Okafor with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 | |||||||||||
No. 57, 97 | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
Born: | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | February 8, 1991||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||
Weight: | 261 lb (118 kg) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
High school: | Pflugerville (Pflugerville, Texas) | ||||||||||
College: | Texas | ||||||||||
NFL draft: | 2013 / Round: 4 / Pick: 103 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Player stats at PFR |
Alex Okafor (born February 8, 1991) is a former American football defensive end. Prior to that he was an All-American college football player at The University of Texas. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft, and has also played for the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs. He won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs.
Okafor was born in Dallas, Texas to a Nigerian father and an African-American mother. [1] His parents met in college at Grambling State University, a historically black university, before settling down in Texas. [1]
Okafor attended Pflugerville High School in Pflugerville, Texas, and played for the Pflugerville Panthers high school football team, helping them to the 5A Div. II state championship. [2] He also played soccer and basketball and was a stand out in both, as well as being academic all-district twice. [3] Following his senior season, USA Today recognized him as a high school All-American in 2008.
Okafor attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he played for coach Mack Brown's Texas Longhorns football team from 2009 to 2012. [4] In his freshman year, he helped Texas reach the BCS Championship Game, where he recorded one tackle in a loss to Alabama.
He finished his 2011 junior season with 46 tackles and seven quarterback sacks, and was named a first-team All-American as a defensive end by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). [5] He was also a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2011 and again in 2012 and made the UT Athletic Director's Honor Roll three times. [2]
Okafor was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, and CFPA Defensive Lineman Trophy watch lists to start the 2012 season. [6] In his final game, he set the Alamo Bowl record for most sacks in a game. [2]
Okafor was ranked as one of the middle tier pass rushers in the 2013 NFL draft. [7] He was projected as either a defensive end or linebacker in the NFL.
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1.94 m) | 264 lb (120 kg) | 33+7⁄8 in (0.86 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.91 s | 1.69 s | 2.82 s | 4.43 s | 7.26 s | 31 in (0.79 m) | 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) | 21 reps | |
All values from NFL combine [8] |
Okafor was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round, with the 103rd overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. [9] He played in his first game in 2013, recording a special teams tackle before a bicep injury ended his season. [10]
Okafor recorded his first two career sacks in Week 6 of the 2014 season against the Washington Redskins on quarterback Kirk Cousins. [11] He had his first interception in Week 14 on Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback Alex Smith. [12] He ended the season playing in 13 games with 12 starts, recording 30 tackles, 8 sacks, three passes defensed and one interception. During his time in Arizona, he played in 39 games (25 starts), tallying 74 tackles (63 solo), 13.5 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 18 tackles for loss, four passes defended, one interception (returned for 26 yards), one forced fumble and two fumble recovery.
On March 14, 2017, Okafor signed with the New Orleans Saints. [13] He started the first 10 games of the season, recording a career-high 43 tackles, 4.5 sacks and four passes defended. He suffered a torn Achilles in the team's Week 11 win over the Redskins and was ruled out for the rest of the season. [14]
On March 16, 2018, Okafor re-signed with the Saints on a two-year contract. [15] He started all 16 games in 2018, recording 36 tackles and four sacks.
On February 14, 2019, the Saints voided the final year of Okafor's contract, making him a free agent at the start of the new league year. [16]
On March 14, 2019, Okafor signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. [17] In week 7 against the Denver Broncos, Okafor sacked Joe Flacco twice in the 30–6 win. [18] He played in 10 games before suffering a torn pectoral in Week 15. [19] He was placed on injured reserve on December 16, 2019. He finished the season with 22 tackles and five sacks. During his absence, the Chiefs went on to win Super Bowl LIV, their first championship in 50 years. [20] On August 10, 2020, Okafor and the Chiefs restructured his contract to save about $2 million in cap space. [21]
On October 24, 2020, Okafor was placed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 6 and was activated on November 21, 2020. [22] [23] He played in 11 games and all 3 playoff games, recording 21 combined tackles and a forced fumble.
Okafor was re-signed on July 20, 2021. [24] He played in all 17 games and all 3 playoff games, recording 27 combined tackles, 7 quarterback hits, 2 pass deflections and a forced fumble. He became a free agent at the end of the season but was left unsigned.
