close
Jump to content

Bobby Okereke

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bobby Okereke
Okereke with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022
Profile
PositionLinebacker
Personal information
Born (1996-07-29) July 29, 1996 (age 29)
Santa Ana, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High schoolFoothill (Santa Ana)
CollegeStanford (2014–2018)
NFL draft2019: 3rd round, 89th overall pick
Career history
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Total tackles805
Sacks7.5
Forced fumbles11
Fumble recoveries8
Interceptions7
Pass deflections36
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Robert Nnanna Okereke (/oʊkərəˈkeɪ/ oh-kər-ə-KAY;[1] born July 29, 1996) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Okereke was born in Santa Ana, California to parents who emigrated from Nigeria.[3] At age 16, he became an Eagle Scout with Troop 243.[4] He attended and played high school football at Foothill High School.[5]

College career

[edit]

Okereke attended and played college football at Stanford University. He redshirted as a freshman in 2014.[6] He contributed on the field from 2015 to 2018. He recorded 227 total tackles (20.0 were for loss), 10.5 sacks, one interception (a 52-yard pick-six), eight passes defensed, one fumble recovery, and three forced fumbles.[7] He was named Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2017[8] and 2018.[9]

College statistics

[edit]
Year School Conf Class Pos G Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
2015 Stanford Pac-12 SO LB 6 2 4 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0
2016 Stanford Pac-12 JR LB 12 12 27 39 4.0 3.0 0 0 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0
2017 Stanford Pac-12 SR LB 13 56 32 88 8.5 4.0 1 52 52.0 1 1 0 0 0 1
2018 Stanford Pac-12 SR LB 13 52 42 94 7.5 3.5 0 0 0.0 0 5 1 0 0 2
Career 44 122 105 227 20.0 10.5 1 52 52.0 1 8 1 0 0 3

Professional career

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 1+3⁄8 in
(1.86 m)		239 lb
(108 kg)		34+1⁄2 in
(0.88 m)		10+1⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		6 ft 10+5⁄8 in
(2.10 m)		4.58 s1.61 s2.67 s4.26 s7.02 s33.5 in
(0.85 m)		10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)		16 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[10][11]

Indianapolis Colts

[edit]

Okereke was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round (89th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.[12] The pick was announced by former Colts punter Pat McAfee. He made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers.[13] He earned his first career start in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons.[14] In Week 13 against the Tennessee Titans, Okereke recorded a strip sack on Ryan Tannehill which was recovered by teammate Justin Houston in the 31–17 loss. This was Okereke's first career sack in the NFL.[15] In the 2019 season, he recorded one sack, 65 total tackles, two passes defended, and two forced fumbles.[16]

In Week 5 of the 2020 season against the Cleveland Browns, Okereke recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Baker Mayfield during the 32–23 loss.[17] In the 2020 season, he recorded 72 total tackles, one interception, and six passes defended.[18]

In the 2021 season, Okereke started in all 17 games. He finished with one sack, 132 total tackles, two interceptions, and four passes defended.[19]

In the 2022 season, Okereke started in all 17 games. He finished with 151 total tackles, five passes defended, and two forced fumbles.[20]

New York Giants

[edit]

On March 16, 2023, Okereke signed a four-year contract with the New York Giants.[21][22] In the 2023 NFL season, he recorded 149 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, and 10 passes defensed.[23] Okereke, along with teammate Xavier McKinney, were the only defenders in the NFL to not miss a snap in the entire season.[24] In the 2024 season, he had two sacks, 93 tackles, three passes defended, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.[25]

During Week 18 of the 2025 season, Okereke was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his two turnovers that lead to 10 points and a 34–17 Giants win over the Dallas Cowboys.[26] Okereke finished 2025 with a team-leading 143 tackles.[27] On March 4, 2026, Okereke was released by the Giants.[28]

NFL career statistics

[edit]

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLQBHitsPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
2019IND 1686548171.0212000002100
2020IND 1487257150.04161777002110
2021IND 171713289431.032422010.01600000
2022IND 171615199520.0605000002200
2023NYG 171714992572.51161026231.05504000
2024NYG 12129347462.0623000003210
2025 NYG 17 17 143 78 65 1.0 2 1 6 2 54 27 47 0 0 1 0 0
Career110958055102957.5341336714320.4550118120

Postseason

[edit]
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLQBHitsPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
2020IND 104310.0000000000000
Career104310.0000000.0000000

Controversies

[edit]

Okereke was the subject of a sexual assault investigation at Stanford in 2015. Three members of the university's five-person investigative panel concluded Okereke committed sexual assault, but the ruling didn't cross the 4-1 threshold necessary to pursue further punitive action.[29] Okereke has maintained that the allegations are untrue.[30]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "2022 Indianapolis Colts Media Guide" (PDF). NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Meet the Bay Area NFL Draft Prospects: Stanford Linebacker Bobby Okereke". ABC7 San Francisco. April 24, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  3. ↑ Stankevitz, JJ (September 28, 2021). "It's Pronounced 'Oh-ker-uh-KAY:' Why Colts' LB Bobby Okereke Is Taking Ownership Of Cultural, Correct Pronunciation Of His Last Name". Colts.com. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Okereke joins the rank of Eagle Scouts". Orange County Register. July 5, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Bobby Okereke's High School Timeline". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Stanford offensive line looks ready to live up to billing". SFChronicle.com. August 19, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Bobby Okereke College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Pac-12 Football All-Conference Team Announced". Pac-12. December 5, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Pac-12 Football All-Conference honors announced". Pac-12. December 4, 2018. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  10. ↑ Zierlein, Lance. "Bobby Okereke Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  11. ↑ "2019 Draft Scout Bobby Okereke, Stanford NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ Walker, Andrew (April 26, 2019). "Colts Select Linebacker Bobby Okereke With 89th-Overall Pick". Colts.com. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers - September 8th, 2019". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Colts' Bobby Okereke: Drawing start Sunday". CBSSports.com. September 22, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Blocked field goal helps Titans turn table with win at Indy". ESPN. Associated Press. December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Bobby Okereke 2019 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns - October 11th, 2020". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Bobby Okereke 2020 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Bobby Okereke 2021 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Bobby Okereke 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  21. ↑ Eisen, Michael (March 16, 2023). "LB Bobby Okereke excited to be 'part of the rise'". Giants.com. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  22. ↑ Borba, Kevin (March 15, 2023). "Bobby Okereke agrees to deal with New York Giants". SI.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Bobby Okereke 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  24. ↑ Leonard, Pat (January 5, 2024). "Giants' Bobby Okereke, Xavier McKinney only two NFL defenders who have played 100% of snaps entering Week 18". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Bobby Okereke 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  26. ↑ Valentine, Ed (January 7, 2026). "NY Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke named NFC Player of the Week". Big Blue View. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Bobby Okereke 2025 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  28. ↑ Salamone, Dan (March 5, 2026). "Giants release former captain Bobby Okereke". giants.com. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  29. ↑ Shapiro, Michael (June 5, 2019). "Colts Were Aware of 2015 Sexual Assault Accusation Before Drafting Bobby Okereke". SI. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  30. ↑ Abdeldaiem, Alaa (July 28, 2019). "Colts' Bobby Okereke Calls 2015 Sexual Assault Allegations 'Untrue'". SI. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bobby_Okereke&oldid=1346308448"