Last Updated on November 5, 2026 by Valentim Tereshkova
Akheem Mesidor is a Canadian professional American football player who plays as an outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers in the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 5, 2001, in Ottawa, Ontario, Mesidor grew up in a large family and overcame significant financial challenges before achieving his dream of playing professional football.
Mesidor’s parents are Nels Mesidor and Carole Richard. His mother raised him and several of his siblings as a single parent, working multiple jobs to support their household and his football ambitions. Although his family background has been documented in interviews and official college football biographies, information about his romantic relationships and children remains largely private.
Akheem Mesidor’s Girlfriend or Wife
As of now, Akheem Mesidor has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend or wife. There is no reliable, publicly verified information identifying a current romantic partner or establishing that he is married.
The Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker has generally kept his romantic life away from public attention, with most of his interviews concentrating on his childhood, his mother’s sacrifices, his siblings and his journey from Canada to the NFL.
Although Mesidor has discussed the importance of his family, he has not provided sufficient public information to establish whether he is currently dating someone, engaged or married.
Akheem Mesidor’s Children
As of now, there is no publicly verified information confirming that Akheem Mesidor has children.
The Canadian football player has not made a widely documented public announcement about becoming a father, and official NFL profiles do not identify any sons or daughters.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to state that Mesidor has children or provide their names without reliable confirmation.
Akheem Mesidor’s Parents
Akheem Mesidor was born to Nels Mesidor and Carole Richard. Their names are confirmed in his official West Virginia University athletics biography.
Mesidor was raised in Ottawa, Ontario, where his mother managed much of the responsibility for supporting the family. He has spoken publicly about his father’s Haitian background and his mother’s determination to create opportunities for her children despite financial difficulties.
Akheem Mesidor’s Father: Nels Mesidor
Akheem Mesidor’s father is Nels Mesidor, who is identified in his official West Virginia University football biography.
In July 2025, during the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Kickoff event, Mesidor explained that his father came from a Haitian background.
Growing up in Canada’s multicultural capital, Akheem was exposed to different languages and cultural traditions. He learned to speak both English and French, reflecting the diverse environment in which he was raised.
Mesidor has acknowledged his Haitian family roots as part of his identity, although he has shared relatively little information about his father’s personal life.
Additional details about Nels Mesidor’s occupation, upbringing and relationship with his son have not been extensively documented in reliable public sources.
While some secondary sports profiles describe his father’s influence on his values, Mesidor’s own interviews place particular emphasis on his mother’s role in raising him.
Akheem Mesidor’s Mother: Carole Richard
Akheem Mesidor’s mother is Carole Richard, who played a central role in his upbringing and football development.
Carole raised Akheem and four other children in their Ottawa household as a single mother. To provide for the family, she worked as many as three jobs while helping her children pursue their ambitions.
In a July 2024 interview with Faces Magazine, Mesidor recalled growing up in difficult financial circumstances. His mother worked continuously to provide food, housing and other necessities.
Despite those challenges, she also helped pay for his football training, camps and trips to the United States, where he hoped to attract attention from American college recruiters.
During his childhood, Mesidor participated in a football development program after a coach recognized his potential. Because his family could not comfortably afford the training costs, the coach offered financial assistance, and Carole took on additional work to make the opportunity possible.
In April 2026, Men’s Journal reported that the family sometimes experienced electricity outages and struggled to afford basic necessities. During particularly difficult periods, they used candles to provide light and some warmth.
Nevertheless, Carole remained committed to supporting her son’s football ambitions.
Her sacrifices helped him continue developing as a player, eventually allowing him to attend high school in Florida and earn a scholarship to West Virginia University.
Akheem Mesidor’s Close Relationship With His Mother
Akheem Mesidor has repeatedly described his mother as one of the most important people in his life.
In September 2021, West Virginia University published an interview in which Mesidor discussed how Carole regularly traveled from Canada to attend his college football games.
He explained that she frequently expressed her love and pride in his accomplishments, sometimes enthusiastically telling others about his progress.
Mesidor also revealed that he shared a particularly close emotional connection with his mother, who considered watching him play football one of the great joys of her life.
During his July 2024 interview with Faces Magazine, he said that speaking with Carole before games was part of his regular routine.
He also shared a childhood memory of his mother running onto the football field because she was worried when he struggled to get up while wearing heavy equipment.
Although she was initially nervous about his participation in the physical sport, her confidence grew as he became stronger and more experienced.
Carole also gave Akheem the childhood nickname “Kiki,” which family members used while he was growing up.
For Mesidor, his mother’s determination remains one of the biggest motivations behind his football career.
Akheem Mesidor’s Siblings
Akheem Mesidor grew up in a large family with several brothers and sisters. His official West Virginia University biography describes him as one of eight children, including two brothers and five sisters.
However, published accounts contain differences concerning the family’s total number of children. In a July 2024 interview with Faces Magazine, Mesidor recalled growing up with six siblings, four of whom lived with him.
In a Los Angeles Chargers introductory video released in 2026, the team described him as one of eight siblings.
