Kosi Onyeka

Kosi Onyeka (born October 26, 1999) is a Canadian professional football defensive back for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Kosi Onyeka

No. 31     Saskatchewan Roughriders
Born:	(1999-10-26) October 26, 1999 (age 25) Brampton, Ontario
Career information
Status	Active
CFL status	National
Position(s)	Defensive back
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg)
University	Guelph
CFL draft	2021, undrafted
Career history
As player
2022–present	Saskatchewan Roughriders
Career stats
Playing stats at CFL.ca

University career

Onyeka played U Sports football for the Guelph Gryphons from 2017 to 2021.^[1] He played in 25 games where he had 64 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups.^[2]

Professional career

Onyeka was eligible for the shortened 2021 CFL draft, but was not drafted and returned to the Gryphons for their 2021 season.^[3] He was later signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders on February 28, 2022.^[4] Onyeka began the 2022 season on the practice roster, but soon after made his professional debut on June 18, 2022, against the Edmonton Elks.^[5] He dressed in eight regular season games that year where he recorded one defensive tackle and one special teams tackle.^[5]

In 2023, Onyeka was part of the final training camp cuts and was released on June 4, 2023.^[5][6] However, he was re-signed on June 21, 2023, to a practice roster agreement.^[5] He then dressed in 15 regular season games where he had one defensive tackle and 17 special teams tackles.^[5]

In the 2024 season, Onyeka played in ten regular season games and recorded one defensive tackle, seven special teams tackles, and one forced fumble.^[5] He was scheduled to become a free agent in February 2025, but instead signed a contract extension on January 31, 2025.^[7]

Personal life

Onyeka was born to parents Vin and Nwando Onyeka.^[3] Onyeka's older brother, Nakas, played at linebacker in the Canadian Football League for four seasons.^[3] His younger brother, Ifenna, plays at defensive lineman and was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts.^[3][8] Onyeka is the cousin of defensive end Kene Onyeka and defensive back Godfrey Onyeka, both of whom also play in the CFL.^[2][9] He is of Nigerian descent.^[3]