Tampa Bay Buccaneers

…

On the grass at North Clayton High School, Diaby demonstratively stands in the middle of the practice field and takes a mental photograph. Every step he takes in his remarkably white New Balance sneakers conjures up fragmented clips from his sensational rookie season for the Buccaneers and his high school playing days. In an instant, the past and present collide. Diaby and his towering physique present the antithesis of a once-too small defensive end from Riverdale, Georgia. As the rehearsing high school drumline plays North Clayton's fight song in an almost too-perfect full-circle moment, the Bucs' outside linebacker is hit with a realization. Although formed amidst trials, it is a startling revelation that illuminates Diaby's perspective.

Diaby's path to one of the largest stages in sports defied the conventional mold. At the age of two, Diaby moved to Guinea to live with his grandparents for three years before returning to the U.S. His father Mohamed immigrated to the United States in 1989, while his mother Mariama arrived years later in 1997. Both wanted Yaya to experience an educational and cultured upbringing in their native country of West Africa, brimming with tradition and a reliance on faith. There, he was exposed to a variety of dialects, including Maninka, the main language of the Maninka ethnic group in the upper region. In time, Diaby became fluent in the language, joining his parents.

Diaby did not grow up immersed in football, which makes his captivation by the sport even more profound. The NFL, with its own cultivated theme song and revered day of the week in the United States, never monopolized the TV in the Diaby household. Despite the apparent disconnection to the gridiron, with soccer usurping everything in African culture, the Diaby siblings were very competitive, and it translated to sports. From bowling and basketball to soccer and even food races – who could get the last bite (Yaya won) – the trio battled.

When Diaby broke the basketball rim from incessant dunking, a fight nearly ensued. His little brother, Ibrahim and his older sister, Fatim, pushed him to be the best version of himself. Although their methods may have raised question marks, including jumping down a staircase and getting lost in the city post-Ramadan, the motive for the siblings stayed the same: Fashion an unbreakable connection. As the trio grew, Ibrahim and Fatim noticed Diaby's voracious passion for football and his unceasing drive. The pair morphed into encouraging bystanders, waiting for the day that their brother's ability was discovered.

His close-knit group of friends in Georgia introduced him to American football, teasing, "You do not have any extracurriculars after school. Come play football with us." When Diaby tried on his first football threads at 11, he felt a euphoric sense of freedom at the line of scrimmage. As the helmet closed over his face like a vault door, peace transcended. The Xs and Os became a liberating escape for him and nurtured his mental health. It was his avenue of staying out of trouble and gradually, the game manifested into more than a passive hobby for Diaby. It became his destiny, propelling him forward.

In middle school, he played defensive end, but due to his small frame Diaby was moved to kicker at the outset of his freshman season. At North Clayton, Diaby lettered in football, basketball, wrestling and track. As a senior, he guided North Clayton to the 4A playoffs, playing multiple positions and earning All-State and first team All-Region honors in 2016. Diaby was a zero-star recruit in the Class of 2017, a result of his then-undersized 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame. After receiving no offers, Diaby took a year off and worked at the bustling Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as a wheelchair assistant. The humbling venture forced Diaby to develop patience with passengers in what is known as 'Airport Purgatory,' and it fostered fortitude.

The B concourse became his favorite because it marked the international hub where Diaby could interact with individuals from all over the globe. As he remembered the first passenger he helped, Diaby let out a face-consuming grin. In the jetway, an elderly gentleman served as a blessing in disguise on an unassuming workday. The inquisitive man showed genuine interest in not only Diaby's background, but his aspirations. Like it happened yesterday, Diaby repeated the words he said to the gentleman.

"I am here temporarily but I have faith that I will find football again."

As those words hung in the air, the stranger in the wheelchair pulled $100 out of his pocket and handed it to Diaby. Although brief, that interaction and kind gesture is forever entrenched in Diaby's mind. That bill signified a tangible investment in his lofty dream, and it left a sizeable imprint.

"Football being taken away from me when I was working at the airport, really opened my eyes and made me see that when I got the opportunity again, I would take full advantage of it and work hard every day I get a chance to," Diaby reflected.

During that year-long season of waiting, he was subjected to the unvarnished opinions of others in his life on a recurring basis.

Give up on football.

Get a job.

You are a disappointment.

Find another career path.

Despite the disillusionment that often materialized into a weighted fog, Diaby stayed the course and refused to give up. With a gnawing sense of unfulfillment, his aspirations only grew. Diaby blocked out the belittling negativity and instead, chose to view it as a mere diversion fueling his mission. His mother, Mariama, became the backbone of his quest. Her unrelenting prayers, although unquantifiable, became the strength that sustained him and the force that prevailed in his life.

