547:. The final cut had been nerve-wracking, with Nwokorie understanding himself to be "on the bubble." He told a journalist: "To tell the truth, I didn't really know if I'd make the squad or not. I came in Friday to practice and I was still looking to my left and looking to my right because of what I've seen so far of being through camp. Things change on a daily basis. So, I wasn't sure if I was part of the team."
448:. "My junior year, I said I was going to try football and be a kicker, because I'd always played soccer, he said. "That was the easiest thing — just kick the ball. When I started doing that, they wanted to work me other places. They tried me at fullback but that didn't work out — I kept dropping the ball."
625:
also reportedly expressing an interest. In April 2003, Nwokorie signed a contract with the
Packers, a two-year deal paying him $ 2 million — with $ 500,000 of that amount paid up front as a signing bonus and an additional $ 300,000 on the contract in the form of possible incentive bonuses. According
539:
expressed interest in bringing
Nwokorie to training camp on a free agent deal. Although Indianapolis would seem to have been a simple and logical geographic choice for the adopted Hoosier Nwokorie, he stated that the decision to stay in Indiana was actually made by his agent on the basis of team
550:
The Colts saw
Nwokorie a future prospect rather than a player ready to be inserted into an NFL starting lineup. He was hampered by his late exposure to the sport, not even watching football until his senior year of high school, and sometimes having difficulty with the complexity of defensive
693:
of the league's players. The program, called "The Trust: Brain and Body," entails a complete two-day exam of body and brain in an effort to catch and address football-related medical situations. Nwokorie underwent the first of these in 2016, receiving a clean bill of health.
633:. His play there was mostly unmemorable, with Nwokorie generating 16 solo tackles (5 of which were for a loss) and forcing one fumble. After an injury in training camp, Nwokorie was waived by the Packers on September 5, 2004, thereby terminating his contract ahead of the
626:
to his agent, Frank Murtha, the
Packers had pursued Nwokorie for two years and the big defensive end had liked the idea of playing there. "He didn't necessarily take the biggest monetary offer," Murtha said. "He took the greatest opportunity to get on the field."
503:, said of Nwokorie: "He's a physical specimen. Background-wise, he's a tough kid and really knows how to work. He's the typo of guy you may not know about, but he's got a real good upside to him. Put a little more experience with it and you might have something."
602:, Nwokorie injured a disc in his lower back that left him unable to play football. The injury placed Nwokorie on the Physically Unable to Perform list for the bulk of the season. He appeared in just three games in 2002 for new Colts head coach
451:
Nwokorie was crafted into a defensive lineman. Despite his limited playing experience he still managed to achieve honorable mention for the
Indiana All-State team in 1994. As a high school player for the Bronchos , Nwokorie notched 88 career
491:
Nwokorie was knocked out of the first two games by a knee injury during his senior season at Purdue, an injury which limited his production all year. This negatively affected his standing as an NFL prospect. He was not invited to the
1093:
588:. Nwokorie grabbed a fumble that bounced to him at his own 5-yard line. This led to a rumbling, stumbling 95-yard touchdown return swerving down the sideline abreast of Jets quarterback
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
573:
Nwokorie was made part of the Colts' regular defensive rotation, seeing action in all 16 games. He started at left defensive end six times, owing to injuries to teammates
558:
He only appeared in just three games during his first two years in the league. His first NFL game action came on
November 7, 1999, when he was inserted for a few plays on
686:
701:. In the interim, Nwokorie himself contracted the virus, which laid him up for about 10 days. With the NFLPA's medical program running again, Nwokorie went to the
1128:
1103:
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685:
As a more than four-year veteran of the NFL, Nwokorie is vested with the league and thereby entitled to be part of a health initiative under auspices of the
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981:
499:
Despite his relative lack of playing experience, his Purdue coaches consider
Nwokorie an excellent prospect for the NFL. His defensive ends coach,
649:
1123:
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in April 1999 as part of the post-draft frenzy of teams to add undrafted players to their preseason rosters. In addition to the Colts, the
1108:
1113:
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188:
178:
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Nwokorie became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2002 season and explored his options, visiting the facilities of the
709:, with only 25% of the organ functioning properly. Dietary and lifestyle changes brought no improvement, forcing him to undergo
441:
97:
422:, making him an American citizen by virtue of birth. He spent his first seven years in Alabama but was uprooted and taken to
637:. Nwokorie was unclaimed following his release by the Packers and found himself out of football completely at the age of 29.