Legend | |
---|---|
Bold | Career high |
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
2013 | ARI | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014 | ARI | 13 | 12 | 30 | 28 | 2 | 8.0 | 11 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | ARI | 13 | 13 | 31 | 25 | 6 | 2.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2016 | ARI | 15 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 3.5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | NOR | 10 | 10 | 43 | 27 | 16 | 4.5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | NOR | 16 | 16 | 36 | 25 | 11 | 4.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2019 | KAN | 10 | 9 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | KAN | 11 | 0 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 3.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2021 | KAN | 17 | 0 | 23 | 7 | 16 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
106 | 60 | 215 | 147 | 68 | 31.5 | 34 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 26 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
2014 | ARI | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | NOR | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | KAN | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2021 | KAN | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
9 | 3 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Okafor traveled to Kenya during the 2016 offseason with former Texas and Saints teammate Kenny Vaccaro and is involved in community and fundraising efforts to construct a school in the region. [25]
On March 9, 2015, Okafor was arrested for evading arrest on foot and for a misdemeanor warrant for jaywalking in Austin, Texas after he knocked over a pedestrian. [26] [27]
Terrell Raymonn Suggs, nicknamed "T-Sizzle", is an American former football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 10th overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft, and is the franchise's all-time leader in sacks. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jason Thomas Babin is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played college football at Western Michigan, where he was twice recognized as the conference defensive player of the year.
Dimetry Giovonni "Vonnie" Holliday is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft with the 19th overall pick.
Calais Malik Campbell is an American football defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft.
Samuel Onyedikachi Acho is an American sports analyst and former professional football player who is a football analyst on ESPN. He played as a linebacker for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL), and was vice president of the NFL Players Association. Acho played college football for the Texas Longhorns, started at linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals and on special teams for the Chicago Bears, and has won multiple awards related to leadership and scholarship.
Cameron Tyler Jordan is an American football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, and was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Jordan is an eight-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro selection, and is the Saints' all-time franchise sack leader.
Justin Donovan Houston is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Georgia, where he earned All-American honors, and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, he was also named to the All-Pro team in 2014. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins.
Terrell McClain is an American professional football defensive lineman who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of South Florida. He has also been a member of the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, and Oakland Raiders.
Tyrann Devine Mathieu is an American football safety for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU. In college he developed a reputation for causing turnovers, setting a Southeastern Conference (SEC) record with 11 career forced fumbles and earning the nickname "the Honey Badger" after the mammal of the same name. In his sophomore season, he was recognized as a consensus All-American, won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player in college football, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Mathieu was dismissed from the LSU football program after that season due to a violation of team rules.
Whitney Mercilus is an American former football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons, primarily with the Houston Texans. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini, where he won the Ted Hendricks Award and the Bill Willis Trophy, and was selected by the Texans in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. Mercilus spent the entirety of his first nine seasons with Houston, earning a second-team All-Pro selection in 2016. After being released by the Texans early into the 2021 season, he last played for the Green Bay Packers.
Kenneth Dwayne Vaccaro is an American former football safety who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and founder and CEO of the Gamers First organization. They have teams in Halo and other major Esport titles. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft and also played for the Tennessee Titans. He played college football at Texas. On December 1, 2021, he retired to pursue a career in Esports.
Randy Gregory is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft.
Markus Golden is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Missouri and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. Golden has also played for the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Danielle Hunter is a Jamaican-born American football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft. Hunter made four Pro Bowls with the Vikings prior to signing with the Texans in 2024.
Maliek Collins Sr. is an American football defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Nebraska and previously played for the Houston Texans.
Sheldon Taylor Rankins is an American football defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Louisville. He was drafted in the first round by the New Orleans Saints in the 2016 NFL draft.
Christopher Deshun Jones is an American football defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. Jones is a three-time Super Bowl champion, a five-time All-Pro member, and a five-time Pro Bowler.
Nnamka Samson Ebukam is a Nigerian–American football defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Washington and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft.
Trey Hendrickson is an American football defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida Atlantic, and was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints.
Amen Ogbongbemiga is a Nigerian gridiron football linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma State.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)