Chukwuma Okorafor
{{Short description|Nigerian American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Chukwuma Okorafor
| image = Chukwuma Okorafor (50695534763) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Okorafor with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020
| current_team = New York Jets
| number = 79
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|8|8}}
| birth_place = Ibadan, Nigeria
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 320
| high_school = Southfield {{nowrap|(Southfield, Michigan), U.S.}}
| college = Western Michigan (2014–2017)
| draftyear = 2018
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 92
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2023}})
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2024}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- First-team All-American (2017)
- 2× First-team All-MAC (2016–2017)
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 78
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 60
| pfr = OkorCh00
}}
Chukwuma Okorafor (born August 8, 1997) is a Nigerian professional American football offensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He has also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots. He played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos.{{cite web | last=Nothaft | first=Patrick | title=WMU offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor earns first-team All-America honors | website=mlive | date=2017-12-12 | url=https://www.mlive.com/broncos/2017/12/wmu_offensive_tackle_chukwuma.html | access-date=2024-10-09}}
Early life
Okorafor was born in Nigeria, and lived in South Africa and Botswana before his family emigrated to the United States in 2010.{{cite web | last=Varley | first=Teresa | title=Okorafor fell in love with football | website=Steelers.com | date=2018-05-15 | url=https://www.steelers.com/news/okorafor-fell-in-love-with-football?campaign=sf%3Afanshare%3Afacebook | access-date=2024-10-09}}{{cite web | title=Chukwuma Okorafor's soccer past helps him 'holding his own' in Steelers camp | website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=2018-08-07 | url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2018/08/07/The-future-of-the-Steeler-s-offensive-line-got-his-start-on-the-soccer-field/stories/201807300184 | access-date=2024-10-09}} He attended Southfield High School in Southfield, Michigan and started at both offensive and defensive line. He was named a 3-star recruit by 247Sports and was considered the 11th best football recruit in Michigan as a senior. Chukwuma received offers from numerous programs, some of which included Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, but chose to play at Western Michigan due to its close proximity to home and the school's promise to start him as a true freshman.{{cite web |title=Chukwuma Okorafor 247Sports |url=https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Chukwuma-Okorafor-32419/RecruitInterests/}}
College career
Okorafor played college football for Western Michigan from 2014 to 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://wmubroncos.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4738|title=Chukwuma Okorafor - Football|website=Western Michigan University Athletics}} In 2016 and 2017, he was named to the All-Mid-American Conference first-team.{{Cite web|url=https://wmubroncos.com/news/2016/11/30/football-broncos-receive-record-number-of-mac-awards.aspx|title=Broncos Receive Record Number of MAC Awards|website=Western Michigan University Athletics}}{{Cite web|url=https://wmubroncos.com/news/2017/11/29/football-wmu-garners-12-all-mac-recognitions-phillips-named-special-teams-poty.aspx|title=WMU Garners 12 All-MAC Recognitions, Phillips Named Special Teams POTY|website=Western Michigan University Athletics}} In 2017, he was named a Football Writers Association of America First Team All-American.{{Cite web|url=https://wmubroncos.com/news/2017/12/11/football-okorafor-named-first-team-all-american-by-fwaa.aspx|title=Okorafor Named First Team All-American by FWAA|website=Western Michigan University Athletics}}
On January 27, 2018, Okorafor played in the 2018 Reese's Senior Bowl and was a part of the North team that lost 45–16 to the South team.{{cite web |title=Okorafor participates, Phillips sits with sprained ankle at 2018 Reese's Senior Bowl |url=http://www.westernherald.com/sports/article_2d0efe08-0556-11e8-9744-cf692968cdf0.html |access-date=August 19, 2018 |website=westernherald.com |date=January 29, 2018}}
Professional career
{{external media
| video1 =
[http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/0ap3000000924653/Chukwuma-Okorafor-s-full-2018-NFL-Scouting-Combine-workout Okorafor's NFL Combine Workout]
}}
Okorafor attended private workouts and visits with the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.{{cite web |title=DRAFT Eagles NewsWestern Michigan OT Chukwuma Okorafor has official visit scheduled with Eagles |url=http://4thandjawn.com/2018/03/21/western-michigan-ot-chukwuma-okorafor-has-official-visit-scheduled-with-eagles/ |access-date=August 19, 2018 |website=4thandjawn.com |date=March 21, 2018}} He was ranked as the sixth-best offensive tackle in the draft by Sports Illustrated, the ninth-best offensive tackle by DraftScout.com, and the 11th best-offensive tackle by Scouts Inc.{{cite web |title=Chukwuma Okorafor, DS #9 OT, Western Michigan |url=http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=131391&draftyear=2018&genpos=ot |access-date=August 19, 2018 |website=draftscout.com}}{{cite web |title=The 2018 NFL Draft Big Board, Vol. 2 |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/03/07/nfl-draft-top-prospects-big-board-top-100 |access-date=August 18, 2018 |website=si.com}}
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 6
| weight = 320
| dash = 5.31
| ten split = 1.85
| twenty split = 3.07
| shuttle = 4.80
| cone drill = 7.87
| vertical = 23.5
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 6
| bench = 19
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 34 1/2
