Christian Okoye "the Nigerian Nightmare"

Nicknamed "The Nigerian Nightmare," Okoye was known for his powerful running style and ability to break tackles. Okoye's six seasons in the NFL saw a league rushing title in 1989, two Pro Bowl appearances (1989, 1991), and three playoff appearances. He voluntarily ended his NFL career due to multiple injuries.

In 1989, Okoye enjoyed his best NFL season by far, leading the league in both rushing attempts (370) and rushing yards (1,480). Though the Chiefs missed the playoffs, Okoye was selected by UPI as the American Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Year and earned a trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.

The remainder of Okoye's career was marked by a nagging knee injury, one which limited him to 805 yards and a 3.3 yard average per carry in 1990. Though his 1991 performance (1,031 yards, 4.6 yards per carry) earned him his second Pro Bowl appearance, Okoye's carries in 1992 were largely limited to goal-line situations.

Okoye retired as the Chiefs' all-time rushing leader, having amassed 4,897 yards, 1,246 attempts, and 14 games with at least 100 yards rushing, in his six seasons. Those team records have since been surpassed by Priest Holmes. His 40 career rushing touchdowns as a member of the Chiefs trail only Holmes and Marcus Allen. His Chiefs records for carries in a game and rushing attempts in a season were recently surpassed by Larry Johnson. Okoye was the team MVP in 1989, and was enshrined in the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2000.

Among videogamers, Okoye is well known for his performances in Tecmo Super Bowl (1991), in which he's nearly impossible to tackle.

• Category

  Sports

[scottreynolds74]

two words:  Steve Atwater.

[chrisx2k6]

Pay scottey no mind...He has no idea what the hell he's talking about...Just another hater, who wouldn't stand a chance in hell playing a pro sport.

[Armando Kalkay]

true

[TheEman4U]

Larry Csonka is better than Christian Okoye

[obi okoye]

my last name is okoye

[Spud Mountain]

yeah



[lildriftkc64]

One of the reasons i'd became a fan. Hey KC knows how to pick some damn good rb's don't they lol. Chiefs all day everyday baby!

[Ben Dover]

I saw the hit that Steve Atwater put on Okoye. It was a good solid hit on him. That said, at the point of contact Okoye was off balance. Even past his prime, had Okoye been leaning into it (as was his style), I suspect it would've been Atwater taking a painful exchange.

[cutejoshie]

I have no desire to talk to trolls. But thanks for letting me know.

[jhamlin726]

If you care to make a mature comment besides "troll" or "retard", then you may talk to me.

[TopPatriot]

Atwater did put a hit on Okoye...But it never happend again. That's 1 man out of Hundreds.