Ty Nsekhe Bio
Attauyo Nkere “Ty” Nsekhe (born October 27, 1985) is an American professional football offensive tackle. Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall and listed at 325 pounds, Nsekhe has spent more than a decade carving out a journeyman career across the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League, and the National Football League. He played college football for the Texas State Bobcats and has appeared in 105 NFL games with 25 starts across multiple franchises.
Undrafted in 2009, Nsekhe has become a respected swing tackle and depth piece, known for his rare size, his willingness to play multiple positions along the offensive line, and his perseverance through off-field adversity. His career arc, from minor-league arenas to a $14.5 million contract, stands as one of the more unconventional paths of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Attauyo Nkere Nsekhe was born on October 27, 1985, in Brooklyn, New York, and later relocated to Texas, where he attended Bowie High School in Arlington. A multi-sport athlete, he played both football and basketball and earned first-team All-Area honors as both a junior and a senior. His combination of height, length, and athleticism made him an intriguing college prospect despite his late physical development.
After high school, Nsekhe accepted a football scholarship to Texas State University, where he saw action as a true freshman in 2003. His college path proved turbulent. In 2004, an off-field legal incident involving a fraternity house robbery led to a second-degree felony charge; he ultimately accepted a plea deal that included ten years of probation, 150 hours of community service, restitution, and a reduction from a full to a partial scholarship.
Following those events, Nsekhe transferred to Tarleton State, an NCAA Division II program, in 2005, appearing in five games with one start. In 2006, a recommendation from Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton led him to Northwestern Oklahoma State. He stayed only one semester and was expelled without playing, ending his formal college career and setting the stage for a long road back into football.
Path to Professional Football
After two years away from the game, Nsekhe signed with the Corpus Christi Sharks of the af2 arena league in 2008. His return was short-lived, as an arrest led to time at the C. A. Holliday Transfer Facility, but he came back to the Sharks in 2009, lining up at offensive lineman, defensive lineman, and tight end before the league folded in September of that year.
The shutdown of the af2 forced Nsekhe to find a new league, and in 2010 he signed with the Dallas Vigilantes of the Arena Football League. Although he appeared in only one game, the Vigilantes stint opened the door to more stable arena opportunities. He joined the Philadelphia Soul in 2011 and posted 8 receptions for 91 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding 4 tackles, then moved to the San Antonio Talons in 2012, where he appeared in 11 games and continued to flash versatility in space.
His arena work attracted NFL attention in 2012 when the Indianapolis Colts signed him after releasing offensive tackle Ben Ijalana. Although he was cut less than a month later, the Colts deal validated his transition from indoor football to the highest level of the sport.
Ty Nsekhe Career
Early Career (2009-2014)
Nsekhe’s NFL journey began in earnest in September 2012, when he was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Rams one day after his Colts release. He entered the league as a 26-year-old rookie, played in two games, and was shuffled between the active roster and the practice squad before being waived injured in August 2013.
In January 2014, the New Orleans Saints signed Nsekhe to a reserve/futures contract, but a series of injury moves saw him waived, placed on injured reserve, and waived again by September. A brief signing to the Montreal Alouettes’ practice roster in October 2014 briefly took him to the Canadian Football League, but he returned stateside before the end of that year.
Washington Redskins Breakthrough (2015-2018)
On February 10, 2015, Nsekhe signed with the Washington Redskins, setting the stage for the most stable run of his career. After a short detour to the Los Angeles Kiss of the AFL in May 2015, he was re-signed by the Redskins and soon became a trusted swing tackle. He earned two starts at left tackle in place of the injured Trent Williams and also saw time on the right side.
In 2016, Nsekhe was forced into a starting role for four straight games, three at left tackle and one at right tackle, while Williams served a suspension. He re-signed with Washington in February 2017 and appeared in 11 games with five starts, splitting time between left tackle and right tackle. The Redskins placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on him in March 2018, and he responded by playing in 14 games with five starts, including three consecutive starts at left tackle and two at left guard.
Buffalo Bills Era (2019-2020)
On March 13, 2019, Nsekhe signed a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the Buffalo Bills that included $7.7 million in guarantees, the largest payday of his career. The deal reflected his value as a veteran swing tackle capable of starting at either side of the offensive line.
