NFL.com names Bobby Okereke Giants' unsung hero of 2023
NFL.com writer Kevin Patra recently chose one "unsung hero" from every team across the league.
As the introduction noted, Patra focused on "players whose contributions WEREN'T noted with Pro Bowl nods or All-Pro selections. Some names you know, some are appreciated by only hardcore fans and some are simply surprise difference-makers who don't get the attention they deserve."
When it came to the Giants, the choice was easy. The honor went to inside linebacker Bobby Okereke.
"It feels almost like cheating to name Okereke here, but the linebacker was snubbed from every awards list, getting shut out of the initial Pro Bowl rosters and All-Pro teams," wrote Patra. "In his first season with Big Blue, Okereke was all over the field, generating 149 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 21 QB pressures, two interceptions, 10 passes defended and four forced fumbles while playing every single defensive snap. Stellar in coverage and stout versus the run, Okereke was the glue for New York's defense in 2023. He will remain a force in 2024 for the team's next defensive coordinator."
View the top photos of inside linebacker Bobby Okereke's first season with the New York Giants.
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 6 NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
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New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58)
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ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Deonte Banks (25), S Xavier McKinney (29)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
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S Xavier McKinney (29), S Jason Pinnock (27), ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
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S Xavier McKinney (29), S Jason Pinnock (27), ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
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ILB Bobby Okereke (58), S Jason Pinnock (27)
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ILB Bobby Okereke (58), S Jason Pinnock (27)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
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New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 3 NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, September 21, 2023 in Santa Clara, California (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
LB Bobby Okereke (58) high fives fans following training camp practice on August 1, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus/New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during training camp practice on August 16,2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus/New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
LB Bobby Okereke (58) high fives fans following training camp practice on August 1, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus/New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 14 NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Monday, December 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 18 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, January 7, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 16 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, December 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and Dexter Lawrence (97) during a week 6 NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 16 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, December 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 6 NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during an week 2 NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, September 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 6 NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) celebrates a sack during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93) sack Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93) sack Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 11 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) before a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) and linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) cause a fumble during a week 11 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during an week 2 NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, September 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 5 NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, October 8, 2023 in Miami, Florida (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) fllexes with New York Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (28) during a week 11 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 12 NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, November 28, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 5 NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, October 8, 2023 in Miami, Florida (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 11 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
LB Bobby Okereke (58) during mini camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on June 13, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus/New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) thanks the fans after training camp practice on August 5, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus/New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 8 NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, October 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during an week 1 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) before a week 8 NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, October 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 7 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, October 22, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 10 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during an week 1 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during an week 1 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 10 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 18 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, January 7, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 18 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, January 7, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 3 NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, September 21, 2023 in Santa Clara, California (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
Okereke was voted a captain prior to the start of his first season with the team, indicative of his leadership within the locker room, and followed that up by putting together a dominant 2023 campaign.
The 27-year-old recorded a team-high 149 total tackles, the third-most in Giants history and the ninth-most in the league this year, while setting new career-highs with four forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and 10 passes defensed.
But the most impressive part of Okereke's first season with the Giants was his durability. The fifth-year linebacker played every single one of the Giants' 1,228 defensive snaps this season, making him and safety Xavier McKinney the only two players in the NFL to be on the field for every defensive snap.
"You go through and you're always evaluating yourself and so I think our free agent process was good," general manager Joe Schoen said at his season-ending press conference. "We brought in guys that fit our culture, they were good guys, they helped elevate their rooms and Bobby O's one of those guys."
NFL.com wasn't the only media outlet to praise the inside linebacker.
Pro Football Focus chose a "secret superstar" from every team across the league, in which Okereke was the selection for the Giants.
"Okereke proved his value to the Giants in his first season with the team in 2023, leading the team with 149 tackles — the 9th-most in the NFL — and earning a 78.2 overall PFF grade in the process," wrote PFF's Thomas Valentine. "The former Colt was a leader and stepped up when the Giants needed him the most. He did everything from rush the passer, earning 20 pressures, to snagging two interceptions and proving to be reliable in coverage."
Currently on Giants.com
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WR Allen Robinson - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
QB Nathan Rourke - Claimed off waivers from New England (May 7)
DB David Long - Free Agent Signing (May 1)
DB Nick McCloud - Restricted Free Agent Signing (April 15)
LB Matthew Adams - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 12)
DL Jordan Phillips - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 11)
WR Miles Boykin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
S/LB Isaiah Simmons - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 5)
RB Dante Miller - Free Agent Signing (April 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
CB Darnay Holmes - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OT Matt Nelson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OL Austin Schlottmann - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
TE Chris Manhertz - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
TE Jack Stoll - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 15)
OL Jon Runyan - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
RB Devin Singletary - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
QB Drew Lock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
DB Jalen Mills - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR/PR Gunner Olszewski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Carter Coughlin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OLB Brian Burns - Acquired via trade with Carolina Panthers (March 13)
LB Benton Whitley - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
G Mark Glowinski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
LB Tomon Fox - Reserve/Future Signing (January 10)
DL Ryder Anderson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
WR Dennis Houston - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
RB Deon Jackson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
G Jalen Mayfield - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Joshua Miles - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
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