Former New York Giants defensive end Romeo Okwara officially announced his retirement from football on Tuesday.
In an emotional post shared on Instagram, Okwara reflected on his eight seasons in the NFL and what the game has meant to him.
“After some introspection and meditation I have decided to step away from the NFL,” Okwara wrote. “The game of football has been the largest part of my life for the greater of 18 years, 8 of which I have been fortunate enough to play at the professional level. 4 of those with my brother.
“The experiences, friendships, and camaraderie I have been lucky enough to share with my teammates, coaches, and peers is something I will forever be grateful for. You all mean the world to me and I will continue to cheer you on for the rest of our lives!”
The Giants originally signed Okwara as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Notre Dame in 2016. He spent two seasons in East Rutherford before being waived in September of 2018.
Okwara was immediately claimed by the Detroit Lions, where he spent the past six seasons.
“(To the) Detroit Lions organization – THANK YOU for giving this young kid a chance 6 years ago after coming into the league as a Free Agent. My heart is forever with you and the city of Detroit,” he wrote. “I am excited for what’s next as I navigate this crazy transition away from the game.”
In 92 career games (32 starts), Okwara recorded 162 tackles (96 solo, 26 for a loss), six forced fumbles, six passes defensed, 58 QB hits and 25.0 sacks.
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