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933:
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889:
851:
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112:
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Nwokorie did win a place the Colts roster, one of four undrafted free agents to make the 53-man roster of head coach
714:
516:
390:
566:. Deemed too raw for NFL game action, Nwokorie spent most of his first two years on the team's inactive list.
728:
campaign on
Nworkorie's behalf. Nearly $ 20,000 was contributed during the first days of the campaign, with
540:
need, with the Colts seen as the best opportunity among the four candidates for
Nwokorie to make the team.
1073:
453:
295:
227:
679:
394:
705:
in 2023 for his complete medical exam. He was shocked to learn that tests showed he was suffering from
1068:
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653:
493:
437:
184:
174:
528:
426:
at that age when his parents divorced. He would remain there, living in poverty, until he was 16.
710:
563:
532:
524:
481:
430:
379:
136:
101:
1044:
1039:
871:
748:
338:
698:
640:
In
January 2005 Nwokorie signed a deal with the Denver Broncos as an unrestricted free agent.
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122:
1023:
Dana Hunsinger Benbow, "'I Was invincible': Ex-Colts Player Has Heart Failure at 48,"
1062:
706:
585:
559:
536:
367:
317:
38:
720:
Cost of the procedure topped $ 95,000, leading his friend and former Colts teammate
574:
500:
690:
578:
544:
496:
in Indianapolis and forced to rely upon private workouts for interested scouts.
445:
1049:
729:
725:
603:
584:
His career highlight came in the opening game of the 2001 season against the
552:
520:
383:
433:, adding him to the Stephenson family, which included three boys and a girl.
271:
595:
Nwokorie ended the 2001 season with 45 tackles and 5 sacks for the Colts.
682:
with his wife, Jamila and is currently working in business development.
344:
629:
Nwokorie played a total of 14 games in a reserve role for Green Bay in
429:
As a teenager, Nwokorie was adopted by John and Patricia Stephenson of
423:
419:
461:
260:
249:
697:
A second exam was scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to the
672:, a local radio station in Indianapolis, working on a show called
669:
598:
Catastrophe soon followed. Late in the offseason ahead of the
418:, to parents who had immigrated to the United States from
1094:
American players of American football of Nigerian descent
1050:"Chukie Nwokorie 95 Yard Fumble Return Touchdown (2001),"
397:(AFL). His final season of professional football came in
592:, who was unable to put the massive Colt on the ground.
874:
Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com
717:
in March 2024 in an effort to restore heart function.
911:"Packers to Take a Look at Indianapolis DE Nwokorie,"
668:
During 2004–2005 he took a position as an intern at
316:
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49:
44:
34:
29:
444:in Lafayette. He initially thought of becoming a
732:chapters contributing $ 13,200 of this total.
687:National Football League Players' Association
201:* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
8:
852:"Special Teams Play Key Role in Colts' Win,"
816:"Purdue's Nwokorie, Reeves, Agree to Deals,"
24:
905:
903:
901:
414:Chukie Nwokorie was born July 10, 1975, in
393:(NFL), followed by a two-year stint in the
378:before earning a position in 1999 with the
1149:20th-century African-American sportspeople
1144:21st-century African-American sportspeople
23:
1139:Players of American football from Indiana
1134:Players of American football from Alabama
1040:NFL stats from pro-football-reference.com
1019:
1017:
1015:
1013:
1011:
1009:
1007:
1005:
1003:
947:
945:
836:"Of Bird and Beats, Colts and Pinkslips,"
789:"Colts Don't Drop the Ball on Nwokorie,"
389:Nworkorie had a five-year career in the
928:
926:
924:
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810:
808:
806:
804:
740:
606:, making just two tackles on the year.
