Eli Ankou is a Canadian professional football player who serves as a defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. Despite facing injuries and team changes, he has persevered to fulfill his NFL ambitions. This article will trace his path from high school in Ottawa to his present NFL position.
Eli Ankou has not disclosed his net worth, but his main income stems from his football career. He is under a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills and has played for various other NFL teams, earning diverse salaries and bonuses. As one of the few Canadians in the NFL, he proudly represents his country.
Eli Ankou has signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. Image Source: Instagram@gravitytrain
In addition, Ankou inked a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, which amounts to $289,800, with an average annual salary of the same figure.
Eli Ankou was born on June 8, 1994, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and initially played football for the St. Peter Catholic High School Knights in Orleans, Ontario. However, he later transferred to Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, Delaware, for his senior year.
As a formidable side defensive end, he garnered interest from numerous college scouts. He accepted a football scholarship from UCLA, where he pursued a major in political science.
Ankou was a member of the UCLA Bruins from 2013 to 2016. His freshman year was spent as a redshirt, and he encountered an injury that caused him to miss most of his sophomore year. Following Eddie Vanderdoes' season-ending knee injury, he stepped into a starting role during his senior year.
CAPTION: Eli Ankou is a Canadian professional football player. Image Source: Instagram@gravitytrain
Overall, he accumulated 91 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and one fumble recovery across 38 games. He also earned the honorable mention for Pac-12 All-Academic recognition twice.
Ankou went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft but secured a deal as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans. After being waived by the Texans, the Jacksonville Jaguars claimed him off waivers. During his time with the Jaguars from 2017 to 2019, Ankou made appearances in 11 games, securing 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
In 2019, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns and played in nine games, gathering 14 tackles and one sack.
Following his departure from the Browns in 2020, he had stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, and Atlanta Falcons before joining the Buffalo Bills' practice squad in 2021 and later being moved to the active roster in 2023. As of now, he has yet to play in any games for the Bills.
People are more curious to know whether the NFL star is currently married or not. However, he is very private about his personal life and likes to stay away from the media attention.
Eli Ankou alongside his partner Shayna Powless. Image Source: Instagram@gravitytrain
As some reports, he is presently in a relationship with Shayna Powless, an American racing cyclist, and the couple has been together since 2013. They crossed paths during Ankou's college football days at UCLA. At the moment, the couple has not shared any public updates regarding their wedding. Rest assured, we'll provide updates if this information becomes available.
Eli Ankou's mother is Nicole Bellefeuille, a member of the Ojibwe tribe with family connections to the Dokis First Nation near Sudbury. His father Adolphe is originally from Togo, a small country in West Africa.
In addition, he has two siblings, a brother named Roger Ankou and a sister named Nima Bellefeuille. His family provided significant support throughout his career.
