{{Short description|American football player (born 1988)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Michael Ola | image = | alt = | number = 70, 74, 65 | position = Offensive tackle | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|4|19}} | birth_place = Riverdale, Georgia, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lbs = 312 | high_school = Riverdale | college = Hampton (2006–2010) | undraftedyear = 2011 | pastteams = * Jacksonville Sharks ({{AFL Year|2012}}) * Montreal Alouettes ({{CFL Year|2012}}–{{CFL Year|2013}}) * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2014}})* * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2014}}) * San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|2015}}) * Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2015}}) * Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2016}})* * New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2016}})* * Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2016}}) * Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2017}}) * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2019}}) | statweek = | statseason = | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 40 | statlabel2 = Games started | statvalue2 = 20 | pfr = O/OlaxMi00 | cfl-archive = https://web.archive.org/web/20140701134258/http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/5415 | afl = Folarin_Ola-12004 }}
'''Michael Ola''' (born April 19, 1988) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Hampton Pirates and attended Riverdale High School in Riverdale, Georgia.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hamptonpirates.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=968 | title=Michael Ola - 2010 Football | publisher=hamptonpirates.com | access-date=September 7, 2014}}</ref> He was also a member of the Jacksonville Sharks, Montreal Alouettes, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, and New Orleans Saints.
==Professional career==
===Jacksonville Sharks=== Ola was signed by the Jacksonville Sharks on March 3, 2012. He was released on June 11, 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=139 | title=Historical Team Transactions | publisher=arenafan.com | access-date=September 7, 2014}}</ref>
===Montreal Alouettes=== Ola signed with the Montreal Alouettes on June 10, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions-june-2012 |title=Transactions - June 2012 |publisher=cfl.ca |access-date=September 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101033556/http://www.cfl.ca/transactions-june-2012 |archive-date=November 1, 2015 }}</ref> He played for the Alouettes during the 2012 and 2013 CFL seasons.
===Miami Dolphins=== Ola was signed to a futures contract by the Miami Dolphins on February 7, 2014. He was released by the Dolphins on May 25, 2014.<ref name="Z">{{cite web|url=http://www.kffl.com/player/29503/nfl/news |title=Michael Ola |publisher=kffl.com |access-date=September 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204210125/http://www.kffl.com/player/29503/nfl/news |archive-date=December 4, 2014 }}</ref>
===Chicago Bears=== Ola signed with the Chicago Bears on May 28, 2014.<ref name="Z"/> He made his NFL debut on September 7 against the Buffalo Bills,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nfl.com/player/michaelola/2543539/gamelogs | title=Michael Ola | work=NFL.com | access-date=September 7, 2014}}</ref> and made his first career start the following week against the San Francisco 49ers, replacing the injured Matt Slauson.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-backups-ready-to-face-49ers/0e25ca44-8e89-41a0-88db-8a264a1779d6|title=Bears backups ready to face 49ers|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=September 13, 2014|access-date=September 13, 2014}}</ref> In the 2014 season, he started at four of the five offensive line positions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/chalk-talk/article-1/Whats-likelihood-of-Ola-returning/43eea6e8-c31a-4342-a96d-522267d799ac|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304135409/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/chalk-talk/article-1/Whats-likelihood-of-Ola-returning/43eea6e8-c31a-4342-a96d-522267d799ac|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|title=What's likelihood of Ola returning?|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=January 14, 2015|access-date=January 14, 2015}}</ref> Ola was released by the Bears on September 5, 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/09/05/chicago-bears-trim-roster-down-to-53/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906025146/http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/09/05/chicago-bears-trim-roster-down-to-53/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 6, 2015 | title=Chicago Bears Trim Roster Down To 53 | publisher=chicago.cbslocal.com | date=September 5, 2015 | access-date=September 5, 2015}}</ref>
===San Diego Chargers=== Ola was signed to the San Diego Chargers' practice squad on September 7, 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/07/michael-ola-chargers-practice-squad/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910020729/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/07/michael-ola-chargers-practice-squad/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 10, 2015 | title=Chargers sign Michael Ola, fill practice squad | work=sandiegouniontribune.com | date=September 7, 2015 | access-date=September 9, 2015 | author=Gehlken, Michael}}</ref> He was signed to the active roster on October 3, following the Chargers release of running back Donald Brown.<ref>{{cite web|work=NFL.com|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000548070/article/chargers-cut-rb-donald-brown-sign-g-michael-ola|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004082942/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000548070/article/chargers-cut-rb-donald-brown-sign-g-michael-ola|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 4, 2015|title=Chargers cut RB Donald Brown, sign G Michael Ola|first=Kevin|last=Patra|date=October 3, 2015|access-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref>
===Detroit Lions=== Ola was signed by the Detroit Lions on October 20, 2015.<ref name="octfreep">{{cite news |url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/10/20/detroit-lions-joique-bell/74300722/ |title=Lions' Joique Bell says return to the field is near |last=Birkett |first=Dave |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=October 20, 2015 |access-date=October 21, 2015}}</ref> On September 3, 2016, he was waived by the Lions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lions establish 53-man roster|url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/article-1/Lions-establish-53-man-roster/436b48fc-7f92-4d4a-8c0f-05664a3afe93|website=DetroitLions.com|date=September 3, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015012008/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/article-1/Lions-establish-53-man-roster/436b48fc-7f92-4d4a-8c0f-05664a3afe93|archive-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref>
===Seattle Seahawks=== On September 13, 2016, Ola was signed to the Seahawks' practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign Fullback Will Tukuafu And Cornerback Neiko Thorpe|url=http://www.seahawks.com/news/2016/09/13/seahawks-sign-fullback-will-tukuafu-and-cornerback-neiko-thorpe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804014208/http://www.seahawks.com/news/2016/09/13/seahawks-sign-fullback-will-tukuafu-and-cornerback-neiko-thorpe|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 4, 2017|last=Boyle|first=John|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 13, 2016}}</ref> He was released on September 21, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Seahawks Release Fullback Will Tukuafu, Make Changes To Practice Squad|url=http://www.seahawks.com/news/2016/09/21/seahawks-release-fullback-will-tukuafu-make-changes-practice-squad|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821085759/http://www.seahawks.com/news/2016/09/21/seahawks-release-fullback-will-tukuafu-make-changes-practice-squad|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 21, 2017|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 3, 2016}}</ref>
