Jesse Luketa is Building More Than a Football Career
For Jesse Luketa, football was never just a game.
Long before he became one of the few Canadians ever drafted into the NFL, the Ottawa-born linebacker was a kid with a singular obsession, sending hundreds of emails to American prep schools, sleeping with a football beside him, and dreaming about a future that seemed impossibly far away.
The youngest of eight children, raised by a single mother who immigrated to Canada from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Luketa learned early that talent alone wasn’t enough. Opportunity had to be chased. Sacrifice was required. And belief in yourself (especially when nobody else could see the vision) was non-negotiable.
Today, after stints with the Arizona Cardinals and a recent signing with the New England Patriots, Luketa’s ambitions extend far beyond the football field. Through his 40 Reasons Foundation, a growing fashion venture, and community initiatives focused on literacy and youth empowerment, he’s building a legacy rooted in possibility.
You’re now playing in the NFL, arguably one of the most powerful sports leagues in the world. How have you seen the role of the athlete evolve?
Jesse Luketa: I think it’s progressed tremendously. When you think about the NBA, the NFL, even soccer, athletes are now in positions where they can not only bring attention to brands and products, but influence culture in ways that the average person can’t. It’s a very unique era for athletes, and it’s one I’m trying to take full advantage of.
How important is it for athletes to speak about matters beyond the game?
Jesse Luketa: It’s extremely important. I always try to use my platform to speak on things that I feel are important and that people need to hear. You have kids who look like me, talk like me, and maybe even think like me. They might be struggling with something and not feel comfortable expressing it to their peers, families, or teachers. If I can use my platform to let them know they’re not alone, that it’s okay to not be okay, that matters. That’s one of the biggest responsibilities that comes with being in this position.
You’re one of only a handful of Canadians to ever be drafted into the NFL. What does that accomplishment mean to you?
Jesse Luketa: It’s super humbling. More than anything, it shows that no dream is unattainable. That’s the message I always try to leave with kids when I speak at schools. Growing up, I didn’t have the means. My mom immigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and as the youngest of eight kids, things were difficult. There were times when food was scarce. There were times when opportunities felt impossible.
But I never lost that hunger.
I’ve always been the type of person who doesn’t look at circumstances and say, “Why did this happen to me?” I look at them and say, “This happened for me.” That perspective changed everything.
What separates professional athletes from everyone else?
Jesse Luketa: Everyone is talented. The NFL is full of talented people. What separates guys is attention to detail. Are you going to show up every day and do your job exceptionally well? Can people depend on you? Can they trust you?
I still have to reinvent myself every single day and prove why I’m an asset to the team, the organization, and the community. Talent gets you in the door. Consistency keeps you there.
You left home at a young age to pursue football. What did access and opportunity mean to you back then?
Jesse Luketa: Access meant finding a way when there wasn’t one.
I was sending 150 to 200 emails every day to prep schools in Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware—anywhere that would listen. I introduced myself, explained my dream, and asked for an opportunity.
I even started a GoFundMe to help cover costs. My mom wasn’t thrilled about it at first because she worried about what people at church would say. I remember telling her, “If you’re worried about people talking about me raising money to chase my dreams, you’re worried about the wrong thing.” That was a defining moment.
What’s the greatest lesson your mother taught you?
Jesse Luketa: Comparisons are the thief of joy. Growing up as the youngest, I always looked at what my older siblings were allowed to do. My mom taught me that somebody else’s opportunities don’t diminish my own. Whatever comes my way, it’s my responsibility to make the most of it. That lesson stayed with me.
Who was the first person outside your family to truly believe in you?
Jesse Luketa: My coach, Danny. He used to pick me up and drive me to practice. He understood what my situation was like at home. There were weekends where I’d stay at his house. To this day, I look at him as a father figure.
People always reference The Blind Side. For me, Coach Danny was that person. He invested in my dream emotionally and mentally. He gave me a place where I could visualize what success looked like. That meant everything.
You’ve spoken openly about mental health. How difficult was last year after your injury?
Jesse Luketa: I’d be lying if I said it was easy. Honestly, it was one of the hardest years of my life.
From 2018 through 2025, football was nonstop. Training. Camps. Seasons. Work. Then suddenly I was hurt.
I was sitting on my couch for hours every day with my leg in a rehab machine. I spent a lot of time alone in the dark, and it wasn’t healthy. I became angry because I couldn’t do the thing I loved most.
Eventually, I realized I had to make a choice. I had to remind myself that I was enough. That this injury wasn’t going to define me. Looking back, I’m grateful for it. It’s going to make me a better teammate, a better man, a better father, and a better person.
What does betting on yourself look like in practice?
Jesse Luketa: It’s a roller coaster. People think confidence is a straight line. It’s not.
I have days where I don’t want to train, where I wonder if I’m good enough. Sometimes I ask myself, “Can I really do this?”
Those thoughts are normal. The difference is that after those thoughts come, I remind myself that I can do this. I tell myself I am enough. That’s where affirmations come in.
The hardest part isn’t talent. The hardest part is continuing to show up.
Beyond football, you’re building businesses and launching your own fashion brand. Why is that important to you?
Jesse Luketa: I don’t believe people should be put in a box. Football has been the vehicle that’s allowed me to plant seeds for everything else I’m passionate about. My brand, Venons De Loin, is built around the idea that we all come from somewhere. Everyone has a story. Everyone has baggage they’ve carried.
I want to create something that resonates with immigrants, dreamers, and people who have come a long way to get where they are. The athlete mindset helps because I’ve heard “no” thousands of times. That doesn’t change anything. If I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it.
What do you want your legacy to be?
Jesse Luketa: That no dream is unattainable. Don’t let somebody else define what you’re capable of becoming. If you’re passionate about sports, art, music, fashion, or business, explore it. There’s no reason you can’t be multifaceted.
I’m living proof of that.
What excites you most about the road ahead?
Jesse Luketa: Everything. Because the best is yet to come. It’s already been an incredible journey, but I genuinely believe what’s ahead is even better. And that’s what makes it exciting.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Interview: Lance Chung
Photographer: Jonathan Bensimon
Stylist: Christal Williams
Photography assistant: Mac Fiumana
Grooming: Jasmine Merinsky
Management: Sir & Lex