His two seasons in Buffalo cemented his reputation as a reliable depth piece, and the contract served as a strong vote of confidence from a Bills team that has since become one of the AFC’s consistent contenders.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2021)
On March 22, 2021, Nsekhe signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys to serve as the backup swing tackle behind the starting offensive tackles. He was also deployed in jumbo packages alongside the starting tackles and appeared in 12 games. He missed Weeks 2, 3, and 4 of the season while recovering from heat exhaustion. The Cowboys did not re-sign him after the year.
Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, and Cleveland Browns (2022-2023)
On October 11, 2022, Nsekhe was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad, and one week later, on October 18, he was claimed by the Los Angeles Rams. With Los Angeles, he started 10 games in a season defined by offensive-line injuries.
In September 2023, Nsekhe signed with the Cleveland Browns practice squad but was not tendered a reserve/future contract, allowing him to enter free agency once his practice-squad deal expired.
Los Angeles Rams Return (2024)
On September 10, 2024, Nsekhe returned to the Los Angeles Rams on a practice-squad deal. He was released one week later, closing out his most recent NFL chapter.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6-foot-8 and 325 pounds, Nsekhe’s calling card is his size and reach, which allow him to anchor against power rushers and to wall off the edge in the run game. Coaches have consistently trusted him as a swing tackle capable of starting at either left or right tackle, and he has lined up at left guard in emergency duty. His arena football background gives him uncommon spatial awareness, and his willingness to play in jumbo packages adds scheme flexibility for offensive staffs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Nsekhe’s most publicized off-field moment came on September 23, 2013, when a tweet about soldiers and football players went viral and drew media attention. The Rams issued a statement distancing the organization from his comments, and Nsekhe apologized publicly. On the field, his milestones include signing the $14.5 million Bills contract in 2019, starting 10 games for the Rams in 2022, and appearing in 105 career NFL games with 25 starts.
Ty Nsekhe Career Statistics
Ty Nsekhe’s professional career has spanned the af2, the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League, and the National Football League, with 105 games played and 25 starts in the NFL. In the AFL, he recorded 13 receptions for 123 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns, along with 6 tackles, lining up at tight end, defensive tackle, and offensive lineman.
NFL Highlights
Nsekhe’s first extended NFL opportunity came with the St. Louis Rams in 2012, where he appeared in two games as a 26-year-old rookie. His most productive NFL run was with the Washington Redskins from 2015 to 2018, where he made 12 starts and served as a key swing tackle. His biggest contract came from the Buffalo Bills in 2019, a two-year deal worth $14.5 million, and he posted his most extensive starting workload during a 10-game run with the 2022 Los Angeles Rams.
Other Performances
Beyond the NFL, Nsekhe spent time in the Arena Football League with the Dallas Vigilantes, Philadelphia Soul, San Antonio Talons, and Los Angeles Kiss, showcasing his versatility. He also had a brief practice-roster stint with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL in 2014.
Ty Nsekhe Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Nsekhe’s family background is limited. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and later moved to Texas, where he attended Bowie High School in Arlington and developed into a Division I-caliber football recruit. His full given name, Attauyo Nkere Nsekhe, reflects his family heritage, though further details about his parents and siblings have not been publicly verified.
Nsekhe’s personal life has largely been kept out of the spotlight. Off-field incidents during his college years, including a 2004 legal case at Texas State, were widely reported, and a 2013 social-media controversy drew mainstream coverage. He has used his public platform to address those events directly, including a 2013 apology on Twitter following the Rams’ statement.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into 2025, Ty Nsekhe is an unrestricted free agent after his brief practice-squad stint with the Los Angeles Rams in 2024. With 105 career NFL games and 25 starts on his resume, he remains an experienced depth option for teams in need of swing-tackle help. His history of stepping into starting duty during injury situations, including a 10-game run in 2022, makes him a candidate to be signed to a practice squad or as a veteran backup early in the new league year.
At age 39, Nsekhe is among the older offensive linemen available in free agency, and any return to a 53-man roster would depend on the offensive-line injury picture and a team’s confidence in his conditioning. Teams familiar with his prior stops in Buffalo, Washington, and Dallas may view his track record as a plus.
For Nsekhe, the 2025 calendar offers a familiar opportunity: to wait for the right phone call, sign on, and continue the journeyman career that has already covered 16 professional teams across multiple leagues.