Imagine having to start your life in an entirely different country after spending 12 years in one place. The feeling of saying goodbye to your home forever. Scary, isn’t it? The Kansas City Chiefs defensive end, George Karlaftis, went through something similar just months before he turned 13. The fast, powerful, and confident athlete you now know as a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs, was once just a kid dealing with the tough loss of a parent.

Where is George Karlaftis from?

George was born to Mathiós and Amy in Athens, Greece. His dad, Matt, was Greek, and his mom, Amy, is American. Both his parents were athletes. His dad, Matt, crushed it in javelin and track and field, and his mom played basketball and softball back in high school. George was born and raised in Greece for the first 12 years of his life before moving to Indiana with his mother. Matt and Amy met during their college years in 1994  at Purdue University, where he was pursuing his doctorate.

After a few years, Amy traveled to Greece to see Matt and ended up marrying him there. The couple had four children together: three boys, George, Yanni, and Niko, and a daughter named Annie. The kids grew up learning both their father’s and mother’s cultures. Amy taught them English at home, but they were mostly raised with a Greek upbringing.

Sadly, George Karlaftis’ father passed away from a heart attack. After his death, their mother moved with the kids to Indiana to be closer to her parents’ family. He started high school in Indiana but remained closely connected to his Greek roots. The Chiefs’ DE has mentioned several times that he misses his homeland, and his culture, especially the food, and the summer weather. “The best summers ever. It’s a different atmosphere than anywhere in the world,” recalled the 23-year-old.

During the 2024 Super Bowl, Karlaftis honored his Greek heritage by featuring the Greek flag on his helmet, reflecting his strong bond to his origins. His teammates and others often refer to him as the NFL’s version of the ‘Greek Freak.’ In American sports, a lot of Greek-American athletes are leaving a real mark across different games.

Which NFL players are Greek?

When we think of Greek athletes in American sports, the first name that comes to mind is Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA star. They’ve always been great at basketball, thanks to their tall and strong build. Many Greek athletes are now making their mark in the NFL too. They’ve been doing it for several years now.

Want to take a trip back in time? Gus Zarnas was the first-ever Greek to play in the NFL. He played with the Bears in 1938 and then spent two years with the Packers. Back in 1969, the Bills had a player from Corinth, Greece, named Angelo Loukas. Not much is known about him, but he had an 8-year NFL career.

Then, of course, there was Chris Farasopoulos, the former Saints defensive back. Born in Piraeus, he played in the NFL for four years before moving to a career in management. Recently there’s Kyle Hamilton, the son of former basketball player Derrick Hamilton. Although the Ravens player was born to an African-American father and a Korean mother, he was born in Heraklion. The 23-year-old holds both Greek and American citizenship. And then, of course, there’s Chiefs DE George Karlaftis.

Both Kyle and George debuted in the NFL in 2022. While the Chiefs’ DE has won the Super Bowl twice, Kyle is still waiting for that experience.