890:"Finding Defensive End Won't Be Easy,"
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775:
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771:
769:
291:
215:
982:"Five questions with Chukie Nwokorie"
867:
865:
863:
511:Nwokorie was not selected during the
7:
1129:Sportspeople from Lafayette, Indiana
1104:Purdue Boilermakers football players
16:American football player (born 1975)
1084:American football offensive linemen
1079:Sportspeople from Tuskegee, Alabama
648:Nwokorie played two seasons in the
562:in the Colts' victory against the
14:
988:. Lafayette Journal & Courier
363:(born July 10, 1975) is a former
358:Chijioke Obinna "Chukie" Nwokorie
76:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
1089:American football defensive ends
361:(pronounced CHOO-key Wha-KOR-ee)
954:Lafayette Journal and Courier,
855:Lafayette Journal and Courier,
819:Lafayette Journal and Courier,
1:
980:Nathan Baird (May 15, 2016).
934:"Packers Sign Defensive End,"
1124:Grand Rapids Rampage players
1119:Las Vegas Gladiators players
523:. He signed a deal with the
1027:March 30, 2024, pp. 1B, 4B.
515:, forcing him to enter the
464:, and 3 fumble recoveries.
1165:
1109:Indianapolis Colts players
1045:AFL stats from arenafan.co
715:dual chamber defibrillator
1114:Green Bay Packers players
857:Nov. 8, 1999, pp. B1, B3.
480:where he was a four-year
436:He played just two years
351:
335:
331:
290:
214:
205:
197:
133:
84:285 lb (129 kg)
1099:Purdue University alumni
952:"NFL: Chukie Nwokorie,"
937:Wisconsin State Journal,
914:Green Bay Press-Gazette,
893:Franklin Daily Journal,
821:April 20, 1999, pp. C1,
794:Sept. 15, 1999, pp. B1,
517:National Football League
391:National Football League
21:American football player
286:Career Arena statistics
753:Pro Football Reference
678:He currently lives in
970:Jan. 20, 2005, p. C3.
956:Jan. 20, 2005, p. 16.
939:April 9, 2003, p. C2.
916:March 6, 2002, p. C5.
895:Feb. 14, 2002, p. 15.
680:Indianapolis, Indiana
650:Arena Football League
442:Jefferson High School
395:Arena Football League
210:Career NFL statistics
1052:CBS via YouTube.com
841:Sept. 6, 1999, p. 9.
658:Grand Rapids Rampage
654:Las Vegas Gladiators
494:NFL Scouting Combine
438:high school football
272:Defensive touchdowns
185:Grand Rapids Rampage
175:Las Vegas Gladiators
45:Personal information
968:South Bend Tribune,
664:Life after football
644:Arena League career
555:zone blitz scheme.
