CJ Okoye

Defensive Tackle, New York Giants · #99.

Player facts

Team: New York Giants
Position: Defensive Tackle
Number: 99
Born: Oct 20, 2001 (age 24)
Birthplace: Nkwere, Nigeria
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 370 lbs
Experience: 2 seasons
Status: Active

Stats

2026 Defense

	TOT	SOLO	AST	SACK	PD	STF	STFYDS
Regular Season	5	2	3	1	0	1	1
Last 5 Games	5	2	3	1	0	1	0
Career	20	9	11	1	1	2.5	2

Recent games

			Tackles				Fumbles		Interceptions
Date	Opponent	Result	TOT	SOLO	AST	SACK	FF	FR	INT	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	PD	KB
Sun, Oct 11	@ WSH	T 27-27 OT	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Oct 4	vs ARI	W 36-24	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Sep 27	vs TEN	W 12-7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Mon, Sep 21	@ LAR	L 28-6	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Sep 13	vs DAL	W 28-20	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0

Last 5 games. Click a game for its box score.

About

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

From Wikipedia’s article on C. J. Okoye, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.¹

Background

Early life

Okoye was born on 20 October 2001, in Agbogugu, Enugu State, Nigeria. 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. 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.

Okoye at first was trained to play offensive lineman, and was named the offensive most valuable player at the NFL Africa camp. He then became one of 38 players to be invited to the NFL International Combine in London, England. 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. He made the final cut and was chosen as one of eight players to be allocated to NFL teams.

From Wikipedia’s article on C. J. Okoye, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article.¹