From South Africa to the Jets, Paschal Ekeji is closer to his NFL dream than ever before

Paschal Ekeji was 17 years old when a friend in South Africa asked him to play “Madden.” Ekeji, an accomplished rugby player, had never seen American football before. “I didn’t know what football was,” Ekeji said this week.“He beat me bad.” Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off.

Ekeji immediately sought out YouTube and began watching “Madden” tutorials, and he discovered highlights of Odell Beckham Jr.there, too.

He began to learn more about football from the videos. Seven years later, Ekeji could share the field with Beckham when the Jets face the Giants at MetLife Stadium.Ekeji is now an outside linebacker with the Jets as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program.

He will be playing in the third football game of his life and will see Beckham up close.“It’s pretty cool,” Ekeji said.Unlike many of the players in Friday’s game, Ekeji’s roster spot is likely secure.The Jets can carry him on their practice squad and he won’t count against their roster limit since he is in the IPP. Ekekji was born in Lesotho to Nigerian parents.

They moved to Ficksburg, South Africa, when he was young.Ekeji became a professional rugby player. His agent sent him an email in 2022 that former Giant Osi Umenyiora was holding a workout in Ghana, looking for international players.

Ekeji tried out as a receiver but was too young for the program. He stayed interested in the NFL, watching games when he could.Then, he got another chance in January 2025 and moved to defensive end. The Jets ended up signing Ekeji in November and he was added to their practice squad.

Suddenly, he was on a practice field with pro football players. “It was interesting,” Ekeji said.“I think I got here at like 228 pounds.

I remember my first practice.I was on scout team and Jelani [Woods] and [Armand] Membou run like an outside zone and they double-team me, basically, and they jus...