529:Pittsburgh Steelers
370:. Nworkorie played
26:
1025:Indianapolis Star,
872:"Chukie Nwokorie,"
711:open heart surgery
564:Kansas City Chiefs
533:Cincinnati Bengals
525:Indianapolis Colts
431:Lafayette, Indiana
380:Indianapolis Colts
137:Indianapolis Colts
102:Lafayette, Indiana
89:Career information
1055:
749:"Chukie Nwokorie"
699:COVID-19 epidemic
615:Green Bay Packers
600:2002 NFL campaign
590:Vinnie Testaverde
478:Purdue University
416:Tuskegee, Alabama
376:Purdue University
365:American football
362:
355:
354:
327:
326:
281:
280:
261:Fumble recoveries
151:Green Bay Packers
66:Tuskegee, Alabama
1156:
1053:
1028:
1021:
998:
997:
995:
993:
986:www.jconline.com
977:
971:
966:"Transactions,"
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958:
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940:
930:
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909:Pete Dougherty,
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858:
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842:
832:
826:
812:
799:
785:
764:
763:
761:
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745:
703:Cleveland Clinic
619:Seattle Seahawks
519:as an undrafted
474:college football
382:as an undrafted
372:college football
360:
336:Player stats at
292:
216:
200:
129:Career history
63:
59:
57:
27:
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839:Kokomo Tribune,
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829:
813:
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792:Kokomo Tribune,
786:
767:
757:
755:
747:
746:
742:
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656:(2006) and the
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611:New York Giants
509:
484:and a one-year
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25:Chukie Nwokorie
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1034:External links
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834:John Clayton,
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787:John Clayton,
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722:Rick DeMulling
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623:Denver Broncos
513:1999 NFL draft
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713:to implant a
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708:
707:heart failure
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695:
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689:(NFLPA), the
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674:Morning Mess.
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586:New York Jets
582:
580:
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560:special teams
556:
554:
548:
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541:
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537:Chicago Bears
534:
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482:letter winner
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368:defensive end
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342: ·
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318:Interceptions
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311:
308:
304:
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297:
296:Total tackles
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284:
276:
273:
269:
265:
262:
258:
254:
251:
247:
243:
240:
236:
232:
229:
228:Total tackles
225:
221:
219:Games played:
217:
213:
208:
204:
196:
190:
186:
183:
180:
176:
173:
170:
166:
163:
160:
156:
152:
149:
146:
142:
138:
135:
134:
132:
127:
124:
121:
117:
114:
111:
107:
103:
99:
96:
92:
87:
83:
79:
75:
71:
67:
62:(age 49)
60:July 10, 1975
52:
48:
43:
40:
39:Defensive end
37:
33:
28:
19:
1024:
990:. Retrieved
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975:
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962:
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936:
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892:
854:
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830:
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791:
756:. Retrieved
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743:
719:
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677:
673:
667:
647:
639:
628:
608:
597:
594:
583:
575:Chad Bratzke
568:
557:
553:Vic Fangio's
551:coordinator
549:
542:
510:
501:Randy Melvin
498:
490:
471:
450:
435:
428:
413:
388:
357:
356:
345:ArenaFan.com
343:
337:
94:High school:
18:
1069:1975 births
992:October 23,
888:Joe Skeel,
850:Jim Lefko,
814:Tom Kubat,
724:to start a
635:2004 season
617:, with the
579:Brad Scioli
460:, 4 forced
456:, with 8.5
446:placekicker
1063:Categories
736:References
730:NFL Alumni
726:Go Fund Me
604:Tony Dungy
521:free agent
507:NFL career
472:He played
410:Early life
384:free agent
119:Undrafted:
56:1975-07-10
30:No. 91, 90
652:with the
405:Biography
386:in 1999.
98:Jefferson
35:Position:
1054:(Video.)
758:July 23,
660:(2007).
545:Jim Mora
109:College:
486:starter
462:fumbles
454:tackles
424:Nigeria
420:Nigeria
81:Weight:
73:Height:
535:, and
199:
113:Purdue
68:, U.S.
691:union
458:sacks
307:Sacks
239:Sacks
50:Born:
994:2017
760:2024
670:WNOU
631:2003
621:and
613:and
577:and
571:2001
399:2007
189:2007
179:2006
169:2005
159:2004
155:2003
145:2002
141:1999
123:1999
569:In
476:at
440:at
374:at
339:PFR
312:2.0
244:7.5
1065::
1002:^
984:.
944:^
921:^
900:^
879:^
862:^
823:C4
803:^
796:B2
768:^
751:.
581:.
531:,
488:.
401:.
301:35
233:62
222:36
171:)*
58:)
996:.
825:.
798:.
762:.
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320::
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187:(
181:)
177:(
167:(
161:)
157:–
153:(
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139:(
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100:(
54:(
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