"Your mom's prayers follow you," Diaby expressed. "Every second of the day she is praying for me. I call her every day for five minutes just to hear her voice and so she can pray for me. She is such a blessing. She owns a salon, but I have watched her over the years closely. When it came to school, she would go and buy each one of us – my siblings and I - like one or two outfits for the year to wear. She was a warrior and is such an inspiration to me. Every day I see her fighting and I am inspired. It made me want to never disappoint her, because when I did not get the opportunity to play right out of high school, my dad let his frustration get the best of him and his words made my mom cry. Ever since then, I told her, 'I will never make you cry again.' I have always had a good work ethic but ever since that day, I do not care what it is, I am going to give it my all."

She became his 'why,' the moral compass that shaped his undeterred dedication. Her belief provided him with the courage to wholeheartedly pursue his grand ambitions.

Eventually, those prayers were answered, and the 'big break' finally arrived. A friend that worked at the airport encouraged Diaby to attend a tryout at Georgia Military College. Without hesitation, Diaby paid the $45 fee and left coaches stunned with how quickly he managed to overwhelm offensive linemen. Diaby received a call two days later and was given the chance to walk on. He earned a scholarship in 2018 and during his two seasons at the JUCO program Diaby accumulated 77 tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks.

While attending Georgia Military, Diaby primarily played special teams during the first year and transformed his body by eating three plates at every meal to gain mass so he could play defensive end the next season. The bulk-up during his sophomore season paid dividends, elevating his play to another level. Regarded as a three-star JUCO prospect, Diaby was the No. 3 JUCO strongside defensive end and the No. 2 JUCO recruit out of Georgia in the 2020 cycle. Offers began filling the mailbox on a routine basis and numerous campus visits commenced.

During that two-year span, Mariama woke up every night at one or two in the morning, got on her knees and began praying for Yaya. "He just wants to play football," she pleaded. "I am begging you to help us and for one day, Yaya to go to the NFL." Her persistent prayers permeated every aspect of his life, providing intercession and guidance en route to the pinnacle. The initial steppingstone came when Diaby committed to Louisville based on his genuine connection with linebackers coach Mark Ivey. The first time Diaby stepped on the gridiron as a Division I athlete, reality set in, evoking emotion. He bet on himself and in that singular climactic moment donning red and black - his name embroidered on the back - the trajectory of his life shifted.

In 21 appearances and 19 starts over the 2020 and 2021 seasons for the Cards, Diaby tallied 57 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss. He conducted a breakout campaign in 2022, with personal bests in sacks (9.0) and tackles for loss (14.0). In order to reach peak potential on the field, Diaby cut out fat, worked with Louisville teammate Yasir Abdullah to enhance his pass rush arsenal and got his weight up to 275 pounds. He was named a Third-Team All-ACC selection for his contributions on the gridiron and although his popularity grew along with the accolades, Diaby remained true to himself.

"Middle of that second year, he starts to become a well known – not local legend – but everyone knew that Yaya is a great player," described Ivey. "That did not go to his head. That did not change him. He had a great year production-wise during his senior season in 2022. He was getting to the quarterback, and he was creating big-time success and people were noticing. Scouts were showing up but that did not change him. A lot of times when you are 18, you are so worried about the status quo and what others think of you and he never was. He was just worried about doing the best that he could do at all times and being as positive as he could be as a player and as a leader."

Coach Ivey routinely strolled down the hallway at Louisville and would see Diaby through the frosted window studying film in the meeting room at all hours. He relished the opportunity to learn, getting better than he was the day before. What impressed the Cards' coaching staff more than Diaby's unquenchable football hunger was his consistency. Regardless of circumstances, Diaby showed up to the practice field or meetings with his signature contagious smile, ready to absorb whatever was being thrown his way. Diaby never needed motivation or an elaborate rah-rah speech to get fired up. Instead, he was a self-starter, intrinsically hardwired to give 110%.

Diaby experienced football being taken away from him once and that prompted an insatiable commitment to his craft. His always-doubted, never-thwarted creed sparked success during the pre-draft process. Diaby enhanced his athletic profile and draft stock at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, leaving onlookers salivating. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds, leapt 10 feet and 0 inches (120") in the broad jump and 37" in the vertical.

Based on those measurements, Diaby earned a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.86 out of 10, ranking 24th out of 1,629 defensive ends from 1987 through 2023 (98th percentile). He recorded an impressive 1.56-second 10-yard split, showcasing his acceleration off the ball. In addition, Diaby dominated the Senior Bowl, exploding through gaps and overwhelming blockers in one-on-one drills like a wrecking ball. Linemen could hardly get out of their stance fast enough before Diaby was flying past into the backfield. Those debuts became a microcosm of Diaby's unpretentious outlook on life.

"You can point to him as someone who has faced adversity and has overcome it," said Bucs' Mid-Atlantic Scout Brian McLaughlin. "He could have given up and there were people in his life that were trying to tell him that his football playing days were over and that his dream was done. Nobody spent more time in the building in college than him. I think there a lot of young players that are scared of feedback and taking criticism and applying it.

