PITTSBURGH — In some ways, you could say that outside linebacker Adetokunbo Ogundeji was born to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ogundeji, who goes by Ade, was born in Michigan and is of Nigerian descent. His last name means “the children of Ogun have doubled.”
Ogun is the Yoruba god of iron. What a fit.
Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, Ogundeji could find himself playing alongside veteran Steelers defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi. His name means “birthed by Ogun together.”
Ogunjobi has played for the Steelers since 2022, and though the team has had other players of Nigerian descent on the team such as tackle Chuks Okorafor, this will be the first time the Steelers could have any two Nigerians lined up on the defensive line, let along two whose name start with Ogun.
The children of Ogun have doubled, indeed.
Ogundeji was signed from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday as the Steelers deal with a rash of injuries at the outside linebacker position. Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig have been ruled out this week. DeMarvin Leal is expected to miss the rest of the season with a neck injury.
Jeremiah Moon will start opposite T.J. Watt against the Raiders, with Ogundeji and Eku Leota providing all of the team’s depth a the position.
Ogundeji wasn’t with the Steelers in training camp or the preseason, joining the practice squad in late August after roster cuts. He had been with the Atlanta Falcons, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, until May.
Ogundeji was a two-year starter for the Falcons, coming right in as a rookie and making an impact in 2021 and starting 16 games in 2022, before ankle and foot injuries cost him all of his 2023 season.
Since then, he’s just been waiting for a chance, and now he has it.
“I see it as an opportunity,” he said. “You don’t get this opportunity all the time. Last year, I didn’t play because of injury at all. Whenever I go out there, I go out there, play to the best of my ability and do what I can do.”
Ogundeji hasn’t been with the Steelers long, but when it comes to the depth options for this week, he’ll be the most experienced. Leota has been with the team even less, having just been signed on Oct. 1. Even Moon, who has been with the club since January, missed a bunch of time with a preseason ankle injury. Ogundeji feels he’s as ready as anyone to contribute.
“I feel like I’ve been here enough,” he said. “I’ve been here since right before the season and I’ve been able to pick up some stuff. The guys above me have been really well about teaching it. I feel like I’m ready.”
Among those people above him have been Ogunjobi, who helped the young edge rusher get comfortable in the Steelers ways of doing things.
“It’s always cool,” he said. “It’s always good to have another [Nigerian] guy in the locker room. We always joke around. The camaraderie is always good.”
There was a time when two Nigerians on the same team might have been noteworthy, but the West African country of 230 million people has become a regular producer of NFL talent. Wikipedia lists 96 NFL players of Nigerian descent, and there are probably more. Outside of the United States and Canada, no country currently has more NFL players.
“It might be genetics,” Ogunjobi said. “I think we might be denser, but we’re also very lean, so it might be perfect for the sport we play. High impact, intensity, we run a lot. You’ve got to be strong. Guys just kind of adapt to it. Some of these guys never played in college or in high school.”
Ade Ogundeji was born in West Bloomfield, Michigan and grew up in the Detroit suburbs before attending Notre Dame. He’s had plenty of football experience. Now it’s just about proving himself in a new environment.
“I’m just gonna go out there and play hard,” Ogundeji said. “I’ve played in the league. I have some experience. I’ve started in the league. I know what to understand. I’m really good in the run game. I’m good trying to get up the field in the pass game and then just understanding and being a smart player. That’s something I’ve always held my hat on.”