| hand span = 10 1/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Chukwuma Okorafor Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/chukwuma-okorafor/32004f4b-4f35-9674-5da6-60fd207c1379 |access-date=March 1, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2018 NFL Draft Scout Chukwuma Okorafor College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=131391&DraftYear=2018 |access-date=May 12, 2018 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
{{external media
| video1 =
[http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/0ap3000000929676/Steelers-select-Chukuma-Okorafor-No-92-in-the-2018-NFL-Draft Steelers draft Okorafor 92nd overall]
}}
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Okorafor in the third round (92nd overall) of the 2018 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2018 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2018/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} Okorafor was the 11th offensive tackle drafted in 2018.{{cite web|title=2018 NFL Draft Results: Pittsburgh Steelers select Chukwuma Okorafor with third round pick|url=https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2018/4/27/17294446/2018-nfl-draft-result-pittsburgh-steelers-select-chukwuma-okorafor-with-third-round-pick-news-report|website=Behind The Steel Curtain|date=April 27, 2018|access-date=July 4, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Steelers sign Okorafor|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-sign-okorafor|website=Steelers.com|date=May 22, 2018}} On May 22, 2018, the Steelers signed Okorafor to a four-year, $3.40 million contract that included a signing bonus of $812,364.{{cite web |title=OverTheCap.com: Chukwuma Okorafor contract |url=https://overthecap.com/player/chukwuma-okorafor/6977/ |access-date=August 19, 2018 |website=Overthecap.com}}
On November 25, 2018, against the Denver Broncos, Okorafor made his first NFL start at right tackle due to injuries to Marcus Gilbert and Matt Feiler.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.triblive.com/sports/steelers/steelers-rookie-chuks-okorafor-plays-butt-off-in-1st-start/|title=Steelers rookie Chuks Okorafor plays 'butt off' in 1st start|date=November 25, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25416465/nfl-steelers-chuks-okorafor-standard|title=Steelers' Okorafor on living up to The Standard|date=November 30, 2018|website=ESPN.com}} During the 2018 NFL season, he also made two starts as a tight end, being used by the Steelers as an extra tackle.{{Cite web|url=https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-chuks-okorafor-confident-after-rookie-season/|title=Steelers' Chuks Okorafor confident after rookie season | TribLIVE.com|website=triblive.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://archive.triblive.com/sports/steelers/chuks-okorafor-introduced-to-steelers-3rd-tackle-tight-end-role/|title=Chuks Okorafor introduced to Steelers' 3rd tackle/tight end role|date=August 25, 2018}}
On November 10, 2019, against the Los Angeles Rams, Okorafor made his first start of the 2019 NFL season due to an injury to Ramon Foster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/steelers/2019/11/how-the-steelers-will-adjust-their-offensive-line-vs-the-la-rams-with-ramon-foster-in-concussion-protocol.html|title=How the Steelers will adjust their offensive line vs. the LA Rams with Ramon Foster in concussion protocol|date=November 8, 2019|website=pennlive}}
On March 14, 2022, Okorafor signed a three-year, $29.25 million contract extension with the Steelers.{{cite web | last=Varley | first=Teresa | title=Okorafor signed to three-year contract | website=Steelers.com | date=2022-03-14 | url=https://www.steelers.com/news/okorafor-signed-to-three-year-contract | access-date=2024-10-09}}
On February 20, 2024, the Steelers released Okorafor.{{cite web|title=Steelers make roster moves|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-make-roster-moves-x9339|author=Varley, Teresa|website=Steelers.com|date=February 12, 2024}}
=New England Patriots=
On March 7, 2024, Okorafor signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots.{{cite web|title=Report: Patriots Agree to Terms With Free Agent OT Chukwuma Okorafor|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/report-patriots-agree-to-terms-with-free-agent-ot-chukwuma-okorafor|author=Lazar, Evan|website=Patriots.com|date=March 7, 2024}} He was named the Week 1 starting left tackle, but was benched midgame due to poor play. He was placed on the exempt/left squad list before Week 2.{{cite web|title=Patriots Elevate G Michael Jordan to the Active Roster; T Chukwuma Okorafor Placed on Exempt/Left Squad|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-elevate-g-michael-jordan-to-the-active-roster-t-chukwuma-okorafor-placed-on-exempt-left-squad|website=Patriots.com|date=September 14, 2024}} He would not return to the team after the five-day exemption period expired, meaning that he would not be allowed to play for the rest of the season.{{cite web | last=Masala | first=Mike | title=Patriots offensive lineman isn't allowed to play for the team again in 2024 | website=Sporting News | date=2024-09-21 | url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/new-england-patriots/news/patriots-chukwuma-okorafor-left-team-cant-return/5edcef0ee65f51f6ef36a34b | access-date=2024-10-09}} On February 10, 2025, Okorafor was cut by the Patriots.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Charean |author-link=Charean Williams |date=2025-02-11 |title=Patriots cut Chukwuma Okorafor |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/patriots-cut-chukwuma-okorafor |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=NBC Sports}}
=New York Jets=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [http://wmubroncos.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4147 Western Michigan Broncos bio]
- [https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/players-roster/chukwuma-okorafor/ New York Jets bio]
{{New York Jets roster navbox}}
{{Steelers2018DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okorafor, Chukwuma}}
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Players of American football from Southfield, Michigan
Category:Western Michigan Broncos football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Sportspeople from Ibadan
Category:Nigerian players of American football
Category:Nigerian emigrants to the United States