Statistics don't begin to tell the epic tale that is Eli Ankou's NFL journey.
The 30-year-old defensive tackle from Ottawa has appeared in 36 regular-season games (three starts) with six different teams since 2017. Ankou has been with nine clubs, some -- the Houston Texans (twice), Atlanta Falcons (three times) and Ankou's current squad the Buffalo Bills (three) -- more than once.
He has been traded once and released/waived at least 12 times, including on five occasions since first joining the Bills in 2021.
"It's very challenging," Ankou said. "Finding the reasons to be in the game and even play it in the first place are quintessential to what you should be looking for pretty much from the day you start.
"That's what will keep you grounded throughout the entire experience."
Following his college career at UCLA, Ankou signed with Houston in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. He has also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.
Ankou has played games for Jacksonville, Cleveland, Dallas, Tennessee, Atlanta and Buffalo, registering 49 tackles (19 solo), three quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks. He had five tackles in two contests this year with the Bills but was also released twice and spent much of the season on the practice roster.
"It's weird (because) I've grown and changed over time," Ankou said. "If you asked me when I was a rookie what drove me, I'd say obviously helping out my family and the people around me, achieving my dream of playing in the NFL and obviously the pay, the pay is huge.
"Ultimately when you're able to do all of those things you really must challenge yourself with, 'OK, what now … what are you looking for out of this game?"
Ankou discovered a personal reason this season. Led by NFL MVP Josh Allen, Buffalo (13-4) finished atop the AFC East before earning playoff wins over Denver (31-7) and Baltimore (27-25).
But Buffalo's championship aspiration ended with a heartbreaking 32-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
"Ultimately for me, it became more so about playing for the guys beside me," Ankou said. "Everyone in that room, whether you're asking someone like Josh Allen, (defensive end) Greg Rousseau, any of those guys, the common denominator was winning the Super Bowl.
"The question then becomes, 'What can I do to help them achieve their goal … and at the same time achieve mine?' If you conduct yourself in such a manner that you're playing for the dreams of the guy beside you, ultimately you find fulfilment in that."
After each NFL season, Ankou has teammates sign his helmet, which he displays at his Florida home. He has eight currently, but this year's Bills headgear really resonates with him.
"With a situation like this where you're going back and forth with a team, man, I won't lie, it's very challenging and mentally trying," he said. "Ultimately though, I had to look at the big picture and really lock in and focus on what are the things keeping me playing this game?
"I think those were strong enough reasons to say, 'I'm going to help my team in whatever way I can.' Unfortunately we didn't get to the big dance but I'm really happy I got to do that with them."
Ankou said he's somewhat surprised by the resolve he's shown in his NFL career. However, when adversity strikes, Ankou said he focuses on overcoming it rather than dwelling upon the negative.
"The realization I'm going through this very trying period doesn't really hit me until I'm done with it," he said. "Every time I pass by the helmets, it really does hit me because each has a story and its own set of challenges I had that year."
Ankou is taking his NFL career on a year-to-year basis but mentally feels his best football remains ahead.
"The average NFL career is about three years, assuming everything goes well and you stay healthy," he said. "Once I got past my third year, I was like, 'Wow, this is pretty nuts,' and then you start stacking them up one by one.
"I used to look at guys who were in their ninth year and think, 'Man, how did they ever get to this point?' Seeing myself in that position now is surreal."
Ankou isn't worrying about where he'll be in 2025.
"For me, its being able to put everything on display and go to the right location for that," he said. "Whether that's remaining in Buffalo or being somewhere else, that's up to the football gods.
"I'm just submitting myself to that process."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2025.
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
