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26
Mar
Where Are They Now? Christian Okoye
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Here at PFC we are trying to bring everyone something new. A new feature we are debuting is "Where Are They Now?". In this line of articles, I will take a look at a random player from the vast history of the NFL and try to provide some interesting facts about what they have done since leaving the league.
The first player in this series is none other than the original "Nigerian Nightmare", Christian Okoye. Okoye was drafted twenty-five years ago in the second round of the 1987 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. As a rookie from the small college of Azusa Pacific, Okoye rushed for 660 yards in twelve games during the 1987 season. His best season was two years later when he led the team in rushing with 1,480 yards. This earned him his first of two Pro-Bowl appearances as well as Offensive Player of the Year. Perhaps even more importantly, he was a stud in Nintendo's Tecmo-Bowl and almost impossible to tackle.
After six seasons, Okoye hung up the football cleats. When asked why he was retiring, he stated that he was tired of practicing and that football was too much like a job. Although he made plenty of impacts defensive players will not forget, he is also making impacts off the field. Christian started The Christian Okoye Foundation with the objective to take the passion youth have towards sports and take the energy and learn to apply it to their educational and personal goals. If he isn't working on his foundation, Okoye has also undertaken a few different business interests such as his nutrition line "Okoye Health & Fitness" and as an investor in the Golden Baseball League, an independent baseball league.
Although his foundation is a serious endeavor, Okoye has undertaken some not so serious opportunities. Christian was on the CBS reality show Pirate Master in which he and others became modern day pirates and searched for gold. Okoye's other attempt at television was Pros vs. Joes, where ordinary players attempted to tackle the Nightmare.
It's a Little Known Fact
Azusa Pacific is a private inter-denominational, evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles.
Okoye won collegiate titles in shot put, discus and hammer throws.
Started playing football after Nigeria did not select him to Olympic team.
Founded California Sports Hall of Fame.
Christian was enshrined into the Kansas Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2000.
Twitter Account is @ChristianOkoye
I hoped everyone learned a little more about a player who terrorized defenses with his powerful running style. Okoye has taken that same power and tackled many opportunities since he has left football.
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