African Players in the NFL

It is common knowledge that a majority of players in the National Football League are black. Less noticed is the fact that the league is home to a growing number who are native-born Africans or children of African immigrants. They hail from Ghana to Nigeria to Uganda, and several in this photo gallery are in the 2010 playoffs.

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Christian Okoye, Kansas City Chiefs

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Many say that the bruising 260-pound running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, Christian Okoye, known as the "Nigerian Nightmare" was the first African player in the NFL. He left tacklers in his wake and opened a path for other players from the motherland to follow.

He was the 1989 American Football League Offensive Player of the year.

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CAPTIONS BY FRANK MCCOY
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Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts

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The star running back of the Indianapolis Colts, Joseph Addai played for Louisiana State University and is the son of immigrants from Ghana.

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James Ihedigbo, New York Jets

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At the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, James Ihedigbo, the son of Nigerian immigrants, was a walk-on who started for three years and served as team captain his senior year. Ihedigbo founded the Hope Africa Foundation, which focuses on assisting Nigerian youth and those from other parts of Africa in receiving higher education.

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Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, the son of a Liberian immigrant, was born in England and later moved to the United States. Shiancoe is a graduate of Morgan State University.

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Kenny Onatolu, Minnesota Vikings

The rookie linebacker with the Minnesota Vikings, Kenny Onatolu earned a bachelor’s degree in communications at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. His full name is Olayiwola Kendae Onatolu; his parents are from Nigeria.
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Remilekun “Remi” Ayodele, New Orleans Saints

The 6-foot-2, 318-pound nose tackle is the heart of defensive line. At the University of Oklahoma, he was a defensive tackle and majored in sociology. His brother, Akin, is a Miami Dolphins linebacker. His parents are from Nigeria. Video
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Akinola “Akin” Ayodele, Miami Dolphins

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A former Purdue University Boilermaker, Akinola Ayodele, whose first name means "undefeated warrior" plays linebacker for the Dolphins. Off the field, he recently founded Akin's PATH, a charitable organization that partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami. His parents are from Nigeria.
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Oladele Brendon Ayanbadejo, Baltimore Ravens

The seven-year veteran linebacker is currently on injured reserve. In college, Oladele Brendon Ayanbadejo played football for UCLA. His first name means "what follows me home." His father is from Nigeria, and Ayanbadejo lived there for a few years.

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Legedu Naanee, San Diego Chargers

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In 2006, Legedu Naanee, whose first name means "good is coming," ran for 129 yards to beat Nevada in a BCS bowl game. His parents are from Nigeria.

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Ogemdi Nwagbuo, San Diego Chargers

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The 303-pound, 6-foot-4 defensive end/tackle Ogemdi Nwagbuo played at Michigan State University, and received a degree in interdisciplinary studies in social science with a minor in economics. His parents are from Nigeria.

NOTE: In December, 2009, Nwagbuo was placed on Injured Reserve due to a ankle injury.
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Kenny Ogwugwa Iwebema, Arizona Cardinals

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The defensive end of the Arizona Cardinals, Kenny Ogwugwa Iwebema starred at the University of Iowa. In 2009, Iwebema, the son of Nigerian immigrants, recovered from a non-malignant Teratoma, a type of germ-cell tumor that was removed from his chest.
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Chinedum Ndukwe, Cincinnati Bengals

The third year strong safety, Chinedum Ndukwe, played in all 16 games and majored in marketing and psychology at Notre Dame University. A member of the NFL Business Management Program, Ndukwe has taken classes at the Harvard Business School and the Wharton School of Business during the off-season. His brother, Ike, plays for the Miami Dolphins. Their parents are from Nigeria.

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Mohamed Jah Massaquoi, Cleveland Browns

The rookie wide receiver Mohamed Jah Massaquoi played football at the University of Georgia. His parents are from Liberia.

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Xavier Adibi, Houston Texans

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Xavier Adibi, a linebacker with the Houston Texans, is the son of a Nigieran business professor. He attended Virginia Tech.

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Franklin Nonyelu Okam Jr., Houston Texans

Franklin Nonyelu Okam, Jr., a 330-pound, 6'5" foot, defensive tackle, attended the University of Texas, where hewas on the university's Athletic Director's Honor Roll five times, and played on a national collegiate championship team. His parents are from Nigeria.

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Amobi Okoye, Houston Texans

Defensive tackle Amobi Okoye was born in Anambra, Nigeria in 1987. He was introduced to American football when his parents moved to Alabama. After testing, he entered ninth grade at age 12 and the University of Louisville at 16. At 19, he was drafted by the NFL. He won Rookie Defensive Player of the Month at 20 and has been accepted by Harvard University for graduate studies.
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Mathias Kagimu Kiwanuka, New York Giants

The defensive end, Mathias Kagimu Kiwanuka, grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Boston College with a communications degree. His grandfather, Benedicto Kiwanuka, was elected as Uganda's first prime minister in 1961 and was assassinated in 1972 by Idi Amin
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Osi Umenyiora, New York Giants

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Pro Bowl player, Osi Umenyiora, one of two African defensive ends playing for the Giants, was born in Britain to Nigerian parents.

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Ikechuku Ndukwe, Miami Dolphins

A massive offensive tackle, Ikechuku Ndukwe, is the older brother of Cincinnati Bengal Chindeum Ndukwe. The brothers founded the Ndukwe Foundation, which promotes healthy lifestyles in the United States and Nigeria. They have also started a football camp in Nigeria, the home of their parents.
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Gibril Wilson, Miami Dolphins

Dolphins safety Gibril Wilson was born in Sierra Leone. When he visited the West African country in 2008, President Ernest Koroma declared him a youth ambassador. Wilson was a two-year letterman at the University of Tennessee, and majored in sociology.
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Jeff Otah, Carolina Panthers

Jeff Otah, a second-year tackle for the Panthers, was born in Nigeria. He attended the University of Pittsburgh.