Tanoh Kpassagnon is not your typical NFL player. He is a 6-foot-7, 289-pound defensive end who can run a 4.83-second 40-yard dash and bench press 225 pounds 23 times. He is also a double major in accounting and finance who interned at PricewaterhouseCoopers for two summers.
He is a Super Bowl champion who was drafted in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017. And he is a son of immigrants who was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and grew up in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
Kpassagnon’s parents, Patrice and Winifred, are from Ivory Coast and Uganda, respectively. They met in New York and moved to Michigan, where Tanoh was born.
Tanoh-Kpassagnon is a passout from Villanova UniversityImage Source: Instagram When he was four, they relocated to Pennsylvania, where he attended Wissahickon High School. He played football, basketball, and track and field, but he was not heavily recruited by college programs. He received only one scholarship offer, from Villanova University, a Division I FCS school.
At Villanova, Kpassagnon redshirted his freshman year and started as a tight end. He switched to defensive end by his junior year, and he blossomed into a dominant force. He recorded 22 sacks and 37.5 tackles for loss in his college career, earning first-team All-CAA honors twice and CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
Tanoh also excelled in the classroom, maintaining a 3.74 GPA and landing internships at PwC, where he worked on tax and audit projects.
Kpassagnon’s impressive performance at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine caught the attention of NFL scouts and analysts. He was projected to be a second-to-fourth round pick, and he was ranked among the top defensive ends in the draft. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him with the 59th overall pick, making him the highest-drafted player from Villanova since Howie Long in 1981.
CAPTION: Tanoh-Kpassagnon was signed to New Orleans SaintsImage Source: Instagram Kpassagnon spent four seasons with the Chiefs, playing mostly as a rotational player behind Frank Clark and Alex Okafor. He had his best season in 2020, when he started 15 games and recorded seven sacks, 28 tackles, and a forced fumble. He also helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV, where he had two tackles and a pass deflection in the 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Tanoh Kpassagnon signed to a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints worth $5,000,000, which includes a signing bonus of $1,400,000 and guarantees totaling $2,500,000. His average annual salary under this contract is $2,500,000.
In 2024, Kpassagnon's earnings will consist of a base salary of $2,000,000 and a roster bonus of $500,000. His contract will result in a cap hit of $3,303,000 and a dead cap value of $2,309,000.
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Tanoh Kpassagnon has faced some injuries and setbacks in his football career. In 2015, he missed two games due to a knee injury. He still managed to record 9.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss that season. In 2018, he suffered an ankle injury in the preseason and was inactive for the first four games of the regular season. He played in 11 games, but only had four tackles and one sack.
Tanoh-Kpassagnon is still up besides the consequences that he facedImage Source: Instagram In 2020, he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on December 26, along with four other Chiefs players. He was activated on January 2, 2021, and played in the final regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
In 2021, he missed two games due to a groin injury. He returned to action in Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks and recorded a sack and a forced fumble.
Despite these challenges, Kpassagnon has shown resilience and determination to overcome them and contribute to his team’s success. He is a valuable member of the Saints’ defense and a role model for aspiring athletes.
Kpassagnon is a devout Christian who credits his faith for his success and motivation. He is also passionate about giving back to the community, especially to children and youth. He has participated in various charitable events and initiatives, such as the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats campaign, the Chiefs’ Play 60 program, and the Saints’ Huddle for 100 project.
Kpassagnon is also interested in pursuing a career in finance or accounting after his playing days are over. He has said that he enjoys working with numbers and solving problems, and that he would like to use his skills and knowledge to help others. He has also expressed interest in learning more about his African heritage and visiting his parents’ home countries.
Kpassagnon is a rare combination of physical talent, academic excellence, and personal character. He is an inspiration to many people who aspire to achieve their dreams and make a positive impact on the world. He is Tanoh Kpassagnon, and he is more than just a football player.
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