Freedom Akinmoladun Bio
Freedom Akinmoladun is an American professional football defensive end who has built a career spanning multiple NFL practice squads, the United States Football League, the XFL, and indoor football. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 286 pounds, he plays along the defensive front and has remained active in professional football since 2019. He is currently signed with the Omaha Beef of the National Arena League, adding an indoor chapter to a journeyman resume across several leagues.
Born and raised in Grandview, Missouri, Akinmoladun developed into a college contributor at Nebraska before entering the professional ranks. His professional journey has included stints with the New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Philadelphia Stars, and the St. Louis BattleHawks. Across those stops he appeared in limited regular-season NFL action, with most of his work coming on practice squads.
Early Life and Background
Freedom Akinmoladun was born on February 11, 1996, in Grandview, Missouri, in the United States. He grew up in the Kansas City metropolitan area, where high school football is a central part of community life. He attended Grandview High School, where he developed the size and skill set that would later define his role as a defensive end.
Football runs deep in the Akinmoladun family. Freedom’s older brother, Olu’Kayode Akinmoladun, played college football at Nebraska–Kearney before going on to play professionally for various indoor football teams, including the Green Bay Blizzard, Texas Revolution, and Omaha Beef. Freedom’s younger brother, Justice Akinmoladun, was playing college football at Washburn as of 2022. That family connection to the game helped shape Freedom’s early path and introduced him to the indoor side of professional football.
Path to American Football
After his time at Grandview High School, Akinmoladun continued his football career at the University of Nebraska, joining the Nebraska Cornhuskers program. He spent his college years developing along the defensive line in the Big Ten Conference, a top level of college competition that regularly produces NFL talent. The Nebraska program gave him the platform to face high-level offensive linemen and prepare for the next step.
Following the 2018 college season, Akinmoladun declared for the 2019 NFL Draft. He went unselected, but his college resume and measurables were enough to earn an opportunity as an undrafted free agent. That pathway, from Grandview to Nebraska to a professional contract, marked the transition from amateur to professional football and launched a career built on persistence across multiple rosters.
Freedom Akinmoladun Career
Early Career (2019)
Akinmoladun signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL draft on May 14, 2019. He competed through the spring and summer before being waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019. The Giants signed him to their practice squad the next day, giving him a foothold in the league as he continued to adjust to the professional level.
His time with the Giants was brief. He was released on November 12, 2019, but it did not take long for another opportunity to arrive. On November 19, 2019, Akinmoladun signed to the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad, beginning a longer stay in Cincinnati that would mark his first extended professional home.
NFL Journeyman Years (2019–2021)
Akinmoladun was promoted to the Bengals’ active roster on December 14, 2019, and appeared in two games that season, Weeks 16 and 17. Those appearances gave him his first recorded NFL regular-season action and produced his first two total tackles, the only NFL statistics on his career resume to date. He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and signed back to the practice squad the following day.
During the 2020 season with Cincinnati, Akinmoladun was elevated to the active roster multiple times on a weekly basis, including for games against the Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 list in November 2020 before being restored in December. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 4, 2021, but was waived on August 22, 2021.
On August 24, 2021, Akinmoladun was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans, though he was waived five days later. He then signed with the New York Jets practice squad on December 21, 2021, and appeared in one game, Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Those moves across four NFL organizations reflected a common path for undrafted defensive linemen, who often rely on practice squad opportunities to extend their careers.
Spring Football Era (2022–2025)
Akinmoladun transitioned to spring professional football when he was selected with the sixth pick of the second round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Philadelphia Stars. The move gave him a chance to play a more prominent on-field role after years of practice squad work in the NFL. The Stars provided a platform for him to establish himself as a regular contributor on the defensive line.
When the XFL returned in 2023, the St. Louis BattleHawks selected Akinmoladun in the first round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft on January 1, 2023. He re-signed with the team on January 31, 2024, signaling his value within the Battlehawks’ defensive scheme. He remained with the Battlehawks until he was released on March 19, 2026.
Indoor Football with the Omaha Beef (2026–Present)
On May 7, 2026, Akinmoladun was signed by the Omaha Beef of the National Arena League. The signing continued a family connection to indoor football, since his older brother Olu’Kayode had previously played for the Omaha Beef. The move placed Freedom on a roster in the arena game, where the pace of play and field size create a different kind of challenge for a defensive end.
Notable Events and Milestones
Akinmoladun’s most notable career marker is his first appearance in an NFL regular-season game with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, where he recorded his first two career tackles. His selection in the first round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft by the St. Louis BattleHawks stands as a recognition of his development as a professional, and his eventual signing with the Omaha Beef brought his career full circle alongside his brother’s indoor football path.
Freedom Akinmoladun Career Stats
Across his NFL career, Freedom Akinmoladun has appeared in 4 regular-season games and recorded 2 total tackles, according to available records. He has logged time with the Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Jets at the NFL level, with additional practice squad contributions for the New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, and New York Jets. In spring football, he played for the Philadelphia Stars in 2022 and the St. Louis BattleHawks from 2023 through early 2026, before joining the Omaha Beef of the National Arena League.
Spring League Highlights
With the Philadelphia Stars in 2022, Akinmoladun played a role on the defensive line during the USFL season. He then joined the St. Louis BattleHawks in 2023, where he re-signed in 2024, indicating sustained importance to the team’s defensive rotation. He remained a Battlehawk through March 19, 2026, when he was released ahead of his move to indoor football.
Freedom Akinmoladun Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Freedom Akinmoladun comes from a football family with roots in Grandview, Missouri. His older brother, Olu’Kayode Akinmoladun, played college football at Nebraska–Kearney before going on to play professionally for various indoor football teams, including the Green Bay Blizzard, Texas Revolution, and Omaha Beef. That indoor football experience helped prepare Freedom for the arena game he now plays himself.
Personal Life
Freedom’s younger brother, Justice Akinmoladun, was playing college football at Washburn as of 2022, extending the family’s involvement in the sport. Akinmoladun’s professional path has taken him across the United States, but his ties to Missouri and the indoor football community have remained strong throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season, Freedom Akinmoladun continued his tenure with the St. Louis BattleHawks, the team he had joined in 2023. He had re-signed with the Battlehawks on January 31, 2024, and remained a part of the defensive line rotation through the season. His presence in the XFL environment gave him a consistent opportunity to play rather than operate primarily from a practice squad.
The 2025 campaign represented another full spring football season for Akinmoladun, building on his earlier work with the Philadelphia Stars in 2022. His career arc through 2025 reflected steady employment across multiple professional leagues rather than headline statistics, with his impact measured by roster reliability and defensive line depth. He remained with the St. Louis BattleHawks until being released on March 19, 2026, after the 2025 spring season had concluded.
