Haggai Ndubuisi Bio
Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi (born 15 October 2000) is a Nigerian professional football defensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He joined the NFL through the International Player Pathway (IPPP) program and has spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, and the United Football League’s San Antonio Brahmas. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 135 kilograms, Ndubuisi is one of the few Nigerian-born athletes to reach an active NFL roster through the league’s international development initiative.
Early Life and Background
Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi was born on 15 October 2000, in Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in a country where American football was largely unknown, and he spent his childhood playing soccer and basketball like most of his peers. Everything changed when, at the age of 18, he stumbled across a YouTube video showcasing the National Football League’s hardest hits.
Caption Ndubuisi has said that he watched the video repeatedly and immediately knew he wanted to pursue the sport, even though he had never seen a football game in person. He often gathered friends at local fields and tried to recreate the tackles and collisions he had seen, despite having almost no understanding of the rules. He later explained that he viewed American football as a sport without hope in Nigeria, because there was no infrastructure or professional pathway for players like him.
Practice sessions were sometimes solitary, and he would train by himself because the game was so unfamiliar to those around him. That changed when he was noticed by Ejike Ugboaja, who, alongside former NFL defensive end Osi Umenyiora, co-leads UpRise Academy, a program designed to identify and develop African football talent. Ndubuisi was invited to join the academy in 2021, and after six months of training he was selected to attend an NFL camp in London in late 2021, where he also trained with former NFL offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley.
Haggai Ndubuisi Career
Early Career (2022)
Ndubuisi’s professional career began in 2022 when he was selected as one of the participants in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and allocated to the Arizona Cardinals. Listed as an offensive tackle at the time, he made his preseason debut in the team’s first game of the preseason, appearing on two offensive snaps. His time with the Cardinals was short, as he was released on 14 August 2022.
After his release from Arizona, Ndubuisi returned to the International Player Pathway Program to continue his development and prepare for the following season. The experience gave him his first taste of an NFL training camp and confirmed that he could compete at the highest level, even if his initial roster opportunity did not last beyond the preseason.
Denver Broncos Breakthrough (2023)
Returning to the IPPP in 2023, Ndubuisi was allocated to the Denver Broncos, and the organization shifted his position to the defensive line, where his size and strength were considered a better fit. In his first preseason game with the Broncos, he recorded two tackles, an encouraging start that showed his potential as a run-stopping presence.
Despite the productive preseason appearance, Ndubuisi was waived on 29 August 2023 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was not offered a reserve or future contract, which meant he became a free agent at the end of the season. Still, his move to the defensive line and his work in Denver marked an important step in his transition from international prospect to a more complete professional prospect.
Washington Commanders and San Antonio Brahmas Era (2024)
On 1 February 2024, Ndubuisi signed with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League, giving him a chance to continue playing in a spring league. He was waived on 12 February 2024 after a brief stay with the Brahmas. Shortly after, on 3 April 2024, he signed with the Washington Commanders, where he worked through the offseason and preseason before being waived on 27 August. He was re-signed to the Washington practice squad the following day to remain within the organization.
New England Patriots and Return to Washington (2025)
On 1 January 2025, the New England Patriots signed Ndubuisi to their active roster, briefly making him part of an NFL 53-man roster. He was waived the following day with a non-football illness designation. Days later, on 7 January 2025, he signed with the Washington Commanders practice squad for a second stint and was placed on injured reserve the following day.
Houston Texans Era (2025)
On 31 July 2025, Ndubuisi signed with the Houston Texans, continuing his journey to secure a long-term NFL home. He was waived on 26 August 2025 as part of final roster cuts but was re-signed to the Texans’ practice squad the same week, keeping him within the organization as he works toward a potential elevation to the active roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ndubuisi’s game revolves around his size, length, and willingness to engage blockers at the line of scrimmage. After moving from offensive tackle to the defensive line with the Denver Broncos, he has leaned on his power and motor to disrupt running lanes, while his preseason tackle totals with Denver suggested that he can be a presence on early downs. His path through the International Player Pathway has also given him experience in multiple team systems, which has helped him refine his technique against professional offensive linemen.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Ndubuisi’s career came in 2023, when he posted two tackles in his first preseason game with the Denver Broncos. His participation in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and his brief elevation to the New England Patriots’ active roster in January 2025 also stand out as milestones in his journey from Lagos to the NFL.
Haggai Ndubuisi Career Wins
Ndubuisi’s professional record is still in its early stages, and he has not yet recorded a regular-season or postseason win credited directly to him in the way a starting quarterback would. His most notable statistical contributions have come in preseason, including two tackles in his first preseason game with the Denver Broncos in 2023.
Preseason and Practice Squad Highlights
Across his time in the NFL, Ndubuisi has logged preseason appearances with the Arizona Cardinals and the Denver Broncos, in addition to practice squad stints with the Broncos, Washington Commanders, and Houston Texans. His time with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League in early 2024 added to his professional resume, even though the stint was brief.
Haggai Ndubuisi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ndubuisi’s family background and upbringing in Lagos remain largely private, and the available sources do not provide public detail on his parents or siblings. He is often described in profiles as a self-made athlete who discovered American football on his own and pursued it despite the absence of a football culture around him.
Personal Life
Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi has kept his personal life largely out of the public eye, and the available information does not include confirmed details about a spouse, partner, or children. His public profile centers on his journey from Lagos to the NFL through the International Player Pathway Program.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of transition for Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi. After a brief elevation to the New England Patriots’ active roster in January 2025, he returned to the Washington Commanders practice squad and was later placed on injured reserve. He was released during the offseason cycle, opening the door for his next opportunity.
On 31 July 2025, Ndubuisi signed with the Houston Texans, marking his fifth NFL organization. He was waived on 26 August 2025 as part of the league’s final roster cuts but was quickly re-signed to the Texans’ practice squad, giving him a chance to develop further and potentially be elevated to the active roster during the regular season.
With the Texans, Ndubuisi continues to work on refining his technique as a defensive tackle while adjusting to a new defensive scheme and coaching staff. His path through the International Player Pathway, the United Football League, and multiple practice squads has made him a well-traveled pro, and his work in Houston represents another step in his pursuit of a long-term NFL home.