and really lock in and focus on what are the things keeping me playing this game? I think those were strong enough reasons to say, 'I'm going to help my team in whatever way I can.' Unfortunately we didn't get to the big dance but I'm really happy I got to do that with them.' Ankou admits he's surprised by his own resilience throughout his NFL journey. When faced with adversity, he chooses to focus on overcoming it rather than dwelling on the negatives. 'The realization I'm going through this very trying period doesn't really hit me until I'm done with it,' he shared. 'Every time I pass by the helmets, it really does hit me because each one has a story and its own set of challenges I had that year.' Looking ahead, Ankou takes his career season by season but feels mentally he's just hitting his stride. 'The average NFL career is about three years, assuming everything goes well and you stay healthy,' he said. 'Once I got past my third year, I was like, 'Wow, this is pretty nuts,' and then you start stacking them up one by one. I used to look at guys who were in their ninth year and think, 'Man, how did they ever get to this point?' Seeing myself in that position now is surreal.'Ankou isn't concerned about his future beyond the next year. 'For me, its being able to put everything on display and go to the right location for that,' he remarked. 'Whether that's remaining in Buffalo or being somewhere else, that's up to the football gods. I'm just submitting myself to that process.'
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