Osi Umenyiora

Osi Umenyiora
No. 72, 50
Position: Defensive end / Outside linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1981-11-16) November 16, 1981
Place of birth: London, England
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school: Auburn (AL)
College: Troy
NFL draft: 2003 / Round: 2 / Pick: 46
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 435
Sacks: 85.0
Interceptions: 1
Forced fumbles: 35
Touchdowns: 4
Player stats at NFL.com

Ositadimma "Osi" Umenyiora (born November 16, 1981) is an Nigerian-American former defensive end born in England who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Troy University and was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Umenyiora was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and holds the Giants franchise record for most sacks in one game. He is one of three British-born players to have won a Super Bowl, joining Scott McCready and former Giants teammate Lawrence Tynes.[1]

Early years

Umenyiora was born in Golders Green, London to Nigerian parents.[2] His family moved back to Nigeria and later to Auburn, Alabama, where he started playing football in high school. He is of Igbo descent.[3] His full first name means in Igbo "from today on, things will be good".[4][5]

College career

Umenyiora played for Troy University.

Professional career

New York Giants

Umenyiora was drafted in the 2nd round (56th pick overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Giants out of Troy University.

Umenyiora established himself as a premier pass rusher in 2005, his first year as a starter.[2] His stellar play earned All-Pro recognition and a trip to the Pro Bowl. Umenyiora achieved 14.5 sacks and 70 tackles, second only to the sixteen sacks obtained by Derrick Burgess of the Oakland Raiders.[2]

On December 23, 2005, the Giants signed Umenyiora to a six-year contract extension for $41 million with $15 million guaranteed.[6]

In the fourth game of the 2007 season, Umenyiora set a Giants franchise record by recording six sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles. At that point in the season, the Giants had 12 sacks, tying the NFL record.[7] He recorded his first career touchdown on October 21 against the San Francisco 49ers when he sacked Trent Dilfer, forced a fumble, recovered the fumble and ran 75 yards for the score.[8]

By the end of the season, Umenyiora's 13 sacks helped the Giants to an NFL regular season-leading 53 sacks.[2] The Giants had a surprise victory in Super Bowl XLII over the New England Patriots, in part because of their strong pass rush performance. Umenyiora had four tackles in that game, three of which were solos.[2]

Umenyiora in the Giants NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers on January 15, 2012.

During a preseason game against the New York Jets, Umenyiora suffered cartilage damage in his left knee and was required to undergo season-ending surgery.[9] The finding by team physician Dr. Russell Warren was that Umenyiora suffered a torn lateral meniscus.[10]

Umenyiora joined ESPN's Monday Night Football crew on October 13, 2008.[11]

In week 1 of the 2009 season against the Washington Redskins, Umenyiora recorded his second and final career touchdown, also on a sack, forced fumble, and recovery.

On November 5, 2010, Osi Umenyiora was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month after recording 18 tackles (10 solo), 7.0 sacks, and six forced fumbles in the Giants' four October wins.[12] Umenyiora and teammate Justin Tuck recorded 11.5 sacks for the year, and combined for 16 forced fumbles.

On July 29, 2011, Umenyiora did not report on the opening day of the Giants' training camp. As a result, the Giants placed him on Reserve/Did Not Report. He reported to camp late the following day. Umenyiora has claimed that general manager Jerry Reese promised to renegotiate his contract after the 2010 season, but failed to do so.[13][14]

Umenyiora began practicing with his teammates on August 15, but after three practices he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The team expected him to miss the season opener against the Washington Redskins on September 11.[15]

Atlanta Falcons

Umenyiora signed a two-year deal worth $8.55 million with the Atlanta Falcons on March 27, 2013.[16]

Retirement

On August 26, 2015, he retired from football as a New York Giant after signing a one-day deal.[17][18][19]

