On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the United Football League announced that offensive lineman Kristjan Sokoli had been signed by the Houston Roughnecks. Sokoli’s signing marks his return to spring football, as he was previously drafted by the Houston Gamblers in 2022, spent time in The Spring League, and attended the D.C. Defenders training camp in 2020.
Sokoli was born on September 24, 1991, in Tirana, Albania. His family immigrated to the United States during the Albanian Rebellion in 1997. At the age of 13, Sokoli’s cousin Edmir introduced him to football in New Jersey, where his family settled. This introduction was significant since Sokoli, who was originally a soccer fan, discovered a new interest in American football that would define his career.
Sokoli excelled in multiple positions at Bloomfield High School, including defensive end, left tackle, tight end, punter, and placekicker. Despite setbacks such as wrist fractures, his high school coach, who nicknamed him “Moose,” recognized his athletic ability. His success earned him a scholarship at the University of Buffalo, where he became a full-time defensive lineman. Sokoli was a major defensive lineman during his junior year, weighing 300 pounds and eating 7,000 calories per day. He helped Buffalo win the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2013. Playing with future NFL stars like Khalil Mack boosted his collegiate career, where he earned a degree in Business Administration.
The Seattle Seahawks drafted Sokoli in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, marking him the league’s first Albanian-born player. However, his trip was unique in that the Seahawks intended to transition him from defensive to offensive lineman, specifically center, a position he had never played before. The Seahawks saw this transition as a project, much like their successful conversion of J.R. Sweezy in prior years. Despite the challenges, Sokoli showed promise, particularly in his athleticism, and garnered high rankings for his exceptional physical abilities.
After a limited stint with the Seahawks, Sokoli signed to the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad as a defensive end. He then moved on to the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad as an offensive tackle, followed by a brief stint on the New York Giants’ practice squad, where he ended up on the injured reserve list due to a knee injury.
After his time in the NFL, Sokoli continued his professional football career when he was drafted by the XFL D.C. Defenders in 2020, played in the German Football League with the 2021 Potsdam Royals, and then was drafted by the USFL Houston Gamblers in 2022.
Beyond playing football, Sokoli has ventured into the fields of financial management and media, including hosting broadcasts, participating in interviews, and maintaining a YouTube channel. He has also made forays into acting, with roles in independent films like Devil’s Island and Messenger 666. Sokoli’s adaptability and talent shine through as he explores new opportunities both in and out of football.
