Episode 2 of "Roy Mbaeteka: Journey to the NFL" is now available on the Giants YouTube channel.
The three-part docuseries is following the 6-foot-9, 320-pound offensive tackle as he takes his next steps 5,000 miles from his Nigerian home, where he was discovered by Giants legend Osi Umenyiora. The second installment begins with the first day of pads at training camp, an annual rite of passage for NFL players. But it took on even greater significance for Mbaeteka, who strapped up for the first time in his life.
"Everything up to this point has been 'take it easy, learn this, learn that,'" Mbaeteka said in the episode. "I think I'm ready to get the pads so I can start to learn to make decisions on the fly because it's one thing when you're learning things from the board where's there's Xs and Os. It's different when you're actually out there making that decision quick and applying those techniques that you've been practicing on. Now you're studying for people, and these people are coming to take your face off."
View photos of offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka, who was discovered by Giants legend Osi Umenyiora.
Osi Umenyiora talks with New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) runs onto the field with teammates prior to a preseason NFL football game between New York Giants and the New England Patriots, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during training camp Fan Fest practice at MetLife Stadium on Friday August 5, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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OL Roy Mbaeteka (61), Lani Lawrence Director of Wellness and Clinical Services, Player Engagement
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Roy Mbaeteka (61) during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday April 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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Osi Umenyiora talks with New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Osi Umenyiora talks with New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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Osi Umenyiora talks with New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Osi Umenyiora talks with New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Osi Umenyiora talks with New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during a pre-season football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday August 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during a pre-season football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday August 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) blocks linebacker Quincy Roche (95) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Osi Umenyiora talks with New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) answers questions from media at the NFL football New York Giants rookie minicamp in East Rutherford, N.J., Friday, May 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) warms up during an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won 25-22. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) blocks during an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants defeated the Bengals, 25-22. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won 25-22. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) on the sidelines during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)
Up Rise Academy offensive lineman Chigbo Roy Mbaeteka, of Nigeria, participates in a drill at the NFL international scouting combine at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Up Rise Academy's offensive linemen Haggai Chison Noubuis, left, and Mbaeteka Chigbo Roy, both from Nigeria, pose for photographs after taking part in the NFL International Combine at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. International athletes on Tuesday took part in a series of tests in front of NFL evaluators for a potential position in the NFL's International Player Pathway programme. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Up Rise Academy offensive lineman Chigbo Roy Mbaeteka, of Nigeria, runs in a drill during the NFL international scouting combine, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in London. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) answers questions from media at the NFL football New York Giants rookie minicamp in East Rutherford, N.J., Friday, May 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Up Rise Academy offensive lineman Chigbo Roy Mbaeteka, of Nigeria, participates in a drill at the NFL international scouting combine at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Up Rise Academy offensive lineman Chigbo Roy Mbaeteka, of Nigeria, participates in a drill at the NFL international scouting combine at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Up Rise Academy's offensive linemen Haggai Chison Noubuis, left, and Mbaeteka Chigbo Roy, both from Nigeria, give media interviews after taking part in the NFL International Combine at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. International athletes on Tuesday took part in a series of tests in front of NFL evaluators for a potential position in the NFL's International Player Pathway programme. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
"People need to keep this in perspective: Roy has put on football pads I believe four times," offensive line coach Bobby Johnson said leading up to the preseason opener against the Patriots. "Roy is about to play in his first competition against somebody other than his own teammates. … He gives you everything that he has every day. And that's all you can ask for from the guys. I can't imagine what's going on in his head. What, he's been in the country four, five months? I can't even fathom exactly what he's getting done."
The Giants mic'd up Mbaeteka along the way, including his first experience against a live opponent in a game. On the road in New England, Mbaeteka played left tackle on the game-winning drive, which wouldn't have been possible without international players. Mbaeteka blocked for Austrian running back Sandro Platzgummer, a fellow member of the NFL's International Pathway Program, who ran three times for 21 yards deep into Patriots territory with four seconds remaining in the game. It set up a 24-yard field goal for kicker Graham Gano and holder Jamie Gillan, who were both born in Scotland.
"Roy Mbaeteka: Journey to the NFL" will conclude later this summer with Episode 3, which focuses on his adjustment to a new life.
