Thomas Odukoya Bio
Thomas Ayodele Odukoya is a Dutch professional American football tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Born on May 5, 1997, in Amsterdam, Odukoya began his athletic career in association football before transitioning to American football at the age of 16. He played college football at institutions including West Hills–Coalinga, Garden City, and Eastern Michigan, carving out a reputation as a skilled player. After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, he joined the Tennessee Titans through the International Player Pathway Program before signing with the Patriots in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Thomas Ayodele Odukoya was born on May 5, 1997, in Amsterdam and raised in Almere in the Netherlands. He was born to a Dutch mother and a Nigerian father, giving him a multicultural family background. Growing up, Odukoya played association football, also known as soccer, but stepped away from the sport before high school. His athletic future changed direction when, at the age of 16, he was brought to a practice of the Flevo Phantoms American football team. He later said he fell immediately in love with the sport for what he called the sheer violence of the game and its physicality.
While attending Helen Parkhurst High School in the Netherlands, Odukoya played three seasons in two years for the Phantoms, a nine-man team. He lined up at defensive end and offensive lineman during his time with the club. In one standout season, he recorded 22 sacks and was named the Dutch national most valuable player. His play also earned him a selection to the Netherlands national American football team, signaling his early promise in the sport.
Path to American Football
Eager to play football in the United States, Thomas Ayodele Odukoya searched for opportunities to compete at the college level. He uploaded a YouTube highlight video and joined a Facebook group devoted to helping foreign players earn athletic scholarships. Realizing he had not taken the SAT or ACT, he understood he would need to start at a junior college. He enrolled at West Hills College Coalinga in California for the 2016 season, where coaches transitioned him to tight end. He recorded 15 receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns, earning all-conference recognition.
Odukoya transferred to Garden City Community College in Kansas in 2017, but broke his foot in the second game of the season and used a redshirt year to recover. Once healthy, he joined the Eastern Michigan Eagles of the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2018 and went on to play four seasons for the program. He was named team captain as a senior in 2021 and was selected third-team all-conference after posting 13 catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns. He finished his Eastern Michigan career with 40 games played and 21 catches for 194 yards and four touchdowns, and was invited to the Hula Bowl all-star game.
Thomas Odukoya Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Thomas Ayodele Odukoya’s early football career in the United States began at West Hills College Coalinga in 2016, where he made an immediate impact as a tight end. His 15 receptions, 184 receiving yards, and two touchdowns helped him earn all-conference honors in his first college season. The following year at Garden City Community College, a broken foot cut his season short after just two games and forced him to redshirt.
After recovering, Odukoya joined the Eastern Michigan Eagles in 2018 and appeared in eight games as a blocker during his first year with the program. The experience allowed him to adjust to the speed and physical demands of Football Bowl Subdivision competition, setting the foundation for the larger role he would assume over the next three seasons.
Tennessee Titans Breakthrough (2022–2025)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Thomas Ayodele Odukoya joined the Tennessee Titans through the International Player Pathway Program. On January 10, 2023, he signed a reserve and future contract with the Titans, securing his place in the organization. During the 2023 offseason, head coach Mike Vrabel publicly praised the move, saying the Titans had lucked out in finding Odukoya.
Odukoya was waived for final roster cuts in August 2023 but signed with the practice squad the following day. Following the 2023 regular season, the Titans signed him to a new reserve and future contract on January 8, 2024. In the 2024 preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints, he made a touchdown-saving tackle on returner Samson Nacua, a play in which he appeared to run more than 150 yards in total. On August 27, the Titans announced that Odukoya had made the 53-man roster for the 2024 season, putting him in position to become the first Dutch-born NFL player in 24 years. He made his NFL debut on special teams in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium, was waived on November 2, and was re-signed to the practice squad. He signed another reserve and future contract with Tennessee on January 6, 2025, was waived on August 26, 2025, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day before being promoted to the active roster on October 11 and waived three days later.
New England Patriots Era (2025–Present)
On October 16, 2025, Thomas Ayodele Odukoya signed with the New England Patriots’ practice squad, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. The move came shortly after his release from the Tennessee Titans’ active roster and gave him an opportunity to continue his development within a new organization. Joining the Patriots extended his NFL journey and reflected the ongoing value teams place on the International Player Pathway Program.
Odukoya’s transition to New England came as he continued to build on his experience as a blocking tight end and a reliable special teams contributor. His familiarity with multiple roles along the roster gave the Patriots flexibility in how they deployed him on game day.
Driving Style and Strengths
Across his college and professional stops, Thomas Ayodele Odukoya has been recognized primarily for his blocking ability and physical presence at the tight end position. He has also shown reliability on special teams, where his tackling and effort on coverage units have stood out. His combination of size, athleticism, and willingness to do the unglamorous work has made him a valuable depth piece for NFL rosters.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Odukoya’s professional career came during the 2024 preseason finale, when his lengthy touchdown-saving tackle against the New Orleans Saints drew national attention. Making the Titans’ 53-man roster later that month put him in line to become the first Dutch-born NFL player in 24 years. He also earned third-team all-conference recognition as a senior at Eastern Michigan in 2021, capping his college career with an invitation to the Hula Bowl.
Thomas Odukoya Career Wins
Thomas Ayodele Odukoya’s career highlights are measured less by win totals and more by milestones in a pioneering path from the Netherlands to the NFL. His 22-sack season with the Flevo Phantoms and his Dutch national most valuable player award marked him as a rising talent in Europe. In college, his all-conference selections at West Hills–Coalinga and Eastern Michigan, along with his Hula Bowl invitation, underscored his steady development.
Tennessee Titans Highlights
With the Tennessee Titans, Odukoya’s biggest win came in preseason form, when his dramatic tackle against the New Orleans Saints helped him earn a spot on the 2024 53-man roster. He also secured a series of reserve and future contracts, practice squad promotions, and game-day elevations that reflected the organization’s continued belief in his potential. His most recent win with the franchise was signing with the practice squad on August 27, 2025, after being waived in final roster cuts.
Thomas Odukoya Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Thomas Ayodele Odukoya was born to a Dutch mother and a Nigerian father, and he was raised in Almere after being born in Amsterdam. His multicultural upbringing shaped his early years before he discovered American football through the Flevo Phantoms.
2025 Season Performance
Thomas Ayodele Odukoya’s 2025 season has been defined by movement between rosters and practice squads. He signed a reserve and future contract with the Tennessee Titans on January 6, 2025, was waived on August 26, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. On October 11, he was promoted to the Titans’ active roster before being waived again three days later.
Shortly after that release, Odukoya signed with the New England Patriots’ practice squad on October 16, 2025, joining a new organization and continuing his pursuit of a stable NFL role. The midseason move provided a fresh opportunity to contribute within New England’s depth chart and on special teams.
Looking ahead, Odukoya’s outlook centers on earning a longer-term role with the Patriots and building on the experience he gained with the Titans. His combination of tight end blocking, special teams play, and international background keeps him firmly on the path set by the International Player Pathway Program.