Tanoh Kpassagnon Bio
Tanoh Kpassagnon is an American professional football defensive end born on June 14, 1994, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Standing 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) and weighing around 289 lb (131 kg), he has carved out a niche as a long, athletic edge player across multiple National Football League franchises. Kpassagnon is best known for his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he contributed to the franchise’s Super Bowl LIV championship over the San Francisco 49ers in February 2020. Over the course of his career he has also suited up for the New Orleans Saints, the Chicago Bears, and the Indianapolis Colts.
After playing his college ball at Villanova University, Kpassagnon transitioned from tight end to defensive end and developed into one of the most disruptive linemen in the Colonial Athletic Association. His combination of size, length, and power helped him earn back-to-back First-team All-CAA honors in 2015 and 2016, and the CAA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2016. Selected 59th overall by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft, he has continued to provide veteran depth and situational pass-rushing value well into the later stages of his career.
Early Life and Background
Tanoh Kpassagnon was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and grew up in a household shaped by strong academic and professional influences. His mother, Winifred Wafwoyo, is a chemist of Ugandan heritage, and his father, Patrice Kpassagnon Tagro, is an economist of Ivorian heritage. Their combined academic and professional backgrounds gave the family a deeply analytical orientation, which Kpassagnon has credited with helping him stay grounded away from football.
He later moved to the Philadelphia suburbs, where he attended Wissahickon High School in Ambler, Pennsylvania. It was there that Kpassagnon first drew attention as a multi-sport athlete, and his size, length, and foot speed quickly made him a coveted recruit. Despite his eventual accolades, the recruitment process was slow, and only one college program extended him a full football scholarship offer. That single opportunity would set the course for the rest of his career.
Path to American Football
Kpassagnon committed to Villanova University, the only program to offer him a scholarship, and began his career as a tight end. He redshirted his freshman season and worked on his frame and technique before eventually cracking the starting lineup. By his junior year, the Villanova coaching staff made the decision to move him to defensive end, a switch that proved transformative for his development and his future draft stock.
As a senior, Kpassagnon was named the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year after recording 11 sacks. He also delivered one of his most memorable performances against Pittsburgh, where he blocked a field goal and added two tackles for loss in a single game. That senior campaign cemented his reputation as one of the top small-school pass rushers in the 2017 draft class and earned invitations to the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.
Tanoh Kpassagnon Career
Early Career (2017-2020)
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Kpassagnon in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the 59th overall pick, making him the seventh defensive end taken that year. He signed a four-year, $4.32 million rookie contract that included $1.94 million in guarantees and a $1.32 million signing bonus. With veterans like Tamba Hali injured and Dee Ford holding down the starting role, Kpassagnon entered his rookie season as a backup edge rusher who could line up at multiple spots along the defensive front.
He made his regular-season debut in the Chiefs’ 42-27 season-opening win over the New England Patriots and earned his first career start against the Denver Broncos on New Year’s Eve 2017. In that start he piled up seven combined tackles and two sacks. Over the next three seasons he developed into a dependable rotational pass rusher, finishing with 28 total tackles, one sack, and three passes defensed in 2020 while continuing to contribute on special teams and as a situational edge presence.
Kansas City Chiefs Breakthrough (2017-2020)
Kpassagnon’s most iconic moment with the Chiefs came during the 2019 postseason. On January 19, 2020, he recorded two sacks of Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the AFC Championship Game, helping Kansas City reach Super Bowl LIV. Two weeks later, the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 to win their first Super Bowl in 50 years, giving Kpassagnon a championship ring in just his third NFL season.
He continued to deliver timely plays the following year. In Week 16 of the 2020 regular season, Kpassagnon tipped a potential game-tying field goal attempt by Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo to preserve a 17-14 victory. He then added a sack of Josh Allen in the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills, helping Kansas City return to the Super Bowl. Across his four-year rookie contract, he appeared in 64 games for the Chiefs, building the resume that would set up his next NFL opportunity.
New Orleans Saints Era (2021-2024)
On March 29, 2021, Kpassagnon signed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints as he looked to expand his role in a new defensive scheme. He was placed on injured reserve on December 2 of that season, an early reminder of the physical toll of playing defensive end in the NFL. Despite the setback, the Saints saw enough long-term potential to invest further, signing him to a two-year contract extension on February 27, 2023.
The 2023 season produced one of the most productive stretches of his career. In Week 15 against the New York Giants, Kpassagnon recorded a career-high three sacks of quarterback Tommy DeVito. The following offseason, however, brought another setback. On May 28, 2024, the Saints announced that he had suffered a torn Achilles tendon and would miss training camp. He was placed on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list on August 27 and was not activated until December 14, limiting his impact in the final year of his Saints contract.