===New York Giants=== On September 21, 2016, Ola was signed to the Giants' practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Giants Sign OT Laurence Gibson & Michael Ola To Practice Squad, Cut C Shane McDermott|date=September 21, 2016 |url=http://nfltraderumors.co/giants-sign-ot-laurence-gibson-michael-ola-practice-squad-cut-c-shane-mcdermott/}}</ref>
===Buffalo Bills=== On September 28, 2016, Ola was signed by the Bills off the Giants' practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bills sign OT Michael Ola|url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-ot-michael-ola-17779094|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|access-date=September 28, 2016}}</ref> He was released by the Bills on October 25, 2016, and was re-signed to the practice squad two days later.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bills elevate practice squad WR Eagan to active roster|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-elevate-practice-squad-WR-Eagan-to-active-roster/a5ab358b-c4bf-4367-8c8c-2e6b61b2a8f1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806021412/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-elevate-practice-squad-WR-Eagan-to-active-roster/a5ab358b-c4bf-4367-8c8c-2e6b61b2a8f1|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2017|website=BuffaloBills.com|author=Brown, Chris|date=October 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bills sign OT Ola to practice squad|url=http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2016/10/27/bills-sign-ot-ola-to-practice-squad/|website=Blogs.BuffaloBills.com|date=October 27, 2016|access-date=October 27, 2016|archive-date=October 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028135809/http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2016/10/27/bills-sign-ot-ola-to-practice-squad/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was promoted back to the active roster on December 13, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=S Ihedigbo to I-R; LB Albright waived, two promoted from practice squad|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/S-Ihedigbo-to-I-R-LB-Albright-waived-two-promoted-from-practice-squad/a570b9a3-698f-4c3f-81e9-834e6e7e5bec|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033119/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/S-Ihedigbo-to-I-R-LB-Albright-waived-two-promoted-from-practice-squad/a570b9a3-698f-4c3f-81e9-834e6e7e5bec|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 7, 2017|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=December 13, 2016}}</ref>
On September 2, 2017, Ola was waived/injured by the Bills and placed on injured reserve.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bills move 30 off the roster to reach 53|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-move-30-off-the-roster-to-reach-53/ad4c9c3a-e0f8-425a-b9fb-5be1060cbf88|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410122657/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-move-30-off-the-roster-to-reach-53/ad4c9c3a-e0f8-425a-b9fb-5be1060cbf88|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2018|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=September 2, 2017}}</ref> He was released on September 6, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bills Waive OT Michael Ola From I.R. With Settlement|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/bills-waive-ot-michael-ola-r-settlement/|author=Bouda, Nate|date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>
===Los Angeles Chargers=== On October 24, 2017, Ola signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chargers Sign Veteran OL Michael Ola|url=http://www.chargers.com/news/2017/10/24/chargers-sign-veteran-ol-michael-ola|author=Henne, Ricky|website=Chargers.com|date=October 24, 2017}}</ref>
===New Orleans Saints=== On May 14, 2018, Ola signed with the New Orleans Saints.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce post-rookie minicamp roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-announce-post-rookie-minicamp-roster-moves-20658480|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=May 14, 2018}}</ref> He was released on September 12, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saints cut offensive lineman Michael Ola; re-sign Jermon Bushrod|url=https://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2018/09/saints_cut_michael_ola.html|author=Katzenstein, Josh|website=NOLA.com|date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> He was re-signed on October 18, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saints bringing back offensive lineman Michael Ola|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/10/18/saints-bringing-back-offensive-lineman-michael-ola/|author=Gantt, Darin|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=October 18, 2018}}</ref> He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 14 and was placed on injured reserve on December 11, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saints OL Michael Ola goes on injured reserve after suffering high ankle sprain against Tampa Bay|url=https://www.nola.com/saints/2018/12/saints-offensive-lineman-michael-ola-suffers-high-ankle-sprain-against-tampa-bay.html|website=NOLA.com|date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>
On February 19, 2019, Ola re-signed with the Saints.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saints bring back Michael Ola|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/02/19/saints-bring-back-michael-ola/|author=Gantt, Darin|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> He was released on August 31, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints make roster reductions to 53|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-make-roster-reductions-to-53-x7877|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 31, 2019}}</ref> He was re-signed on December 6, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saints re-sign Michael Ola, place Jason Vander Laan on IR|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/06/saints-re-sign-michael-ola-place-jason-vander-laan-on-ir/|author=Williams, Charean|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> He was released on December 28, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saints make several roster moves, promote WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey to active roster, waive DeShawn Shead|url=https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_2babf814-29c0-11ea-940a-534a4b4d93d9.html|website=NOLA.com|date=December 28, 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=olamik001 Stats Crew] *[http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=86702&draftyear=2011&genpos=OG NFL Draft Scout]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ola, Michael}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Riverdale, Georgia Category:American football offensive tackles Category:Hampton Pirates football players Category:Jacksonville Sharks players Category:Miami Dolphins players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:San Diego Chargers players Category:Detroit Lions players Category:Seattle Seahawks players Category:New York Giants players Category:Buffalo Bills players Category:Los Angeles Chargers players Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Canadian football offensive linemen Category:Montreal Alouettes players