Growing Up Without a Silver Spoon — Sophisticated St. Louis

By Craig Kaminer / Photos by Patrick Lanham

Having grown up in a first-generation immigrant family, I know what that’s like and the expectations that come with it. Education comes first, then hard work, take nothing for granted, and stay humble. Foye Oluokun and his brother, Fade, are first-generation Americans (born to Nigerian immigrants) who are smart, extremely hard working, and despite their football player statures, are as soft spoken as they come.

Foye recalls, “My mom worked most nights and my dad worked out of town for most of my childhood. So, my brother and I were motivated by seeing what our parents were doing to give us the opportunity to succeed. If we didn’t do what needed to be done while our parents were off working, we would be disciplined. We understood that our parents sacrificed so much that we couldn't let that go to waste. It's kind of our family's goal for my brother and I to succeed and we see it as our duty.

“My parents set the standard for me early not to accept mediocrity,” Foye continues. "I really don't like failing. But sometimes you have to fail; you have to learn when you fail. You just can't fail twice. Like if we got a C on a test, we knew we were not going to ever get a C in the class.”

Today, Foye plays linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars; he recently signed a new contract for $45 million for the next three years. Did that go to his head? Hardly. In the offseason, Foye interned in the front office for the Brooklyn Nets to get experience and, when he can no longer play professional football, a leg up for a job one day on a professional sports team. The truth is, Foye is an excellent basketball player, and while in high school at John Burroughs in St. Louis, he thought his future may involve a basketball rather than a football.

Before Foye dreamed of professional sports — or sports of any kind — he was — and still is — a student. In high school, he earned top grades and was highly regarded by his classmates and teachers. It came as no surprise to anyone when he went to Yale University. Foye always had a goal to go Ivy and he did it with flying colors.

“In high school, I was just trying to become some finance guy and someday invest in businesses,” he says. “That's all I thought about. I was pretty good at math and I liked learning about what I read about. My parents were pretty strict growing up, so just getting the grades was the goal of high school. I was always told, ‘Just get the right grades and you can get into whatever school you want.’“

While at Yale, Foye received As and an occasional B, all while playing four years of D-1 athletics. Each year he seemed to grow in size and stature, always exceeding his coaches’ expectations. He moved from playing cornerback to safety, and eventually to linebacker, all while quietly breaking Ivy League records. If you didn’t know Foye or watch the Yale Bulldogs each week, you may have missed his brilliant performances because he didn’t always get the recognition some of the other players received. But he quietly and humbly worked hard, pushed himself, and by the time he was a senior he won All Team Ivy and Defensive Player of the Week on multiple occasions after racking up hundreds of tackles, fumble recoveries, and interceptions throughout his career.

Many coaches and recruiters didn’t give Foye much of a chance to play at the professional level. Few Ivy Leaguers do. He was never scouted even though he was breaking records; he wasn’t really encouraged to pursue a professional sports career, and he certainly was never recruited by the pros or invited to the NFL Combine. One day things changed.

When he was wondering if he should retire from the sport after his senior year at Yale, Foye called his high school football coach, who happened to be Pro Bowl quarterback Gus Frerotte, to ask for advice. Gus, who was head coach for two seasons at John Burroughs and led the team to two state championship appearances, had been watching Foye at Yale. He encouraged him to assemble a highlight reel and send it to him as soon as possible. Gus shared it with friends in the NFL and before long, Foye became a prospect. But before any team was ready to recruit him, Gus told Foye that he had to get bigger, faster, and stronger to play in the NFL.

Foye vividly remembers that day when the opportunity to continue playing was reignited. But the trainer Frerotte recommended was in Denver and he fetched a high price to take on promising young athletes. Foye couldn’t afford the cost of entry. His peewee football coach and booster, Manne Palan, placed some calls to other Burroughs parents and before long, Foye had the resources to train with Loren Landow and spent 3 months in Denver before a try out at the Fordham University senior pro day.

"Gus sent my tape to Landow, who is now the head strength and conditioning coach for the Denver Broncos and who is known for training athletes for their pro day and combines,” Foye says. “He trained a lot of the Denver Broncos who in their off-season would stay in town just to train with him. He trained Chris McCaffrey since he was little and he killed his combine. Landow's world-renowned. People come to him for advice all the time. And he looked at my tape. They'd already started their session but he said, ‘This guy (Foye) has a legit chance.’”

It’s not easy making it to the pros, but for someone who played in high school in the shadows of Ezekiel Elliot who was a five-star recruit at Ohio State University and then star running back for the Dallas Cowboys, someone other than Foye would have given up. He easily could have figured out that his high GPA in finance from Yale would have been a surefire road to success on Wall Street. But Foye continued to dream big in his own first-generation kind of way and always stayed committed to his goals.

Foye’s first NFL opportunity came when the Atlanta Falcons drafted him in the sixth round of the 2018 draft. At first, he played on special teams but didn’t start. He quickly established himself as a reliable and hardworking player, earning a starting role later in his rookie season. Oluokun's ability to both read offenses and make tackles earned him respect from his teammates and coaches.

After four seasons with the Falcons, Foye became a free agent in 2021 and caught the attention of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team recognized his potential and signed him to a contract. It didn't take long for Oluokun to make an impact in his new jersey, quickly becoming a key contributor on the field.

One of the standout qualities of Foye is his versatility. He is equally proficient in pass coverage and run defense. His speed and agility allow him to cover tight ends and running backs effectively, while his strength and tackling ability make him a force to be reckoned with against the run. He has a natural instinct for finding the ball carriers and bringing them down with authority.

In addition to his physical abilities, Foye is also known for his intelligence and football IQ. His experience as a safety in college gives him a unique perspective on the game, allowing him to make quick decisions and react to plays effectively. His ability to anticipate and diagnose plays is what sets him apart from other linebackers in the league.

Foye continues to impress with his consistent performance and leadership skills. He has become an integral part of the Jacksonville Jaguars' defense, not only leading the team in tackles and demonstrating his ability to make game-changing plays, but he is also the leading tackler in the NFL. His passion for the game, coupled with his exceptional talent, makes him an exciting player to watch. He is also one of the team captains.

Off the field, Foye is also making a positive impact. He actively engages in community service and was awarded the NFLPA Community MVP in 2020 for his work with the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation and his efforts in promoting literacy in underserved communities. Foye's dedication to giving back shows his commitment to making a difference both on and off the field.

When he’s back in St. Louis, Foye always takes time out to meet with the Burroughs students and players, and volunteers his time and treasure to Lift for Life, which he supports as much as he can. Things that would have disheartened other people have always made Foye stronger. He remembers in college when some other students called him ugly.

“So, I reached out to my six best friends and said, ‘Let’s call ourselves the Ugly Gang’,” Foye says. “No matter how I look, forget about trying to be the prettiest person on the block. Use those experiences to promote confidence in yourself. Now I say, if you're not confident in calling yourself ugly and being confident in whatever your appearance is, you can't be part of the Ugly Gang which now stands for: U Gotta Love Yourself.” U.G.L.Y. has quickly become Foye’s platform for community outreach to kids and a brand which other players are wearing to promote the message of self-confidence.

Foye and the entire Oluokun family are one in a million. They are great examples of superior parenting, respectful kids, hardworking members of the community, and always doing what is right. For me, they are a reminder that growing up in an immigrant family has the potential to be a real advantage. If you ever have a chance to meet Foye, his radiant smile and personality will speak volumes about his character and his journey as an extraordinary person who is proud to call St. Louis home.