The path to the National Football League is almost always paved with years of grueling high school practices, Friday night lights, and intense recruiting battles. Not for Esa Pole. The Kansas City Chiefs’ newest rookie lineman, a towering 6-foot-7, 319-pound force, never played a single down of high school football. His journey is a testament to raw talent, rapid learning, and a belief that anything is possible.
Pole has officially signed with the Chiefs, moving from the practice squad to the 53-man roster ahead of a critical Week 14 matchup against the Houston Texans. His activation comes after first-round pick left tackle Josh Simmons was placed on injured reserve, opening a door for one of the league’s most improbable stories.
From Hoops to the Trenches
While most future NFL players were honing their skills on the gridiron, Esa Pole was on the basketball court at Mt. Eden High. Football simply wasn’t part of his plan. That all changed when he arrived at Chabot College. There, he took a crash course in a sport completely new to him, learning the fundamentals of line play from the ground up. He didn’t just learn; he thrived. Pole’s natural athleticism and massive frame made him a quick study, and he earned Region I All-State First Team honors as a sophomore with the Gladiators.
His rapid development continued at Washington State. It was there that Pole caught the attention of NFL scouts, putting together a remarkable season. He did not allow a single sack over 498 pass-blocking snaps, posting the second-best pass-block grade (86.7) by any tackle in the country. He attributes his success to his unique background.
“It’s a lot of things that go into it, but being fresh and new to the game and being able to pick it up quick shows my ability to learn, along with the agility (from) basketball has blessed me with,” said Pole.
An Unlikely Mentor and a Storybook Rise
Behind Pole’s incredible ascent is his first-ever football coach, Eric Fanene. As the head coach at Chabot, Fanene was not only Pole’s first line coach but also a close family friend. He has watched Pole’s journey with a sense of awe and immense pride. It’s a rare situation for a college coach to be a player’s very first coach in the sport.
“I’m happy for him and his family and the opportunities he continues to earn through hard work and determination,” Fanene said. “His humbleness throughout this process is truly admirable … Proud of my coaches and support staff that helped Esa along the way through this great journey.”
The bond between them is strong, and Pole is quick to credit his mentor for shaping him into the player he is today. “Working under Coach Fanene and his staff is what bred me for the work I had to put in to succeed even at this level.” Fanene, who maintained a close relationship with the Pole family, views the lineman’s career as something out of a movie.
The Winding Path to the NFL
Pole’s road to an active NFL roster wasn’t a straight line. After going undrafted, he initially signed with the Chiefs as a free agent. He was waived during final roster cuts and briefly claimed by the New York Jets before finding his way back to the Kansas City practice squad in October. Now, with injuries creating a need on the offensive line, his opportunity has arrived.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid sees the potential in the inexperienced but talented lineman. The team needs stability, and Reid seems confident Pole can provide it.
“Yeah, we thought we saw some talent there,” Reid told reporters. “And he knows the scheme, obviously, and we thought there was some growth. He could be a guy that works in somewhere.”
Pole has suited up for a game before, for the Thanksgiving Day contest against the Dallas Cowboys, but he has yet to take his first official NFL snap. That is expected to change this Sunday in a game with major playoff implications for the 6-6 Chiefs.
An Inspiration in the Making
For Esa Pole, this moment is bigger than just football. He sees his journey as a platform to encourage others who might be on an unconventional path. He carries his faith and a sense of purpose with him onto the field, hoping his story resonates.
“Just another opportunity given by God to further glorify His name and show people in similar situations and journeys as mine that it is indeed possible,” Pole stated.
From a high school basketball player to a starting lineman in a must-win NFL game, Esa Pole has made the impossible seem routine. He made it look easy, but the reality is a story of incredible determination, a willingness to learn, and the physical gifts to dominate a sport he picked up just a few years ago. Now, he’s ready to protect his quarterback and prove that the best stories are often the ones that are written off-script.