Christian Okoye Biography

Christian Emeka Okoye, born on August 16, 1961, is a Nigerian–American former professional football fullback who played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League from 1987 to 1992. He was nicknamed 'the Nigerian Nightmare' for his powerful running style and ability to break through defensive tackles. In his first season with the team, Okoye recorded 660 rushing yards from 157 carries. During the 1989 season, he led the NFL in both rushing attempts and rushing yards, recording 370 carries and 1,480 yards. Despite the Chiefs not qualifying for the postseason, Okoye was named the American Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Year by UPI and earned a Pro Bowl selection. He concluded his career as the all-time leading rusher in Chiefs history, with 4,897 yards, 1,246 rushing attempts, and 14 games where he gained 100 or more rushing yards. Okoye was awarded team MVP in 1989 and was later enshrined in the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2000.