Tag Archives: amobi okoye

NFL

Okoye, Amobi (2)

sco09 aokoye

Cards: Topps 2008 Magic. Score Inscriptions 2009
Acquired: 2016, EBay
See Also: Okoye, Amobi

Amobi Okoye had a rough run there after his first month in the NFL.  I am really not sure what the Texans expected out of Okoye -other than he take the league by storm.  It was a tall order for a kid, considering Okoye was the youngest player in the NFL to ever be drafted in the first round. In the end, he signed a 5 year contract with the team, but only finished out 4. With so much promise, especially after that first month, it is still surprising that Okoye is considered a bust. His best season was his rookie season when he recorded 5.5. sacks.  Amobi had a brief resurgence in 2010 with a career high 44 tackles and 3 sacks, but after that season, Amobi was cut.

He’d sign with the Chicago Bears and record 27 tackles and 4 sacks in 2011. He’d be cut in 2012 by the Bucs, but later returned for the last month of the year off the bench for the Bears again. Amobi was stricken with a rare medical condition that forced him to be induced into a 3 month coma to prevent seizures in 2013.  He spent the next 17 months battling anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, experienced a 145-day memory gap, and lost around 80  pounds.  Amazingly he returned to the practice field in late 2014, signing with the Dallas Cowboys, but was released in 2015. Later in 2016 Amobi signed with the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders, but did not see action with the squad. In 2017 he penned a Players’ Tribune piece and expressed that at 30, he still feels that he can play and contribute to a squad. I for one hope he is given that chance.

NFL

Okoye, Amobi

Cards: Playoff Prestige 2007
Acquired: TTM 2009, Texans Blitz
See Also: Okoye, Amobi (2)

Amobi Okoye is officially the youngest player to be drafted in NFL history at 19. Selected in the first round (10th pick) by the Houston Texans in 2007,  at 6’2″, 315, (4.85 40,) Okoye is also the highest Louisville player drafted in the first round.  As he is so young, Okoye is still expected to grow into his frame and has tremendous upside potential. He would earn NFL defensive rookie player of the month honors in 2007- the youngest player to do so. While Okoye made a splash in the NFL his first month, the rest of his transition has been rough and inconsistent. Many critics point to the fact that Okoye, (who will be entering his 4th season in the NFL) hasn’t been the run stopping force that the Texans had hoped he’d be, but Okoye has manned up, taking the blame by stating that he was overwhelmed by the riches the league afforded him and absorbed in starting a charity in his native homeland of Nigeria. Over 2010, Okoye made major strides however, refocusing and setting career highs in tackles and recording his most sacks since his rookie season. On 10/17/10, Amobi made 6 tackles and a sack (on the final play of the game) to preserve the victory over the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, 35-31. After the conclusion to the 2010 season, questions remain as to Okoye’s future with the Texans as with a conversion to the 3-4, it is unknown how he figures into new defensive coordinator Wade Phillip’s plans as an undersized gap shooting NT or a defensive end.

In the meantime Okoye remains active in his native country of Nigeria and recently helped found an American Football program with other members of the NFL there.