It’s not personal, it’s business.
Just hours after receiving a birthday greeting from his employer, Folorunso Fatukasi, defensive lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars, found himself without a job.
The Jaguars had scheduled a birthday post for Fatukasi, which went live on social media shortly after 11 a.m. Eastern time. However, by dinner time, he was instructed to clean out his locker, leaving him with an unexpected and unwelcome birthday surprise.
Losing one’s job is hardly the ideal birthday present, particularly in such an abrupt manner. The lack of synchronization between the social media department and the general manager, though not uncommon in large organizations like an NFL team, made the situation even more harsh for Fatukasi.
RELATED: Packers Getting Dragged For Cutting Player Only Hours After Wishing Him Happy Birthday
Having signed a three-year contract with Jacksonville in March 2022, Fatukasi failed to replicate the performance he exhibited during his time with the New York Jets in the two seasons prior to joining the Jaguars. In Jacksonville, he recorded 48 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, and five tackles for loss, compared to 88 tackles and 11 tackles for loss with the Jets.
Fatukasi’s release will save $3.5 million against the cap, according to ESPN. Drafted in the sixth round out of UConn by the Jets in 2018, he spent his entire NFL career in New York before moving to Jacksonville.
Interestingly, Fatukasi’s brother, Olakunle Fatukasi, is currently on the practice squad of the Los Angeles Rams.
Despite his recent setback, Fatukasi is expected to find a new team soon, as experience in the trenches is always in demand across the league.
During the 2023 season, the Jaguars briefly held the No. 1 seed in the AFC but ultimately stumbled, losing six of their final seven games and missing out on the postseason.
