Olakunle Fatukasi

Olakunle Fatukasi is an American professional football player who plays as a linebacker. Best known for his time in the National Football League (NFL) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams, he currently plays in the United Football League (UFL) for the Birmingham Stallions.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Olakunle Fatukasi was born on June 11, 1999, in Far Rockaway, New York, USA. The Linebacker stands 185 cm tall, and his weight was last listed at 106 kg.

He attended Grand Street Campus High School in Brooklyn, New York. Following graduation, he played college football for Rutgers University from 2017 to 2021. He developed into a highly productive defensive anchor for the Scarlet Knights.

During the 2020 season, he led the Big Ten Conference in tackles, was named a team captain, and earned Second-team All-Big Ten honors. He returned for a fifth season in 2021, earning Third-team All-Big Ten recognition despite missing time due to injury.

Personal Life

His older brother, Folorunso "Foley" Fatukasi, is an established defensive tackle in the NFL who has played for the Jets, Jaguars, and Texans. His younger brother, Tunde Fatukasi, also played college football at Rutgers before transferring to Bowling Green.

Professional Career

Fatukasi turned pro in 2022 but went undrafted during the NFL Draft. In May 2022, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and successfully made their initial 53-man roster out of training camp.

During his rookie season, he played in 13 games for the Buccaneers, primarily contributing on special teams, before being waived in December 2022. He spent the remainder of that season on the practice squad of the Denver Broncos. Over the next year, Fatukasi spent the offseason with both the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs before signing with the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad in October 2023, where he remained through the 2024 offseason.

In late 2024, Fatukasi transitioned to the United Football League (UFL), signing with the St. Louis Battlehawks for the 2025 season. In January 2026, he was selected by the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL Draft to continue his professional playing career.

Career Highlights:

• 2020 – Second-team All-Big Ten
• 2021 – Third-team All-Big Ten