Kehinde Oginni Hassan Bio
Kehinde Oginni Hassan (born 3 March 1999) is a Nigerian professional American football linebacker. Standing 198 cm tall and listed at 105 kg, he is known for his combination of size, length, and power on the defensive side of the ball. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2022 as part of the International Player Pathway Program (IPPP). After spending time developing within the league system, he is currently listed with the Atlanta Falcons.
Early Life and Background
Kehinde Oginni Hassan was born in Abakaliki, Nigeria, and grew up in a country where basketball traditionally drew much of the local athletic attention. He played basketball until the age of 15, believing that his tall, lanky frame made him a poor fit for American football. That perception began to change in 2014, when he received an invitation to attend a sports camp hosted by the Ejike Ugboaja Foundation (EUF), an event designed to introduce young Nigerians to gridiron football.
The journey to the camp was an eight-hour trip, and Oginni Hassan went with a group of friends who shared his curiosity about the sport. After the camp, the participants were given equipment and footballs and encouraged to keep practicing. Oginni Hassan later said that he instantly knew football was his future from that experience.
Path to American Football
The path to a professional career was marked by a devastating event. While traveling home from the Ejike Ugboaja Foundation camp on 10 June, the bus carrying Oginni Hassan collided with an automobile. Three of his friends, whom he has named as Tochukwu, David, and Hussein, were killed, and he spent two months in the hospital with severe injuries. He later said the incident motivated him to keep pursuing football, in part to honor their memory, and he dedicated his career to making sure people learned about the friends he lost.
During his recovery and the years that followed, Oginni Hassan trained with the local football team at Ahmadu Bello University, where he posted workout videos on YouTube to attract attention from college programs in the United States. The Ahmadu Bello team, founded in 2009, did not play its first opponent until 5 March 2016, when they faced the Lagos Marines and won 26–14. In that game, Oginni Hassan recorded six receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating the athleticism that would eventually catch the eye of professional scouts. Despite gaining interest from U.S. colleges, visa costs and the irregularity of organized football in Nigeria caused his applications to be denied multiple times.
Kehinde Oginni Hassan Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Kehinde Oginni Hassan’s route to the National Football League (NFL) opened in 2021, when former NFL defensive end Osi Umenyiora held a football camp in Nigeria as part of the International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), a league initiative designed to give foreign players a structured path to the NFL. Oginni Hassan attended the camp and was one of three players selected to train in London, where he spent six months showcasing his abilities to NFL scouts.
Following his time in London, Oginni Hassan traveled to Arizona State University to take part in a pro day. Scouts from the Kansas City Chiefs were impressed with his performance, and on 6 May 2022, the Chiefs signed him as an undrafted free agent. He was originally listed as a tight end but was assigned jersey number 67, a number reserved for offensive and defensive linemen. He was waived on 30 August 2022.
Atlanta Falcons (2024–Present)
On 9 May 2024, the Atlanta Falcons signed Kehinde Oginni Hassan as a defensive end, giving him another opportunity to continue his professional career. The Falcons listed him at 198 cm and 105 kg, a frame well suited to the defensive line. He was waived on 27 August 2024, and shortly afterward re-signed to the team’s practice squad, allowing him to remain within the organization and continue developing his game.
On 14 October 2024, Oginni Hassan was released from the practice squad. Despite the transaction, his path through the International Player Pathway Program and his time with two NFL franchises underscored his standing as one of the more prominent Nigerian-born players to reach the league in recent years.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kehinde Oginni Hassan is widely noted for the personal story that carried him into professional football. The 2014 bus accident that claimed the lives of three of his closest friends became a defining moment, and he has publicly committed his career to honoring their memory. His selection to the International Player Pathway Program’s London training group in 2021 and his subsequent signing with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 are regarded as major milestones in the broader effort to expand the NFL’s international reach.
Kehinde Oginni Hassan Career Wins
Kehinde Oginni Hassan’s career is defined more by perseverance and developmental progress than by a long list of statistical victories. As a defensive end and linebacker working through the International Player Pathway Program, his contributions have been measured in roster movement, training-ground development, and the steady expansion of opportunities for Nigerian-born players in the National Football League.
Early Career Highlights
Before turning professional, Oginni Hassan made his most visible mark with the Ahmadu Bello University team, where, in their first-ever competitive game on 5 March 2016 against the Lagos Marines, he recorded six receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns in a 26–14 win. Those numbers remain a foundational moment in his athletic story and a benchmark for the skill set that later attracted NFL scouts.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of team and statistical accomplishments, Oginni Hassan’s other major win has been cultural. By reaching the NFL through the International Player Pathway Program, he became a representative of a growing pipeline of African talent entering American professional football, and his journey from Abakaliki to the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons is regularly cited as a source of inspiration for young athletes in Nigeria.
Kehinde Oginni Hassan Family
Personal Life
Public information about Kehinde Oginni Hassan’s immediate family is limited. He was born in Abakaliki, Nigeria, and has spoken openly about the friends he lost in the 2014 bus accident, naming them as Tochukwu, David, and Hussein. He has credited them as a central motivation for his continued pursuit of football at the highest level.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Kehinde Oginni Hassan’s immediate professional status remained in transition following his 14 October 2024 release from the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad. The International Player Pathway Program has historically allowed participating players to be re-signed or allocated to other teams, and his size, length, and developmental trajectory continue to make him an attractive developmental prospect for organizations seeking depth along the defensive line.
As of 2025, no public reporting confirms a new contract or active roster spot for Oginni Hassan. His path mirrors that of several IPPP alumni who have used practice-squad opportunities and training invitations to build a foothold in the league. Whether through a future Falcons re-signing or an opportunity elsewhere, his combination of size and prior NFL experience positions him as a player worth monitoring as teams finalize their offseason plans.
Looking ahead, Oginni Hassan’s 2025 outlook will depend on offseason training, scheme fit, and the willingness of an organization to invest an International Player Pathway roster spot in a player of his physical profile. His story remains one of the more compelling international journeys in modern NFL history.