On Tuesday night, Romeo Okwara broke some news of his own.
After eight seasons in the NFL, the seasoned defensive end for the Detroit Lions announced his retirement on Instagram.
“After some introspection and meditation I have decided to step away from the NFL,” Okwara wrote on the social media platform.
“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,” he added. “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!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/C4tpQ7RxI_y/
Okwara, 28, was a dependable member of the rotation for the Lions last season, appearing in 16 games and recording nine tackles, five quarterback hits, and two sacks. That meant he would soon be a free agent.
After being signed by the New York Giants, he became an undrafted rookie free agent in 2016 and played with them for his first two seasons until the Lions claimed him off waivers in 2018.
With 7.5 sacks in 2018, he set a record for the most in a rookie season with the Lions following a claim off waivers. Over his 92-game career, he started 32 games and finished with 158 total tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 25 sacks, and 58 quarterback hits.
His 23.0 career sacks also rank as the fourth most by an NFL player born in Nigeria.
“My heart is forever with you and the city of Detroit,” he added.