Chukie Nwokorie facts for kids

Chijioke Obinna "Chukie" Nwokorie (pronounced CHOO-key Wha-KOR-ee) is a former American football player. He was born on July 10, 1975. Chukie played as a defensive end, which is a position on the defensive line in football.

He played college football at Purdue University. After college, he joined the Indianapolis Colts in 1999. He wasn't chosen in the NFL Draft, so he joined as a "free agent."

Chukie played for five years in the National Football League (NFL). Then, he spent two years in the Arena Football League (AFL). His professional football career ended in 2007.

About Chukie Nwokorie

Early Life and Moving to America

Chukie Nwokorie was born in Tuskegee, Alabama. His parents had moved to the United States from Nigeria. This made Chukie an American citizen from birth.

When he was seven, his parents divorced. He moved to Nigeria and lived there until he was 16. Life in Nigeria was very difficult.

As a teenager, Chukie was adopted by John and Patricia Stephenson. They lived in Lafayette, Indiana. He joined their family, which already had three boys and a girl.

High School Football

Chukie only played high school football for two years. He went to Jefferson High School in Lafayette. At first, he wanted to be a placekicker because he loved soccer.

He said, "My junior year, I said I was going to try football and be a kicker." But his coaches saw his potential. They tried him at other positions. He became a strong defensive lineman.

Even with little experience, he was recognized as an honorable mention for the Indiana All-State team in 1994. In high school, Chukie made 88 tackles. He also had 8.5 sacks, forced 4 fumbles, and recovered 3 fumbles.

College Football at Purdue

Chukie played college football at Purdue University. He was a "letter winner" for four years, which means he played well enough to earn a special award. He was a starter for one year.

During his final year at Purdue, Chukie had a knee injury. This injury affected how much he could play. It also made it harder for NFL teams to notice him. He wasn't invited to the main NFL tryout event. Instead, he had to do private workouts for scouts.

Even so, his coaches at Purdue believed in him. His defensive ends coach, Randy Melvin, said Chukie was a "physical specimen." He also said Chukie was a "tough kid" who worked hard.

Professional Football Career

Joining the NFL

Chukie was not chosen in the 1999 NFL draft. This meant he had to join the National Football League as an "undrafted free agent." This means he could sign with any team that wanted him.

In April 1999, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Other teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears were also interested. Chukie's agent helped him choose the Colts. They felt it was the best chance for him to make a team.

Chukie did make the Colts' main roster. He was one of only four undrafted players to do so. He was very nervous about making the team. He knew that things could change quickly in football.

The Colts saw Chukie as a player for the future. He was still learning the game. He had only started watching football in his senior year of high school. Sometimes, the team's complex defensive plays were hard for him to understand.

Playing for the Colts

In his first two years, Chukie played in only three games. His first NFL game was on November 7, 1999. He played a few snaps on special teams. For most of his first two years, he was on the team's inactive list.

In 2001, Chukie became a regular player for the Colts. He played in all 16 games. He even started six games at left defensive end. This happened because other players were injured.

A big moment in his career happened in the first game of the 2001 season. It was against the New York Jets. Chukie picked up a fumbled ball near his own goal line. He then ran 95 yards for a touchdown! He even outran the Jets quarterback, Vinnie Testaverde.

Chukie finished the 2001 season with 45 tackles and 5 sacks.

Injuries and Other Teams

Before the 2002 season, Chukie hurt his lower back. This injury kept him from playing most of the year. He only played in three games in 2002.

After the 2002 season, Chukie became a free agent again. He visited other teams like the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. In April 2003, he signed a two-year contract with the Packers. His agent said Chukie chose the Packers because it was the best chance to play.

Chukie played 14 games for Green Bay in 2003. He made 16 tackles and forced one fumble. In September 2004, the Packers released him after an injury. At 29, he was out of football.

In January 2005, Chukie signed with the Denver Broncos.

Arena League Career

Chukie then played two seasons in the Arena Football League. He played for the Las Vegas Gladiators in 2006. In 2007, he played for the Grand Rapids Rampage.

Life After Football

After his football career, Chukie worked as an intern at a radio station in Indianapolis. He worked on a show called Morning Mess.

Today, Chukie lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife, Jamila. He works in business development.

Because he played in the NFL for more than four years, Chukie is part of a special health program. This program is for former NFL players. It's called "The Trust: Brain and Body." It offers full health exams to help players with football-related medical issues.

Chukie had his first exam in 2016 and was healthy. He was supposed to have another exam in 2021, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Chukie himself got the virus and was sick for about 10 days.

In 2023, Chukie went to the Cleveland Clinic for his full medical exam. He was surprised to learn he had heart failure. Only 25% of his heart was working correctly. Changes to his diet and lifestyle didn't help. In March 2024, he had open heart surgery to get a special device called a dual chamber defibrillator implanted. This device helps his heart work better.

The surgery cost a lot of money. His friend and former Colts teammate, Rick DeMulling, started a Go Fund Me campaign to help Chukie. Many people donated, including NFL Alumni groups.