The parents of a professional football offensive tackle for the New York Jets, Armand Membou, are Cameroonian immigrants.
Former Lee’s Summit North and Mizzou standout Armand Membou was selected with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
Armand, who anchored the right side of Missouri’s offensive line, had been widely projected as a top-10 selection following a standout senior season and strong showing at the NFL combine. Now, he will play for the New York Jets.
He ran a 4.91-second 40-yard dash and logged 32 bench press reps, boosting his stock among scouts.
Membou earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2024 after not allowing a single sack or quarterback hit throughout the season.
During an interview with the team’s website, he called it a blessing to be drafted by the team. He said,
“It’s just a big relief and definitely a blessing,” “I guess God told me….plus the Jets have a really young, promising team. I thought that would be a good fit for me, too.”
Armand Membou
Armand Membou’s Cameroonian Parents Supported Him In Achieving His Athletic Dreams
Born on March 27, 2004, Armand Membou, 22, was raised by his father, Suffo Membou, and his mother, Annie Melong.
His parents migrated from Cameroon to the United States during their teenage years.
Therefore, Armand and his parents are of American nationality and African ethnicity. According to the source, French is their first language.
They have always supported him since childhood in achieving his athletic dreams. During the interview, Armand said that his mother wanted him to play basketball over football because it was less violent.
Armand also tried soccer but didn’t like it because he had to run so much.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Armand underwent a body-reshaping journey, hoping to get a varsity spot on the football team.
He told his mother, Annie, that he wanted to gain weight and asked her to make more beans, rice, chicken, and eggs.
He also asked for a gym membership to start hitting the weights.
His mother, Annie, completed a nursing training program at Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2012 and studied pre-nursing at Metropolitan Community College.
Later, in 2020, she earned a nursing degree from Graceland University. She is a registered nurse at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the other hand, Armand’s father has avoided the media spotlight, so little is known about his personal life.
However, he frequently attends Armand’s games to support him.
Annie and Suffo are proud that the New York Jets selected their son, Armand, in the 2025 NFL draft.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- American professional football offensive tackle Armand Membou grew up with his sister, Laura Membou.
- Armand attended Lee’s Summit North High School. He was rated as a four-star recruit and committed to playing college football for the Missouri Tigers over offers from Kansas State, Kansas, Oregon, Iowa State, Nebraska, and Missouri.
- Heading into the 2024 season, Membou was named to Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list.
