Chris Oladokun is an American football quarterback who reached the NFL by way of a winding college path and patient work on NFL practice squads, and who stepped into the national spotlight in December 2025 when he was forced into action for the Kansas City Chiefs. Born September 3, 1997 in Tampa, Florida, Oladokun played at South Florida, transferred to Samford where he emerged as a dual-threat starter, then finished his college career as the 2021 South Dakota State signal caller who passed for 3,164 yards and 25 touchdowns, before being taken in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Early life and high school
Raised in Tampa, Oladokun started at Braulio Alonso High School, later transferring to Sickles High School for his senior year. A three-star recruit, he arrived at the University of South Florida as a developmental prospect, where he redshirted and saw sporadic playing time while learning to handle college game speed. The early years gave him foundation reps, and also the patience to move, seek playing time, and refine his game.
College career
South Florida, Samford and the growth arc
Oladokun’s college career maps a steady climb. At South Florida, he played sparingly, then transferred to Samford where he became an offensive focal point. At Samford he combined passing and designed runs, producing a season that showcased his dual-threat instincts. He capped his collegiate journey as a graduate transfer at South Dakota State, where he enjoyed his most productive season, throwing for 3,164 yards and 25 touchdowns and leading an offense in a true FCS playoff run.
College stats snapshot
School | Season | Passing yards | Passing TDs | Notable rushing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Florida | 2016–2018 | Limited action | Limited | Used in packages | Early development, redshirted freshman year |
Samford | 2019 | 2,064 | 18 | ~493 rushing yards, 8 TDs | Emerged as starter and dual-threat option |
South Dakota State | 2021 | 3,164 | 25 | Complemented by strong run game | Graduate transfer, team made deep playoff run |
The table above condenses a multi-step college arc into the numbers that mattered most for NFL evaluators, showing how Oladokun’s role shifted from developmental backup to primary starter.
Professional journey, resilience and roster work
Draft and early NFL experience
Oladokun was selected late in the 2022 NFL Draft, a seventh-round choice, and like many late-round quarterbacks he faced quick roster churn. After being cut by his original team, he landed with the Kansas City Chiefs on the practice squad and signed multiple reserve/future deals, workmanlike moves that kept him in the Chiefs’ system and around one of the league’s most accomplished quarterback rooms.
Practice squad to gameday elevations
For the better part of his early pro career, Oladokun’s job was the one many young quarterbacks fill: run the scout-team, absorb the offense, and be ready for the call. He spent time on and off the Chiefs’ practice squad through several seasons, was elevated for game day duty on occasion, and made his first limited NFL appearance in January 2025, when he saw five offensive snaps and recorded a five-yard rushing attempt.
On December 21, 2025 Oladokun was thrust into a live, meaningful game environment when Gardner Minshew suffered a knee injury. With Patrick Mahomes sidelined for the season, Oladokun moved from practice-squad depth to the active roster, and then into the offense midgame.
"For what he was asked to do, I thought he did a nice job," said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid after the December appearance, underscoring the rare, late-season chance every practice-squad player trains for.
December 21, 2025 — second NFL appearance and a memorable first pass
In Nashville, Oladokun completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards, and his first NFL completion connected with veteran tight end Travis Kelce for six yards. That throw carried an extra note, because it pushed Kelce over a historic season threshold. Oladokun’s night was not without friction, he was sacked multiple times and the offense struggled to sustain drives, but he managed to move the ball and help convert drives into points via field goals. For a player who had scarcely seen regular-season action, the outing offered proof that practice-squad quarterbacks can be competent emergency options, and sometimes produce more than expected.
Playing style and strengths
- Athleticism and mobility: Oladokun has shown the ability to add yards with his legs when necessary, and to extend plays under pressure.
- Poise in limited looks: Observers who track practice squad QBs note his calm delivery, and his December 2025 game under pressure reinforced that impression.
- Pocket feel under development: Against NFL pass rushes he has been hurried frequently, and continued growth in pre-snap reads and ball placement is commonly cited as his next step.
Analysts have pointed out that his ceiling is tied to repetition in an NFL offense, and being in Kansas City has offered both high-level coaching and the challenge of learning behind elite starter playbooks.
Multiple viewpoints: potential and realistic ceiling
- Optimistic view: Supporters argue Oladokun has the traits to be a dependable backup, someone who can run an offense, avoid mistakes, and start if injuries force a team’s hand. His December 2025 performance, they note, showed quick adjustment and leadership under live conditions.
- Cautionary view: Skeptics point to limited sample size, the quality of pass protection on the night, and the small pool of game experience. They emphasize that sustained starting ability requires significant live reps that Oladokun has not yet logged.
Both viewpoints agree on one point, a pragmatic one: his future depends on opportunities, coaching, and game reps. Being in a stable organization has value, but it also limits immediate playing time behind entrenched starters.
What the numbers say
- Drafted: 2022, 7th round, pick 241.
- College peak: 3,164 passing yards and 25 TDs in 2021 at South Dakota State.
- Early NFL regular-season action: First limited appearance in January 2025, then a fuller appearance in December 2025 with 11 of 16 for 111 yards.
Role on the Chiefs and next steps
Oladokun’s role with Kansas City has been that of depth quarterback and system developer. The team has kept him close through practice-squad signings and reserve contracts, and that proximity gave the Chiefs a ready option when injuries struck. Looking ahead his path is one of two obvious routes: continue as a trusted backup who can step in when needed, or leverage brief regular-season exposure into opportunities elsewhere if a team needs a quarterback with his particular blend of mobility and experience.
A short checklist teams might use to evaluate Oladokun
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Quarterback Evaluation Checklist
- Consistency on short and intermediate throws
- Pocket presence vs rush, ability to climb the pocket
- Accuracy under pressure and timing with veteran receivers
- Leadership and play-calling communication on the sideline
- Special packages that leverage mobility
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Conclusion
Chris Oladokun’s story is not one of instant stardom, but of methodical work, movement through different programs, and readiness when opportunity arises. From Tampa high school fields to Samford, then South Dakota State and finally into NFL game action, his arc reflects the modern journeyman quarterback, the player whose patience and preparation can suddenly turn into a national moment. Whether that moment grows into a long-term starting chance, or remains a compelling footnote in a dependable backup career, will depend on how teams use him, how he builds on those game reps, and how coaches shape his growth in the seasons ahead.