Media career

After retiring in 2015 he joined BBC Sport as a pundit for their NFL coverage working on the NFL International Series matches from London, a new NFL highlights show which is on every week during the 2nd half of the season and the Super Bowl. He worked alongside Match of the Day 2 host Mark Chapman, Jason Bell, Nat Coombs and Mike Carlson and their coverage has gained rave reviews from NFL fans in the UK.[20]

Statistics

Source:[21]

Tackles Fumbles
Year Team G GS Total Solo Sck Sfty FF FR
2003 NYG 13 1 20 13 1.0 0 1 0
2004 NYG 16 7 58 40 7.0 0 3 4
2005 NYG 16 16 70 48 14.5 0 4 2
2006 NYG 11 11 31 24 6.0 0 1 0
2007 NYG 16 16 52 40 13.0 0 5 2
2009 NYG 16 11 29 19 7.0 0 4 4
2010 NYG 16 16 48 33 11.5 0 10 1
2011 NYG 9 7 25 16 9 0 2 0
2012 NYG 16 7 43 28 6 0 2 0
Total 129 92 376 261 75 0 32 13

Personal

Umenyiora resides in Cleveland, Georgia and Edgewater, New Jersey.[22] In 2008, he made a cameo appearance in the music video "I Luv Your Girl" by The-Dream.

In February 2013, he became engaged to Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes.[23] They married May 29, 2015 in Luanda, Angola, the bride's home country.[24]

References

  1. ↑ Ralston, Gary; Mcdonald, Craig (5 February 2008). "Delight Of Super Bowl Hero Scot Lawrence Tynes". Daily Record.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Osi Umneyiora speakers bureau biography
  3. ↑ "Igbo-Nigerians bring global presence to NFL Super bowl". Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Altobelli, Lisa (February 18, 2008). "Osi Umenyiora". Time Warner Company. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  5. ↑ Jenkins, Lee (February 13, 2008). "Everywhere Man". Time Warner Company. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  6. ↑ ESPN article
  7. ↑ MSNBC article
  8. ↑ Litsky, Frank (October 22, 2008). "Umenyiora Sets Mood, and Giants Join the Fun". Article (New York Times Company). Retrieved 2008-08-24.
  9. ↑ Schwartz, Paul (August 24, 2008). "Umenyiora Out for Season;MRI Exam Reveals Serious Ligament Damage". New York Post. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
  10. ↑ Giants Headlines
  11. ↑ Page, Matt. "Umenyiora joins the MNF Crew". Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  12. ↑ "Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October", November 5, 2010. "Osi Umenyiora was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month after recording 18 tackles (10 solo), 7.0 sacks, and six forced fumbles in the Giants' four October wins."
  13. ↑ "Giants transactions". Giants.com. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  14. ↑ "Umenyiora reports to training camp". NFL.com. 2011-07-30. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  15. ↑ "Knee surgery to keep Giants DE Umenyiora out up to a month". NFL.com. 2011-08-19. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  16. ↑ FALCONS ADD DE OSI UMENYIORA
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ Darcy, Kieran (August 26, 2015). "Osi Umenyiora retires after signing 1-day deal with Giant". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  19. ↑ Orr, Conor (August 26, 2015). "Osi Umenyiora announces his retirement". NFL.com. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  20. ↑ "NFL on the BBC". Derby Telegraph. Derby Telegraph. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Osi Umenyiora, DE for the New York Giants". NFL.com. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  22. ↑ Jenkins, Lee. "Global Warning: Born in Britain, nurtured in Nigeria and baptized for football in Alabama, Osi Umenyiora is ready to rock the Patriots' world", Sports Illustrated, 28 January 2008. Accessed 7 March 2008. "'I feel like I come from everywhere,' says Umenyiora, who now splits time between Atlanta and Edgewater, N.J."
  23. ↑ New York Giants player Osi Umenyiora is engaged to former Miss Universe. dailymail.co.uk, from 19 February 2013
  24. ↑ Bella Naija

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