…

Perched on the red brick steps of his childhood home, Diaby averted his gaze to the open field he frequented as a kid, and nostalgia returned. As the words 'Draft Day' resonated and his thoughts fixated on the metamorphic moment, his contemplative stare shifted to childlike enchantment.

April 28th, 2023, a day that seemed to last an eternity. Hours vanished and pick after pick, names came off the board in Round Two. The mood dimmed and Diaby felt a crippling knot growing in his stomach – stress. 'What is going on?' rolled through his subconscious every other second. The third round began and hope abounded in the room. Sitting next to his mother, Diaby had his eyes glued to the screen, gripping his cellphone with a force that could have broken a hand. The phone rang, altering Diaby's life. He answered, hands shaking, and heard words from Jason Licht he had been waiting for all his life, "We are about to make you a Buc."

As the room began spinning in a near out-of-body experience, Diaby managed to respond, "Thank you," as tears blurred his vision. His eager family exploded in cheers and applause that would rival any fanbase on game day. Subsequently, as his name echoed around the rented hotel space from the TV broadcast, Diaby had a moment of clarity. While he hugged his mom, siblings and father, the only words impressed on his mind came out in a whisper, "Thank you, God. Thank you."

The Buccaneers selected Diaby with the 82nd overall pick of the draft. Initially, he lined up as an outside linebacker in base, due to his ability to set the edge, and contributed in sub-packages. After showing flashes on passing downs, Diaby earned a starting role following a two-sack performance against the San Francisco 49ers. His position coach, George Edwards, made the announcement at the beginning of a fall practice, "Yaya, you're with the one's." Even though the ensuing workout structure was monotonous, for Diaby, the news brought a palpable excitement. After the huddle broke, Diaby raced inside to call a familiar voice. On the other end of the phone call, Ibrahim offered brotherly advice, reminding Diaby to not get "complacent." Diaby took his brother's words to heart, vying to become the kind of player who could help shape the very spirit of the franchise.

Football and the artistry of athleticism mimic life. Inadvertently, it embodies the human spirit; the ability to rise after failing. Diaby's mindset in the trenches mirrors his approach to daily life: fight. Rather than buying into the marginalized narrative about his aspirations, Diaby accomplished the improbable through faith. He applies that same framework to the gridiron. If the initial power move does not work, he works a counter to defeat the offensive lineman across from him. Diaby tirelessly works through the whistle with heart, refusing to surrender – the archetype of toughness.

"I think his best trait is his relentless effort and motor," stated McLaughlin. "He can create an impact on the game because he is so relentless at his size and with his speed and because of those traits. I don't think he would have the same impact if he did not go as hard as he goes. He comes after guys consistently over and over and over again, and I think he wears people out that way and he really leaves it out on the field. He really empties his tank, and he is the type of player that is not going to take breaks. If you want him to get a break, you are going to have to tell him. When I look at what he did for us and the impact he had in 2023, it is because he never stopped coming."

Diaby exceeded expectations in 2023 and finished his rookie campaign with a team-high 7.5 sacks. He led all NFL rookies with 12 tackles for loss, serving as a catalyst in Todd Bowles' attack-styled, hybrid 4-3/3-4 system. He solidified the Bucs' defense with violence in pursuit, brute power and explosion off the ball. The freak specimen became a menace on loops and stunts with a running start, neutralizing the opposition into submission. Diaby, a natural force player, uses his length, get-off and active hands to generate leverage on opponents. He has the quickness in slanting to get small in the hole and collapse the pocket, along with the power to knock tackles back on bull rushes. Regardless of the success accumulated during his first year, Diaby focused on improving his pad level and expanding his pass rush toolkit, including the heralded yet elusive long-arm maneuver and double swipe, weaponizing his explosion for 2024.

This season in his encore, Diaby has posted seven tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and eight quarterback hits through 10 game starts. Diaby's 2.61 average time to pressure ranks second among qualified edge rushers per ESPN Next Gen Stats, trailing only Giants' Brian Burns. His 20.6% pass rush win rate ranks fourth among qualified edge rushers per PFF and Diaby's 30 quarterback hurries ranks eighth among qualified edge rushers (PFF).

"A lot of times, guys have survived high school and whatever it is on talent alone and they do not understand that in order for me to advance this to that next level, it cannot just be talent; it has to be absolute desire, passion and fight and scrap and he has all of that stuff," stated Ivey. "The great thing about Yaya is you can tell him the thing that you think he needs to improve upon, and he goes and attempts to do that. He will keep attempting until he gets better at whatever it is."

In conjunction to his sensational production on the field, the Louisville product made his mark in team history in another way. Diaby became the first player in franchise annals to wear No. 0. For the first time in 2023, players were given the option to sport that number.