Because these accounts provide different totals, the precise number of siblings should not be treated as fully settled. Nevertheless, multiple reliable sources confirm that he comes from a large family that includes both brothers and sisters.
Akheem Mesidor’s Brothers
According to his West Virginia University athletics biography, Akheem Mesidor has two brothers.
Growing up with siblings helped shape his childhood experiences in Ottawa, where he spent considerable time participating in outdoor games and sports.
During interviews, Mesidor has explained that living in a large household encouraged him to spend time outdoors, playing football, basketball and soccer with other children in his neighborhood.
His brothers’ names, ages, occupations and personal backgrounds have not been reliably established in major public sports profiles.
Akheem Mesidor’s Sisters
West Virginia University’s official biography identifies five sisters in Akheem Mesidor’s family.
Mesidor has discussed spending time with his sisters whenever he returns home to Ottawa.
In his July 2024 Faces Magazine interview, he explained that he preferred visiting family and friends rather than spending his free time indoors using his phone.
He specifically mentioned spending time with his mother and sisters during visits home.
Although his relationship with his sisters is publicly documented, their individual names and professional backgrounds have not been independently verified.
Akheem Mesidor’s Haitian Heritage and Canadian Upbringing
Akheem Mesidor was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, but his family background also connects him to Haiti.
During the 2025 ACC Football Kickoff event, he spoke about his father’s Haitian heritage and the influence of growing up in a culturally diverse Canadian community.
Being comfortable communicating in both English and French became part of his identity.
His childhood included significant financial difficulties, but it also involved strong family relationships and an early love of sports.
Mesidor began playing organized football around the age of eight. Although he initially struggled with the weight of the equipment and the physical demands of the sport, he eventually became more confident and developed into a promising defensive player.
He played youth football in the Ottawa area before attending Royal Imperial Collegiate of Canada in St. Catharines, Ontario.
He subsequently moved to Florida to attend Clearwater Academy International, where he attracted attention from American college football programs.
The move represented an important opportunity for Mesidor, who had found it difficult to gain recognition from recruiters while competing in Canada.
How Akheem Mesidor’s Family Influenced His Football Career
Akheem Mesidor’s family circumstances helped shape his determination to succeed in professional football.
His mother worked multiple jobs to finance his development, while he traveled repeatedly between Canada and the United States to participate in training camps and showcase his abilities to college coaches.
In his July 2025 ACC Football Kickoff interview, Mesidor explained that Canadian football prospects often had to work especially hard to attract the attention of American universities.
He described his family’s financial security as one of his strongest motivations for pursuing football.
After completing high school at Clearwater Academy International, Mesidor committed to West Virginia University, where he began his college career in 2020.
He made an immediate impact during his freshman season, recording five sacks and earning Freshman All-America recognition.
In 2022, he transferred to the University of Miami, where he developed into one of the Hurricanes’ leading defensive players.
His college career included injury setbacks, but he continued improving and enjoyed an outstanding final season in 2025.
That season, Mesidor recorded 63 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.
His performances earned First-Team All-ACC recognition and helped him become a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award.
On April 23, 2026, the Los Angeles Chargers selected Mesidor in the first round of the NFL Draft with the 22nd overall pick.
His selection represented a major milestone for the family, particularly his mother, whose years of sacrifice had helped make his professional football career possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Akheem Mesidor’s Family
Who is Akheem Mesidor’s girlfriend?
As of now, Akheem Mesidor has not publicly confirmed the identity of a girlfriend or romantic partner.
Is Akheem Mesidor married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Akheem Mesidor is married or has a wife.
Does Akheem Mesidor have children?
There is no publicly verified information confirming that Akheem Mesidor has children.
Who is Akheem Mesidor’s father?
His father is Nels Mesidor, whose name is confirmed in his official West Virginia University athletics biography. Akheem has described his father’s family background as Haitian.
Who is Akheem Mesidor’s mother?
His mother is Carole Richard, who raised him in Ottawa, Canada, and worked multiple jobs to support the family and his football development.
How many siblings does Akheem Mesidor have?
His West Virginia University biography lists two brothers and five sisters. However, Mesidor has described growing up with six siblings, while a Chargers video refers to eight siblings. The precise total differs across published accounts.
Where is Akheem Mesidor’s family from?
Akheem Mesidor grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. His family also has Haitian roots through his father’s background.
What is Akheem Mesidor’s mother’s name?
His mother’s name is Carole Richard. She has been publicly recognized for the sacrifices she made while helping him pursue football.
What is Akheem Mesidor’s full name?
His full name is Akheem Nels Mesidor.
How old is Akheem Mesidor?
Born on April 5, 2001, Akheem Mesidor is 25 years old as of now.
Valentim Tereshkova is a sports journalist and NFL analyst specializing in team dynamics, scheme breakdowns, and league-wide trends. Covering everything from offseason roster construction and Draft developments to Sunday game plans and Super Bowl contenders, he delivers clear, sharp commentary on the gridiron. Valentim combines stat-driven analysis with a passion for football storytelling to give readers an expert look into the AFC and NFC.
