Real change takes time, and on April 26, 2025, that Ahmed Hassanei victors made history. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions, making him the first Egyptian player to join the NFL. The Lions must see something to take Hassanei with the No. 196 pick—sixth round—in this year’s draft. He’s shown an eagerness to beef up their defensive front. The 22-year-old defensive end from Boise State made waves with his infamous career at the collegiate level. He accounted for an impressive 22 sacks during his last two seasons.
On that very day, Hassanai got a life changing call — from Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell himself. He took another important step—this one on the personal front. After hanging up the phone with Campbell, he dropped to one knee. Little did Kevin know at the time, but his proposal to his girlfriend would make this day an even bigger double celebration full of milestones.
Campbell’s momentous call would prove to be a historic turning point in Hassanei’s career. It did, however, have a damaging effect on Lions fan psyche. A clip of the interaction went viral, racking up more than 350,000 views on X. During the call, Campbell’s excitement about bringing Hassanei onto the team resonated with fans, and his enthusiasm mirrored that of Hassanei’s own aspirations.
Hassanei’s path to the NFL has been paved with sweat and perseverance. That’s why his great performance down in Boise State was able to grab the eyes of so many scouts. His talent for pressuring rival quarterbacks made him a hot commodity. Now, as he moves up to the professional ranks in football, he’s living proof of dedication to the pigskin and of course dedication to his future.
“I will die on that field for you. I promise I would.” – Ahmed Hassanei
As he gets ready for his rookie season, Hassanei looks forward to working in deep with the Lions defense. Meanwhile, he leans into his fabulous new life as a fiancé. His involvement gives a personal quality to an already remarkable draft day in history. This perfect blend of professional success and personal development makes for an aspirational story that just about every young athlete wishes to be true.
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