Chike Okeafor
Encyclopedia
Chikezie Russell Okeafor (ˈtʃiːkeɪ ˈoʊkəfər; born March 27, 1976) is a professional American football
player. During his National Football League
career from 1999 to 2009, he played defensive end
and linebacker
for the San Francisco 49ers
, the Seattle Seahawks
, and the Arizona Cardinals
.
in 1976. His father, of Igbo
ethnicity, had come to America in the wake of the Nigerian Civil War
. His parents pursued advanced academic training at universities in Michigan and Ohio, before his father returned to Nigeria
in 1983 and Chike and his sisters were raised by his mother in the Midwest
.
After moving to West Lafayette, Indiana
, Okeafor played prep football at West Lafayette Junior-Senior High School. He was a finalist for the Indiana Mr. Football Award
, and co-captained his team to the 1993 state championship in his senior year.
Okeafor stayed in West Lafayette to play college football at Purdue University
, where he also studied engineering. He was a two-time second team All-Big Ten selection and two-time nominee for the Butkus Award given to college football's top linebacker. Okeafor was suspended from the team for the 1997 season by new Purdue coach Joe Tiller
for "conduct detrimental to the team," and then converted from linebacker to defensive end for his senior year.
. Once Green was fired, new Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt
introduced a Pittsburgh-style 3-4 scheme that would ultimately change Okeafor's position to Outside Linebacker. The Cardinals won their division in 2008 and 2009, including a losing effort in Super Bowl XLIII
in which Okeafor contributed 6 solo tackles. He missed the entire 2007 season with a biceps injury, but in four active years as a Cardinal recorded 210 tackles, 25 sacks, 12 passes defended and one interception which he returned 39 yards.
In 2010, Okeafor became a free agent.
During his football career, Okeafor became known for his eccentric activities,
including meditation, yoga, and practicing Wing Chun
. He favored
natural foods and herbal remedies, slept on an electrically grounded bed, and wore a medallion to ward off chaotic
energy.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. During his National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
career from 1999 to 2009, he played defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, and the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Background
Okeafor was born in Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
in 1976. His father, of Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
ethnicity, had come to America in the wake of the Nigerian Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
. His parents pursued advanced academic training at universities in Michigan and Ohio, before his father returned to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in 1983 and Chike and his sisters were raised by his mother in the Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
.
After moving to West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 29,596 people, 12,591 households, and 3,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,381.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 74.3% White, 17.3% Asian, 2.7% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.03% Pacific...
, Okeafor played prep football at West Lafayette Junior-Senior High School. He was a finalist for the Indiana Mr. Football Award
Mr. Football Award (Indiana)
The Indiana Mr. Football Award is an honor given to the top high school football player in the state of Indiana.-Award winners:Professional teams listed are teams known.-External links:*...
, and co-captained his team to the 1993 state championship in his senior year.
Okeafor stayed in West Lafayette to play college football at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, where he also studied engineering. He was a two-time second team All-Big Ten selection and two-time nominee for the Butkus Award given to college football's top linebacker. Okeafor was suspended from the team for the 1997 season by new Purdue coach Joe Tiller
Joe Tiller
Joe Tiller is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Wyoming from 1991 to 1996 and Purdue University from 1997 to 2008, compliling a career college football record of 126–92–1...
for "conduct detrimental to the team," and then converted from linebacker to defensive end for his senior year.
San Francisco 49ers
In the 1999 NFL draft, Okeafor was selected in the third round 89th overall by the San Francisco 49ers and signed a four year contract. Playing defensive end and on special teams, he became a starter in 2001, and started all 16 games in 2002. During his tenure with the 49ers he recorded 119 tackles, 11.5 sacks and five passes defended.Seattle Seahawks
Okeafor signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an unrestricted free agent and played with them in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He led the team in sacks both seasons, recording 100 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 1 pass defended and one interception which he returned 18 yards.Arizona Cardinals
Okeafor signed a five-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals in 2005. He initially played defensive end for Arizona in the 4-3 scheme of Head Coach Dennis GreenDennis Green
Dennis "Denny" Green is an American football head coach for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League...
. Once Green was fired, new Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt
Ken Whisenhunt
Kenneth "Ken" Moore Whisenhunt is the current head coach of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team, leading them to the first Super Bowl in franchise history during the 2008 season...
introduced a Pittsburgh-style 3-4 scheme that would ultimately change Okeafor's position to Outside Linebacker. The Cardinals won their division in 2008 and 2009, including a losing effort in Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League champion for the 2008 season. The game was played on February 1, 2009,...
in which Okeafor contributed 6 solo tackles. He missed the entire 2007 season with a biceps injury, but in four active years as a Cardinal recorded 210 tackles, 25 sacks, 12 passes defended and one interception which he returned 39 yards.
In 2010, Okeafor became a free agent.
Personal
Okeafor and his wife Stephanie had their first child in 2009.During his football career, Okeafor became known for his eccentric activities,
including meditation, yoga, and practicing Wing Chun
Wing Chun
Wing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
. He favored
natural foods and herbal remedies, slept on an electrically grounded bed, and wore a medallion to ward off chaotic
energy.