If one stereotype is true about Canadians, it’s that we love supporting our own on the world stage. And with the NFL season nearing its conclusion with just four teams left in contention for the Super Bowl, it’s as good a time as any to look around the league as those with roots north of the border.
There are five Canadian citizens left on NFL playing rosters, with the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, and Buffalo Bills having at least one Canuck on their squad.
The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have any Canadians on their roster, but they do have a bit of influence from the CFL regardless. Director of Player Personnel Tim Terry played a season in the league in 1999, winning the Grey Cup as a linebacker with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
With a hat tip to JC Abbott of 3 Down Nation, here are all the Canadians who could win the Super Bowl this year.
Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Washington Commanders
A 2021 third-round draft pick by the Commanders, Montreal native Benjamin St-Juste has formed into a big part of the Washington defence in his fourth year in the league, having started all 16 games.
St-Juste comes from a football family too, with his father Wilbert committing to the University of Miami; however, he suffered an ultimately career-ending leg injury before he ever got in the game.
Sydney Brown, S, Philadelphia Eagles
Sydney Brown might be the only member of his family left in the NFL playoffs, but that doesn’t mean he’s the only one in the league.
A London, Ontario, native, Brown and his twin brother Chase are a true two-of-a-kind partnership. Both players were taken in the 2023 NFL Draft, with Chase, a running back and return specialist, making his keep with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
Perhaps the best-kn0wn player on this list, Dalton Kincaid’s Canadian ancestry comes from his mother, who was born in Canada.
Though he grew up in Nevada, Kincaid has earned many fans from north of the border, at least in part due to his on-field karaoke sing-alongs to “Mr. Brightside” during the Bills’ undefeated record at home this year.
Taylor Rapp, S, Buffalo Bills
Like Kincaid, Taylor Rapp is also an American-born player with a parent from Canada, in this case, his father.
Rapp was born in Atlanta, and then moved to the West Coast near the Canadian border, growing up in Bellingham, Washington, less than 100 km south of Vancouver.
Eli Ankou, DT, Buffalo Bills
Is there any doubt that the NFL team out of the four left that’s closest to the Canadian border also has the most representation?
Eli Ankou was born in Ottawa and played for St. Peter Catholic High School in Orleans, Ontario. He has spent time with nine NFL franchises since being drafted out of UCLA in 2017.
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