A defensive end for the New York Giants, Osi Umenyiora is a force to be reckoned with on the field. He holds the team’s record for most sacks in one game, and quarterbacks across the NFL know to be aware when he’s in the game. He is one of only three Africans in the league to have won a Super Bowl ring, and has played in the Pro Bowl twice.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has made his career in Northern California, having been drafted in the first round in 2003 to Oakland after playing at the collegiate level for the University of California Berkeley Golden Bears. He was and is one of the best shutdown cornerbacks in the game. He is also well known for his philanthropy in Nigeria through the Asomugha Foundation, focusing on helping orphans and widows, as well as providing education scholarships.
Okoye, known as the “Nigerian Nightmare,” earned his nickname for his incredible ability at running back, having played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1987 until 1992. Though his career was cut somewhat short by injuries, he still managed to squeeze in two Pro Bowl games, three playoff appearances, and earned the league rushing title in 1989. He initially had no interest in football, preferring to lend his talents to track and field, but picked up American football after not being selected for the Olympics by the Nigerian government.
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has played for the Detroit Lions since he was drafted second overall in 2010, and earned an incredible number of awards during his prolific college career. He is well known for his aggression on the field (which has resulted in a number of fines during his time in the league), but is one of the most dominating players in his position.
Madieu Williams, though currently a free agent, made a name for himself as a crucial safety for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2004-2007, and he also lent his tackling talents to the Vikings, 49ers, and Redskins since then. Williams earned the Walter Peyton Man of the Year award in 2011, and is known for his charity work through the Madieu Williams Foundation – an organization that focuses on health, nutrition, and fitness education.
Defensive lineman Israel Idonije played nine seasons with the Chicago Bears (before moving to the Detroit Lions in 2013), and his versatility on the field has allowed him to double as a defensive end and gunner. He also established the Israel Idonije Foundation that serves underprivileged communities in Chicago, Winnipeg, and West Africa, and recently launched a comic series, “The Protectors.” For his commitment to charity, he was awarded the Humanitarian Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy by All Sports United in 2013.
Current free agent Amobi Okoye (no relation to Christian Okoye) has played defensive tackle in the NFL since 2007 for a handful of teams. The bulk of his career was with the Houston Texans, but he has also played for the Bears and Buccaneers. He was the youngest player ever to be drafted in the first round in the NFL at the age of 19, as teams were impressed by his tackling ability and agility.
Gary Anderson began as a soccer player, but quickly learned that kicking a football wasn’t all that different. His talents got him noticed by football scouts, and he quickly made a name for himself as one of the most accurate placekickers in the sport (he maintains the second-best goal-kicking success rate in NFL history at 80.1 percent). He played for an incredible 23 years in the league for a variety of teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers– where he spent the first 13 years of his career – as well as for the Eagles, 49ers, Vikings, and Titans.
Linebacker and special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo has had an extremely successful career in the NFL, playing in the Pro Bowl three times and being named to the All-Pro team twice (all as a special teams player). He began his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears before playing for a time in Canada and in Europe. He returned to the league in 2003 and spent some time playing for the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, and Baltimore Ravens.
Former safety Nedu Ndukwe was known for his ability to impact the game, forcing fumbles, deflecting passes, and recording a number of sacks and interceptions every time he stepped onto the field. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2007 until 2010, when a knee injury forced him to take a break for rehab. He attempted a comeback with the Oakland Raiders in 2011, but his knee injury returned, and Ndukwe was forced to end his career earlier than many of his fans would have hoped.
