Julian Okwara facts for kids
| No. 53 – Cleveland Browns | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | December 27, 1997 London, England |
||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Ardrey Kell (Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Notre Dame (2016–2019) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2020 / Round: 3 / Pick: 67 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Julian Okwara, born on December 27, 1997, is a talented American football player. He plays as a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL). Julian started his football journey playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in college. He was later chosen by the Detroit Lions in the 2020 NFL draft.
Contents
Julian's Early Life
Julian Okwara was born in London, England, while his mother was visiting family. He grew up in Nigeria, living in cities like Lagos and Lekki. When he was in third grade, Julian moved to the United States. He went to Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. Julian was a highly-rated player in high school, known as a "four-star defensive end recruit." This meant many colleges wanted him to play for them. He chose to play college football at Notre Dame.
College Football Journey
Julian began his college football career at Notre Dame in 2016.
- As a freshman in 2016, he played in 11 games and made four tackles. A tackle is when a player stops an opponent who has the ball.
- In 2017, as a sophomore, he played in 12 games. He recorded 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one interception. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass thrown by the opposing team's quarterback.
- During his junior year in 2018, Julian started 12 games. He finished the season with 38 tackles and eight sacks.
- Julian returned to Notre Dame for his senior season in 2019, continuing to be a key player for his team.
Professional Football Career
Julian Okwara began his professional career in the NFL after being drafted.
Playing for the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions picked Julian Okwara in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. He was the 67th player chosen overall. In June 2020, he signed a four-year contract with the Lions. During his first season, he faced an injury. He was placed on "injured reserve" in October 2020 after hurting his right leg. This meant he couldn't play for a while. However, he was able to return to play in December 2020.
In December 2022, Julian was again placed on injured reserve. This meant he had to take time off to recover from another injury. He was later released by the Lions in January 2024. He then rejoined their practice squad. After his contract ended, he became a free agent.
Time with the Philadelphia Eagles
Julian signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2024. He spent some time with the team during the offseason. However, he was released by the Eagles in August 2024.
Joining the Arizona Cardinals
In August 2024, Julian Okwara signed with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the main roster. In September 2024, he was moved up to the active roster, meaning he could play in games.
Playing for the Cleveland Browns
On April 14, 2025, Julian Okwara signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns. He is currently playing as a linebacker for the Browns.
Family Life
Julian Okwara has an older brother named Romeo Okwara. Romeo also played college football at Notre Dame. He also played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, just like Julian.
