Detroit Lions’ Ahmed Hassanein Embraces Mentality to ‘Earn Everything’ in Grit-Fueled Pursuit of NFL Success and Team Impact

When the Detroit Lions signed Ahmed Hassanein, they didn’t just bring in another name to fill out the offseason roster. They welcomed a mindset, a message, and a motor that aligns perfectly with what head coach Dan Campbell has built in the Motor City: grit, toughness, and relentless work ethic. Hassanein, a towering offensive lineman from Egypt, isn’t asking for anything. He’s here to earn it all.

Born and raised in Cairo, Hassanein is not your typical NFL story. His path to professional football didn’t begin on American fields lined with stadium lights and screaming fans. It began in relative obscurity, across an ocean, with dreams that didn’t always seem attainable. But Hassanein doesn’t deal in impossibility. From day one, he’s forged his own path with fire in his chest and steel in his spine.

“I understand what it means to be overlooked,” Hassanein said after his first workout with the Lions. “But that’s never stopped me. It’s never even slowed me down. I don’t expect anything to be handed to me—I’m here to earn everything.”

That statement resonated throughout the Lions’ training facility. In a locker room where toughness is currency and egos are checked at the door, Hassanein’s attitude is as important as his physical tools. At 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds, he has the raw frame to compete. But more importantly, he has the disposition to thrive in a culture that rewards the grinders.

The Lions’ staff took notice of Hassanein through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program (IPP), which aims to find and develop hidden talents around the world. For Hassanein, it was a lifeline—and an opportunity to finally showcase the work he’s put in behind closed doors. Years of grueling solo training sessions, language barriers, and cultural adjustments came down to one shot. And Detroit gave it to him.

“Once we saw him compete, it was clear the kid’s got something,” said offensive line coach Hank Fraley. “You can coach a lot of things, but you can’t coach hunger. And this kid’s starving to get better every day.”

Hassanein’s journey is filled with unique chapters. He began playing football in his teens, far from the pipelines of Texas or Ohio. After moving to Europe to pursue the game more seriously, he played for the Berlin Thunder in the European League of Football, where his raw power and intensity drew attention. But the leap to the NFL was still immense. That’s where the IPP came in—offering him access to high-level coaching, nutrition, and most importantly, a chance to compete.

“I’ve had to catch up in so many ways,” Hassanein admitted. “Playbook knowledge, technique, experience—those guys have been doing it since they were kids. But I’ve never seen it as a disadvantage. It just means I have to outwork everyone.”

And he has. Coaches and teammates alike have praised Hassanein’s conditioning, willingness to learn, and sheer effort. Veteran linemen like Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow have taken notice of his eagerness, offering tips and encouragement along the way.

“He doesn’t take a single rep off,” Sewell said. “You love seeing that in a young guy, especially someone with his background. He’s coming in with no ego—just focus.”

That humility, combined with the toughness forged through years of adversity, makes Hassanein an intriguing long-term project. While it’s unlikely he’ll crack the starting rotation in his first season, his presence on the practice squad or in developmental roles could be invaluable. And in a league where injuries test depth constantly, having a motivated, physically gifted player ready to step up is a luxury.

For his part, Hassanein is less concerned with depth charts and more focused on the next rep. His mantra—“Earn Everything”—is not just a slogan. It’s a reflection of his worldview. Whether it’s extra time in the weight room or diving into game tape late at night, he’s building a foundation brick by brick.

“I wake up every day knowing I have to prove myself,” he said. “Not just to the coaches or my teammates, but to myself. I’ve worked too hard to stop now.”

Detroit is a city that understands struggle and resurgence. In many ways, Hassanein’s story mirrors that of the Lions. The franchise that was once the punchline of the NFL is now a team on the rise—respected, feared, and hungry. They’ve built their roster around players with chips on their shoulders and fire in their bellies. Hassanein fits that mold like a glove.

General manager Brad Holmes has emphasized building through culture as much as talent. That’s why a player like Hassanein matters. Even if he never becomes a Pro Bowler, his presence can elevate the team’s ethos. He pushes others simply by how hard he works.

“You want guys who come in with something to prove,” Holmes said. “Ahmed has that edge. He knows nothing is guaranteed, and he’s still coming for it all.”

Hassanein’s impact is already being felt off the field. As one of the few Egyptian players to ever step foot on an NFL field, he’s become a symbol of possibility. Young athletes across the Middle East and North Africa are now watching him, dreaming bigger. For Hassanein, that’s humbling—but also motivating.

“I think about the kids back home a lot,” he said. “If they see me make it, maybe they’ll believe they can, too. That’s powerful.”

Indeed, Hassanein’s rise adds another layer to the global nature of the NFL. As the league expands its international footprint, stories like his humanize the game and show the universality of passion, effort, and belief. The Lions, once a local curiosity, now find themselves at the center of a global narrative.

There’s still a long way to go. Hassanein knows this. He’s not delusional about the challenges ahead. Making an NFL roster, even as a backup, is a brutal process. But for someone who has already overcome so much, it’s just another obstacle to smash through.

“My whole life has been about climbing,” he said. “One step at a time, one level at a time. This is the highest level—but I’m not intimidated. I’m inspired.”

As OTAs progress and training camp approaches, all eyes will be on the rookies, the high-profile free agents, and the returning stars. But those watching closely will also see a determined offensive lineman grinding through every drill like it’s his last. Ahmed Hassanein may not have a household name yet, but he’s making sure that won’t last for long.

Every pad-popping block, every sprint to the whistle, every rep in the weight room—it all tells the same story. He’s not here to take anything for granted. He’s here to earn it. All of it.

And in Detroit, that might just make him the perfect Lion.