Kingsley Jonathan
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kingsley Jonathan
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Houston Texans
| number = 59
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|4|28}}
| birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 260
| high_school = Saint Frances (MD)
| college = Syracuse (2017–2021)
| undraftedyear = 2022
| cfldraftyear = 2022G
| cfldraftround = 1
| cfldraftpick = 1
| pastteams =
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2022}})
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2022|2024}})
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2023
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 10
| pfr = JonaKi00
}}
Chukwuemeka Kingsley Jonathan (born April 28, 1998) is a Nigerian professional American football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Syracuse Orange and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills in {{NFL Year|2022}}. He was also the number one overall pick in the 2022 CFL Global Draft.
Early life
Jonathan was born on April 28, 1998, in Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Saint Frances Academy. He also attended Eastern Alamance High School. He played defensive end and linebacker and also participated in basketball, soccer, and track and field. As a senior with Saint Frances, he recorded 65 tackles and 16 sacks, leading his team to a 10–2 record and the MIAA Class A championship. Jonathan was ranked the 24th-best defensive end by Rivals.com and was the 29th weakside defensive end according to 247Sports.{{Cite web|url=https://cuse.com/sports/football/roster/kingsley-jonathan/20193|website=cuse.com|publisher=Syracuse Orange|title=Kingsley Jonathan}}
Jonathan committed to Syracuse University and made his college football debut in 2017 against Central Connecticut. Overall, as a freshman, he appeared in eight games and made four tackles. Jonathan appeared in all 13 games in his sophomore year, 2018, and started two. He recorded 21 tackles and placed third on the team with five sacks. He was an ACC honor roll selection.
Jonathan played as a reserve defensive end in 2019 and made 12 appearances. He recorded 24 tackles, three for-loss, and 1.5 sacks, earning All-ACC Academic honors. In his senior year, 2020, Jonathan was awarded the Jim Tatum Award for best ACC student-athlete. He started all 11 games and finished the year with 32 total tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. He was a Campbell Trophy semifinalist, Wuerffel Trophy watchlisted player, Senior CLASS Award candidate and was a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
Jonathan was given an extra year of eligibility in 2021, and decided to return to the Syracuse program as a fifth-year senior.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/syracuse/football/kingsley-jonathan-returning|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Kingsley Jonathan Will Return to Syracuse|author=McAllister, Mike|date=December 15, 2020}} He appeared in all 12 games and started one, making 20 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He was a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, Witten Award and was a watchlisted player for the Wuerffel Trophy. He won the Joseph Alexander Award for "excellence in football, scholarship, and citizenship."
Jonathan finished his college career with 101 tackles (60 solo), 21.5 for-loss, 15 quarterback sacks, two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles in a total of 56 games.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 5/8
| weight = 259
| dash = 4.76
| ten split = 1.61
| twenty split = 2.72
| shuttle = 4.44
| cone drill = 7.00
| vertical = 34.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 0
| bench = 28
| arm span = 34 5/8
| hand span = 9 1/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1028341&DraftYear=2022 |title=2022 Draft Scout Kingsley Jonathan, Syracuse NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=November 24, 2022}}
}}
=Buffalo Bills (first stint)=
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Jonathan was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2022/05/former-syracuse-football-dl-kingsley-jonathan-signs-with-buffalo-bills.html|website=Syracuse.com|title=Former Syracuse football DL Kingsley Jonathan signs with Buffalo Bills|author=Mink, Nate|date=April 30, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rochesterfirst.com/sports/buffalo-bills/bills-defensive-end-kingsley-jonathans-journey-from-nigeria-to-nfl/|website=roschesterfirst.com|title=Bills defensive end Kingsley Jonathan's journey from Nigeria to NFL |author=Jones, Carl|date=July 26, 2022}} He was also the top pick in the 2022 CFL Global Draft, being selected by the Montreal Alouettes, but chose to stay with Buffalo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2022/05/03/global-draft-alouettes-take-syracuses-kingsley-jonathan-no-1/|website=cfl.ca|publisher=Canadian Football League|title=Global Draft: Alouettes take Syracuse's Kingsley Jonathan No. 1|date=May 3, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nunesmagician.com/2022/5/4/23056065/syracuse-kingsley-jonathan-tyrell-richards-are-top-picks-montreal-alouettes-cfl-drafts|website=nunesmagician.com|publisher=SB Nation|title=Syracuse football alums Kingsley Jonathan, Tyrell Richards are top picks in CFL Drafts|author=Ostrowski, Michael|date=May 4, 2022}} He was released at the final roster cuts on August 30, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2022/08/30/buffalo-bills-roster-cuts-todays-releases-include-oj-howard/65463763007/|website=Democrat and Chronicle|title=Buffalo Bills roster cuts: OJ Howard released, Tre White goes on PUP|author=Maiorana, Sal|date=August 30, 2022}}
=Chicago Bears=
Jonathan was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears on September 1, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://beargoggleson.com/2022/09/01/kingsley-jonathan-chicago-bears/|website=beargoggleson.com|publisher=FanSided|title=What new signing Kingsley Jonathan brings to Chicago Bears|author=Hurley, Parker|date=September 1, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/chicago-bears-highlights-alex-leatherwood-armon-watts/|website=USA Today|title=Highlights of every new Bears roster addition|author=Barbieri, Alyssa|date=September 1, 2022}} He was waived on November 15, after having recorded four tackles in five games.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Bears put Herbert on IR, waive Jonathan|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-put-khalil-herbert-on-ir-waive-kingsley-jonathan|author=Mayer, Larry|website=ChicagoBears.com|date=November 15, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JonaKi00.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Kingsley Jonathan Stats}}
=Buffalo Bills (second stint)=
On November 17, 2022, Jonathan was signed to the Bills practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 23, 2023.{{cite web|title=Bills signed these players to reserve/future contracts for 2023|url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-signed-these-players-to-reserve-future-contracts-for-2023|author=Jenkins, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=January 23, 2023}}
On August 27, 2024, Jonathan was released by the Bills as part of final roster cuts, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Buffalo Bills made these moves to get to initial 53-man roster {{!}} 2024|url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/buffalo-bills-made-these-moves-to-get-to-initial-53-man-roster|author=White, Alec|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Bills sign 16 players to 2024 practice squad|url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-16-players-to-2024-practice-squad|author=White, Alec|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=August 28, 2024}}
=Houston Texans=
On February 7, 2025, Jonathan signed with the Houston Texans.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.buffalobills.com/team/players-roster/kingsley-jonathan/ Buffalo Bills bio]
- [https://cuse.com/sports/football/roster/kingsley-jonathan/20193 Syracuse Orange bio]
{{Houston Texans roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jonathan, Kingsley}}
Category:Nigerian players of American football
Category:Players of American football from Lagos
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Syracuse Orange football players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Saint Frances Academy (Baltimore) alumni
Category:Players of American football from Baltimore