C. J. Okoye
No. 67 – Los Angeles Chargers
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (2001-10-20) 20 October 2001
Nkwerre, Nigeria
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:315 lb (143 kg)
Career information
Undrafted:2023
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Basil Chijioke "C. J." Okoye (born 20 October 2001) is a Nigerian professional American football defensive end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). From Nkwerre, Nigeria, he joined the Chargers through the International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) in 2023.

Early life

Okoye was born on 20 October 2001, in Nkwerre, Nigeria.[1] He grew up playing basketball, and played in a high-level league before being noticed by Ejike Ugboaja, who suggested he enter the UpRise American football camp, hosted by Osi Umenyiora to identify talent from African countries.[2][3] He struggled at the camp, but Umenyiora thought he performed well enough to take a shot on him and invited Okoye to the 2022 NFL Africa camp held in Ghana.[2]

Okoye at first was trained to play offensive lineman, and was named the offensive most valuable player at the NFL Africa camp.[2][3] He then became one of 38 players to be invited to the NFL International Combine in London, England.[2] He made the cut, being selected as one of 13 players for the National Football League (NFL)'s International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) and trained at IMG Academy in Florida.[2][4] He made the final cut and was chosen as one of eight players to be allocated to NFL teams.[2][5]

Professional career

Okoye was allocated to the Los Angeles Chargers as a defensive lineman in May 2023.[6] He played in their first preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams and recorded a sack on Stetson Bennett, in what was the first organized game of football in his life.[5][7][8] He was awarded the game ball afterwards, and was invited to speak on The Rich Eisen Show, where he said that he did not even know what he did was a sack.[5][7][9] He was waived on 29 August, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad.[10][11] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 11, 2024.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "C. J. Okoye". ESPN. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Reedy, Joe (16 August 2023). "Okoye's journey: Chargers defensive lineman from Nigeria records a sack in his first football game". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  3. 1 2 Malchow, Alex (18 December 2022). "NFL International Player Pathway spotlight: Basil 'CJ' Chijioke Okoye, OL, Nigeria". American Football International. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  4. ↑ Solms, Leonard (10 May 2023). "Nigeria's CJ Okoye surprised by Los Angeles Chargers' interest after poor start to NFL life". ESPN. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Henson, Steve (14 August 2023). "Chargers' 'Nigerian Nightmare'? 6-foot-7 lineman records sack in first organized game". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  6. ↑ Smith, Eric (4 May 2023). "Basil Chijioke Okoye Joins Chargers Through International Pathway Program". Los Angeles Chargers. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  7. 1 2 Smith, Michael David (16 August 2023). "CJ Okoye: I've never played football, I didn't know that was a sack when I tackled the QB". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Scott (13 August 2023). "Chargers go wild for Nigerian teammate who recorded sack in his first-ever organized football game". Fox News. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  9. ↑ Navarro, Omar (15 August 2023). "CJ Okoye Named Rich Eisen's No. 1 Preseason Standout Performer". Los Angeles Chargers. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers Reduce Roster to 53 Players". Chargers.com. 29 August 2023. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign 12 Players to Practice Squad". Chargers.com. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign 11 Players to Contracts". Chargers.com. 11 January 2024.
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