Fresh off being drafted 21st overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers, offensive tackle Max Iheanachor pledged helmets and tickets to his former junior college coach Bobby Godinez, who discovered him playing basketball and turned him into an NFL prospect. Godinez now has his sights set on repeating the success with another Nigerian talent.
Max Iheanachor, the 6-7, 321-pound offensive tackle selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, has a special bond with Bobby Godinez, head football coach at East Los Angeles College from 2016 to 2025. Godinez spotted Iheanachor's potential during an AAU basketball game and convinced the Nigerian native—who skipped football in high school—to switch sports. After two standout seasons at the junior college, Iheanachor transferred to Arizona State, starting 31 games and becoming a top prospect. From the outset, Godinez told Iheanachor: “When you make it, and you are going to make it, all I want are some helmets for our team and tickets.” True to his word, Iheanachor grinned post-draft, “You got it, Coach.” Godinez, who attended the draft party, looks forward to his first Pittsburgh visit courtesy of the promised tickets. The coach's talent-spotting continues with Iheanachor's friend David Chukwuemeka, another Nigerian-born athlete Godinez introduced to football. The towering defensive end (taller than Iheanachor, nearly 300 pounds but athletically built) played basketball at Division II Cal (Merced) before one season at East Los Angeles College. He's now drawing Division I offers for 2026, including from West Virginia. Godinez predicts Chukwuemeka as a future first-round pick, calling overlooked athletes like these 'diamonds.'
