LaCale London Bio
LaCale London (born August 5, 1997) is an American professional football nose tackle for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Illinois Leathernecks and entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2020. London has also spent time with the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL, where his disruptive play along the defensive line earned him league-wide recognition.
Standing 6 ft 3 in and listed at 297 lb, London has built his career on physicality at the line of scrimmage and the ability to clog running lanes. He joined the Falcons in 2023 and has continued to develop within the organization, contributing on both defense and special teams. His journey from Peoria, Illinois, to the NFL reflects a steady climb through community college, a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program, and multiple professional stops.
Early Life and Background
LaCale London was born on August 5, 1997, in Peoria, Illinois. He grew up in the same city where he would later attend high school and begin his football career. London came of age in a region with a long tradition of producing tough, physical football players, and that environment helped shape his approach to the defensive line.
He attended Peoria High School, where his play in the trenches earned him all-conference honors and a defensive player of the year award. Those accolades established him as a prospect worth tracking, even if his path to major-college football would not be a direct one. The recognition at the high school level laid the groundwork for his next step.
After graduating from Peoria High School, London spent one year at Iowa Central Community College in 2016. As a freshman, he appeared in six games and recorded 32 tackles along with six quarterback sacks, numbers that demonstrated his pass-rushing potential. The strong production at the junior college level positioned him for a transfer to a four-year program.
Path to American Football
London transferred to Western Illinois University, a program competing in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), an NCAA Division I FCS conference. In 2018, he played in all eleven games and recorded 23 tackles with 3.5 sacks, performances that earned him a spot on the MVFC All-Newcomer team. The move from junior college to a full FBS-level schedule was a clear step up in competition, and London met the challenge.
As a senior in 2019, London started all twelve games and tied for second in the MVFC with three forced fumbles. He totaled 45 tackles and was named second-team All-MVFC by Phil Steele. By the end of his college career, he had shown the consistency and disruption that NFL scouts look for in interior defensive linemen.
Despite his production, London went unselected in the 2020 NFL draft. His path to the league would therefore come through the undrafted free agent market, a route that has produced many long-career NFL players. The combination of size, college production, and motor gave him a legitimate opportunity to compete for a roster spot.
LaCale London Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
After going unselected in the 2020 NFL draft, London signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. He was released at initial roster cuts but quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad, where he spent the entire 2020 campaign. The year served as a development period, allowing London to learn the Bears’ defensive system while adjusting to the pace of professional football.
The 2021 season began with London placed on injured reserve, and he was released with an injury settlement on September 8 of that year. He returned to the Bears’ practice squad on November 2 and was activated in December. London made his NFL debut on December 20, 2021, playing one snap in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings. On January 11, 2022, he signed a reserve/future contract with Chicago, before being waived on August 23, 2022.
St. Louis BattleHawks (2022–2023)
On November 17, 2022, London was selected by the St. Louis BattleHawks in the XFL draft, joining the spring league to continue his development. The BattleHawks gave him an opportunity to play a featured role along their defensive line, and he delivered with consistent disruption in the backfield.
After posting two forced fumbles in a win over the Seattle Sea Dragons, London was named the XFL Defensive Player of the Week in 2023. The honor highlighted his ability to create turnovers and pressure the passer at the professional level. He was released from his XFL contract on May 15, 2023, ending his time in the spring league on a strong note.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2023–Present)
On May 16, 2023, London signed with the Atlanta Falcons, returning to the NFL. He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad, a common path for developmental defensive linemen. On October 24, 2023, the Falcons promoted London to the active roster, and he was later placed on injured reserve on November 1 before being activated on December 16.
London was waived by the Falcons on August 27, 2024, and again re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 17, 2025, securing his place in the organization. As of Week 10 of the 2025 season, he has recorded 21 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery, wearing jersey number 94 for Atlanta.
Notable Events and Milestones
London’s career has been defined by perseverance, as he has repeatedly transitioned between practice squad roles and active roster promotions. His XFL Defensive Player of the Week award in 2023 stands as one of his signature professional honors. Making his NFL debut on December 20, 2021, against the Minnesota Vikings marked his first regular-season appearance in the league.
LaCale London Career Wins
As a defensive lineman, LaCale London’s statistical impact is measured in pressures, tackles, and turnovers rather than wins in the traditional sense. His most notable individual win came in the XFL in 2023, when he was named Defensive Player of the Week after forcing two fumbles in a victory over the Seattle Sea Dragons. He has also been part of team victories during his stints with the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons, contributing along the defensive line in those wins.
Other Wins and Performances
During his college career at Western Illinois, London earned All-MVFC recognition in both 2018 and 2019, including second-team All-MVFC honors as a senior. Those awards reflect consistently strong individual performance at the FCS level. In the NFL, his role with the Falcons has focused on contributing to defensive rotations and special teams.
LaCale London Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about LaCale London’s family background is limited. He is known to have grown up in Peoria, Illinois, where he attended Peoria High School and began his football career. Specific details about his parents or any broader family athletic lineage are not publicly documented in available sources.
Personal Life
LaCale London keeps his personal life largely private. He has not publicly disclosed information about a spouse, partner, or children. His professional social media presence centers on his football career and his work within the Atlanta Falcons organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents LaCale London’s second full year on the Atlanta Falcons’ active roster after signing a reserve/future contract in January. Wearing number 94, he has continued to develop as a rotational nose tackle, contributing against the run and as a situational pass rusher. Through Week 10, London has recorded 21 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery, a steady statistical line for an interior defender in a complementary role.
His 2025 production has reflected the consistency that defined his college and XFL careers, namely the ability to disrupt plays in the backfield. The Falcons’ defensive scheme has continued to use him on early downs and in short-yardage situations, where his size and leverage are most valuable. The forced fumble and fumble recovery totals also suggest that his ball-production skill set has carried over from the BattleHawks to the NFL level.
Looking ahead, London’s role with Atlanta is likely to remain focused on interior line depth and special teams. As the season progresses, his continued health and productivity will be key factors in determining whether he remains a core part of the Falcons’ defensive rotation. His path from undrafted free agent to a multi-year contributor is a story of steady perseverance, and the 2025 campaign offers a chance to add another chapter.