Yaya Diaby’s parents, Mohamed and Mariama Diaby intended him to be a basketball player rather than a footballer. The linebacker is originally from Guinea, a West African country. Mariama, like every NFL mother, flinches when she watches her son being tackled. This was one of the reasons she encouraged Yaya to pick basketball.
But Yaya was determined to become a player. He had a passion for this sport since he was very young. Yaya, known for his bright grin, did not have an easy journey to the NFL. He received no university offers and had to wait a year until Georgia Military College came calling. After a season, he made the Louisville team and is currently in the NFL, playing with Baker Mayfield and Tristan Wirfs. The linebacker believes that everyone’s path is unique and that if he succeeds, his narrative will serve as an inspiration to many young people.
Yaya Diaby’s Parents: Meet Mohamed and Mariama Diaby
Yaya Diaby’s parents are Mohamed and Mariama Diaby, who are from Guinea in West Africa. Diaby said in an interview that his family was not very fond of football when he picked it over basketball. Yaya seemed to have captured the hearts of Buccaneers supporters despite just being in his rookie season. After making a breakthrough on the team, Yaya was interviewed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers YouTube channel.
He discussed his attitude to the games and his family life. The 24-year-old began by discussing the origin of his moniker, which has gained popularity among admirers. Yaya said that his mother, Mariama, came up with the name. She named her kid after Yaya, her elder brother. Mariama was the youngest in her family and looked up to her elder brother for inspiration. She wanted her kid to be like his uncle: a leader and a man of the home. Previously, in another interview, Yaya said that his work ethic comes from his mother.
The NFL athlete said that he wants his mother to cease working and that he wants to support her financially. Continuing his chat with the Buccaneers channel, Diaby said that his family still knew nothing about football. He also said that his mother gets enthusiastic every time the team scores or makes an interception. Diaby claims his mother goes into mother mode when someone hits him.
Mariama wanted her kid to choose basketball over the contact-heavy sport. The interviewers teased Yaya, claiming his mother presumably only cheers when there is a touchdown interception. As Yaya solidifies his status with the Buccaneers, we may hear more anecdotes from the linebacker. Yaya hasn’t spoken much about his father and how he has influenced his life so far.
Yaya Diaby’s Journey So Far
Diaby, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, attended North Clayton High School and lettered in football, basketball, wrestling, and track and field. Despite garnering All-State and First-Team All-Region accolades, Diaby was not deemed a good option by college scouts. After receiving no offers, Diaby began working as a wheelchair passenger aid at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He said that working at the airport helped him become psychologically tougher and less prone to taking things for granted.
In 2018, Georgia Military College expressed interest in Diaby and accepted him. It was the start of something remarkable for Diaby. Yaya had 19 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, and two sacks in nine games during his first season. He had offers from Kansas State and West Virginia but picked Louisville. Yaya started seven of eight games during his debut season at Louisville. He has 18 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Before the second season began, Yaya was interviewed by Sports Illustrated.
He mentioned he had been focusing on his nutrition and had gained 20 pounds. Diaby said defensive coordinator Bryan Brown has been a big assistance to him. Yaya lived up to his pledge, recording 39 tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss this season. Yaya started all 13 games in his last year at Louisville, totaling 37 tackles and ranking second on the team in tackles for loss (14.5). He was a third-round selection of the Buccaneers. It was a huge event for a youngster who had received no Division I or II offers after high school.
