_(cropped).jpg) Okoye in 2023 | |||||||||
| No. 35 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Fullback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | August 16, 1961 Enugu, Nigeria | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 253 lb (115 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Azusa Pacific | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1987 / round: 2 / pick: 35 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Christian Emeka Okoye (/oʊˈkɔɪeɪ/; born August 16, 1961) is a Nigerian–American former professional football fullback who played for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL) from 1987 to 1992.[1][2][3] Nicknamed "the Nigerian Nightmare", he was known for his powerful running style and ability to break tackles. His six-season NFL career produced an NFL rushing champion title in 1989, first-team All-Pro honors in 1989, second-team All-Pro honors in 1991, two Pro Bowl appearances in 1989 and 1991, and three playoff appearances.[4] He ended his NFL career due to multiple injuries.[5] He was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2000.[3] He is also notable for not having ever played football until the age of 23, but later leading the NFL in rushing at age 28.[6]
- ^ "Christian Okoye, RB at NFL.com". NFL.com. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "Christian Okoye Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "Official Website of the Kansas City Chiefs | Chiefs.com". Kansas City Chiefs. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ Williams, Doug (October 2, 2017). "How Christian Okoye is still making an impact 30 years after his debut". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Radio interview on the Phoenix-based sports talk show "Gambo & Ash" on KTAR 620, April 10, 2008
- ^ Smith, M. D. (2022, July 21). Christian Okoye envisions a huge NFL talent influx from Africa. ProFootballTalk. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/07/21/christian-okoye-envisions-a-huge-nfl-talent-influx-from-africa/