Former New York Giants defensive end Romeo Okwara officially announced his retirement from football on Tuesday.
In an emotional post shared on Instagram, Okwara reflected on his eight seasons in the NFL and what this game meant to him.
“After much self-reflection and meditation, I have decided to step away from the NFL,” Okwara wrote. “The game of football has been the biggest part of my life for 18 years, and I was lucky enough to play at a professional level for eight of those years, four of them with my brother.
“The experiences, friendships, and camaraderie that I have been fortunate enough to share with my teammates, coaches, and peers are something I will forever be grateful for. I will continue to support you!”
The Giants originally signed Okwara as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Notre Dame in 2016. He spent two seasons at East Rutherford before being fired in September 2018.
Okwara was soon traded to the Detroit Lions, where he spent the past six seasons.
“(To) the Detroit Lions organization – thank you for taking a chance on this young kid who entered the league as a free agent six years ago. My heart will forever be with you and the city of Detroit,” he wrote. . “I’m looking forward to what happens next as I step away from the game and get through this crazy transition.”
Even more in the future…
The story originally appeared on Giants Wire
