LB Bobby Okereke Named Giants' 2023 Unsung Hero by NFL.com

Linebacker Bobby Okereke had one of the best seasons of his career during his first season with the New York Giants.

Author:
Ezekiel Trezevant IV
Publish date:
Jan 27, 2024 2:00 PM EST

In this story:

New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke was signed last off-season after registering the best season of his career during his final season with the Indianapolis Colts. Okereke would be voted a captain by his peers before ever playing a down for the Giants, foreshadowing the season he would go on to have.

Okereke got right to work. He finished this season with the most tackles on the team, with the next closest player finishing with over 30 fewer tackles than him. He had a career-high in sacks and was three tackles away from finishing the season with a career-high in tackles for a second consecutive season.

In his first season in New York, he totaled 149 tackles, ranking ninth in the National Football League. His 92 solo tackles on the season ranked seventh in the league, and he was tied for the second-most forced fumbles this season. Okereke quietly had one of the most successful seasons of any singular defender in the NFL this season.

Given his performance, NFL.com named Okereke as the Giants' 2023 unsung hero.

Dec 31, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) celebrates his sack against the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Okereke played in 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps this season after playing in 85 percent of the Colts' defensive snaps last season. Okereke has only missed one game in the previous three seasons at one of the most physically demanding positions in football. The Giants have been searching for a linebacker with the durability Okreke has displayed over the last few seasons.

The season Okereke had spoken for itself, but his productive season has officially begun catching the attention of those around the league. The veteran linebacker was named the Giants' unsung hero of the 2023-24 season after posting another top-notch season, this time with a different team.

Okereke has already solidified one of the linebacker positions for the Giants in just one season and will look to continue doing so in the future. So far, he's showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. As he enters his sixth year in the league, he's entering the prime of his career.

Okereke has given the Giants a legitimate anchor in the middle of their defense that they can build around. He didn't receive any awards or many official accolades for his season. However, Okereke's efforts won't go unsung much longer if he continues his trajectory.