Chicago Bears Era (2025)
On July 22, 2025, Kpassagnon signed with the Chicago Bears in search of a fresh start. He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, only to be re-signed to the practice squad the very next day. The Bears elevated him off the practice squad for their Monday Night Football opener against the Minnesota Vikings, and he responded by sacking J. J. McCarthy early in the second half.
That performance was strong enough to earn him a spot back on the 53-man roster, as the Bears signed him to the active roster on September 20, 2025. His time in Chicago was short, however. Kpassagnon was released on October 17, re-signed to the practice squad, and then released again on October 21, ending his second stint with the Bears.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2025)
On October 27, 2025, the Indianapolis Colts signed Kpassagnon to their practice squad, giving him another opportunity to prove he could still contribute at the NFL level. He was released by Indianapolis on November 18, 2025, closing out a whirlwind 2025 season in which he suited up for three different franchises across active and practice squad roles.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kpassagnon is best known as a long, powerful edge rusher who wins with leverage, length, and a relentless motor. His 6 ft 7 in frame and large wingspan make him difficult to engulf in the run game, and he is especially effective as a bull-rusher and a contain player against the run. Coaches have praised his versatility, deploying him at defensive end, defensive tackle, and outside linebacker in sub-packages, and he has developed a reputation for producing in high-leverage moments such as AFC Championship Games and one-score regular-season tilts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Kpassagnon’s career are his two-sack performance in the 2019 AFC Championship Game against the Tennessee Titans and his tip of a potential game-tying field goal against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 of the 2020 season. He is a Super Bowl LIV champion and was a two-time First-team All-CAA selection, along with the 2016 CAA Defensive Player of the Year. His career-high three-sack game against the New York Giants in 2023 stands as one of the most productive individual afternoons of his professional career.
Tanoh Kpassagnon Career Wins
Tanoh Kpassagnon’s career is defined less by gaudy win totals and more by impact plays on winning football teams. Across 146 total tackles, 17.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 9 pass deflections through the 2024 season, he has consistently delivered as a complementary piece on competitive defenses. His most important team victory came in Super Bowl LIV, where the Kansas City Chiefs erased a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20.
Kansas City Chiefs Highlights
With the Chiefs from 2017 to 2020, Kpassagnon appeared in 64 regular-season games and contributed to back-to-back AFC Championship Game wins, including the run that delivered Kansas City’s first Super Bowl title in five decades. His first career start in 2017 produced two sacks against the Denver Broncos, and he later added postseason sacks of Ryan Tannehill and Josh Allen, two of the most high-profile quarterbacks of that era.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond Kansas City, Kpassagnon posted his most productive individual performance as a New Orleans Saint, recording a career-high three sacks against the New York Giants in Week 15 of the 2023 season. He also made an instant impact during his brief 2025 stint with the Chicago Bears, sacking Vikings quarterback J. J. McCarthy in Week 1 on Monday Night Football. Although roster moves have defined his recent seasons, his ability to contribute immediately upon elevation has remained a constant.
Tanoh Kpassagnon Family
Family Background and Lineage
Kpassagnon was raised in a multiculturally rich household that blended Ivorian and Ugandan heritage. His father, Patrice Kpassagnon Tagro, is an economist, and his mother, Winifred Wafwoyo, is a chemist. The family placed a strong emphasis on academics, and Kpassagnon carried that focus into his own life, double-majoring in accounting and finance at Villanova and later being admitted to the Master of Business Administration program at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington.
Personal Life
Off the field, Kpassagnon is widely regarded as a thoughtful, detail-oriented professional who balances football with continued academic interests. He completed internships at the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers during two of his college summers, underscoring his long-term interest in business and finance. His social media presence, including a verified account under the handle passinyo, has allowed him to stay connected with fans as he continues his journeyman career around the league.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a study in perseverance for Tanoh Kpassagnon. After four seasons in Kansas City and four more in New Orleans, he entered the year looking for a fresh opportunity and signed with the Chicago Bears on July 22. A late-August cut and quick re-signing to the practice squad did little to slow him down, as he produced a second-half sack of J. J. McCarthy in Chicago’s Monday Night Football opener against the Minnesota Vikings. That performance led to a promotion back to the Bears’ active roster on September 20.
His tenure in Chicago was brief, however, as he was released on October 17, re-signed to the practice squad, and then released again on October 21. The Indianapolis Colts picked him up on October 27, giving him another chance to compete, but he was let go on November 18. Across the 2025 season, Kpassagnon has continued to demonstrate the value of a veteran edge rusher who can step in and contribute on short notice.
Looking ahead, the veteran defensive end remains an attractive option for teams searching for pass-rushing depth down the stretch. His length, power, and situational experience in playoff football make him a logical practice-squad elevation candidate for clubs preparing for a postseason push. Whether the 2025 campaign ends in Kansas City-style triumph or simply a stabilizing late-season role, Kpassagnon has once again proven that he belongs in the NFL conversation.