The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hard journey brings Obada to Falcons
Candidate for pass rush recounts life of adversity overseas.
If this football FLOWERY BRANCH — deal works out for Efe Obada, a movie could tell his life story.
Obada, 24, who signed with the Falcons on Thursday, was trafficked at age 10 from Nigeria to the Netherlands before landing in London, where he and sister were homeless.
They later lived with a friend of his mother, but she had five children of her own. The Obadas ended up in London’s social-services system and moved from house to house.
“I learned a lot, and I encountered a lot of obstacles,” Obada said Friday. “I went through a lot of adversity, but it’s what you make of it. How you overcome these adversities and how you let them affect you.”
Obada had trust issues and felt that people were looking after him and his sister just to be paid.
“I was forced to grow up early,” Obada said. “I had to become the man for my sister and provide and stuff.”
Obada found himself involved in the seedy side of London’s gang set before landing a job as a security guard. The drudgery of that job working in a warehouse was necessary and helped sustain him.
“I just learned that in life, sometimes things are not going to be given to you the way that you think they are going to be given to you,” Obada said. “Sometimes you have to go and take it.”
Obada discovered football when a friend invited him to play for the London Warriors. It’s a club team that has teams of all ages. He started work at his job at 6 a.m. and played for the Warriors in his spare time.
Obada, who didn’t attend college, was a tight end and defensive end for the Warriors and helped them to win a national championship.
He played all of five organized games before the Dallas Cowboys gave him a workout while they were in London to play Jacksonville. Warriors defensive coordinator Aden Durde was a former intern with the Cowboys and recommended Obada to the team.
When Obada signed with the Cowboys, he became the first British player signed by the NFL to have never played professional or college level football.
“Prior to Dallas, I didn’t really know much about football,” Obada said. “I did play some football with the London Warriors. Everybody does play soccer or rugby in London, but I wasn’t really a sports person.”
After two stints on the Cowboys’ practice squad and a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, Obada wants to make the most of his chance with the Falcons.
“I was very anxious because training camp was fast approaching,” Obada said. “I had a workout with the Vikings, and it didn’t go as well as planned. They didn’t make the decision that I wanted, so I was a bit anxious. Getting a call from the Falcons was amazing. I know it’s another opportunity to try and get myself out on the field.”
The Falcons are leaving no stone unturned in trying to improve their pass rush. They like Obada’s size and speed. He’s 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds.
“He doesn’t have an extensive football background,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “He played a little bit last year with Dallas in the (exhibition) season. I had a chance to watch that tape. In the workout, he really looked good. He’s a 6-5 guy who’s 250 pounds, and he can move.”
The Falcons had only 19 sacks last season, which ranked last in the league.
“He’s definitely worth looking at as a possible project,” Quinn said. “Is there a rusher out there who doesn’t have the experience of being on the edge? Can we teach him the hands? The get-off, you have to have that as part of your talent.”
Obada thinks football has changed his life.
“Prior to that I was doing all that I could do,” Obada said. “But when I found football it changed my mentality. It changed my perspective of who I was and what I wanted to be as a man.”
Obada was unaware of Quinn’s history as a defensive line coach. He has worked with some top pass rushers.
“I’m told a lot of positive things about him,” Obada said.