Comes to the Lions after playing 22 games (four starts) for the New York Giants over two seasons (2016-17).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Comes to the Lions after playing 22 games (four starts) for the New York Giants over two seasons (2016-17).

PERSONAL

• Moved to the United States from Nigeria with his family at the age of 10.
• Graduated from Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, N.C. (2012).
• Graduated from Notre Dame in December of 2016 with a degree in accounting. His brother, Julian, became a freshman on Notre Dame’s defensive line in 2016.

TRANSACTIONS

• Claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on Sept. 5, 2018.
• Waived by the Giants on Sept. 4, 2018.
• Activated from Injured Reserve/Designated for Return list by the Giants on Dec. 19, 2017.
• Placed on Injured Reserve/Designated for Return list by the Giants on Nov. 28, 2017.
• Placed on Reserve/Injured (knee) by the Giants on Oct. 17, 2017.
• Signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 6, 2016.

PRO

Originally entered the League as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Giants out of Notre Dame (2016).

2018: Made his debut as a Lion starting against the 49ers (9/16). 

• Recorded two tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit against the Patriots in Week 3 (9/23). 
• In Week 4 against the Cowboys (9/30), Okwara recorded his first sack as a Lion and finished the game with two total tackles. 
• Tallied three solo tackles, 2.0 sacks, one tackle for loss, three quarterback hits and one forced fumble against Green Bay in Week 5 (10/7). It was his first career two-sack game and he became the fourth Lion to record a multi-sack game in 2018. 
• Notched a sack against the Dolphins (10/21), extending his career-best sack streak to three games, and finished with a season-best six tackles (five solo). 
• Posted four tackles (three solo), two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss and 1.0 sack against the Seahawks in Week 8 (10/28). With Okwara's 1.0 sack against QB Russell Wilson, he records at least 1.0 sacks for the fourth-straight game, tied for the longest sack-streak in team history. 
• Contributed five total tackles (one solo) at Minnesota (11/4). 
• Posted 0.5 sacks for three yards against Chicago on Thanksgiving Day (11/22).
• Notched two pass defenses against the Rams (12/2).
• Tallied three total tackles (two solo), 1.0 sack, career-best three quarterback hits and one tackle for loss at Arizona (12/9/18). He has recorded a team-high 6.5 sacks this season. 
• Contributed five total tackles (four solo) at Buffalo (12/16).
• Registered 1.0 sack against the Vikings (12/22) to reach 7.5 sacks on the season. Has produced at least 0.5 sacks in seven different games in 2018.
• Posted one solo tackle and one quarterback hit against the Packers (12/30), the Lions' first shutout win since 1996.

2017: Played in six games for the Giants before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

2016: Played 16 games (four starts) for the Giants. Recorded nine solo sacks, two pass defenses, two tackles for loss (19 yards) and five quarterback hits his rookie year.

COLLEGE

Recorded 112 total tackles, 11.0 sacks and three forced fumbles in 51 games at Notre Dame.

2015: Recorded 48 total tackles and one fumble recovery in 13 games as a senior, including the Fiesta Bowl Game versus Ohio State on Jan. 1, 2016.

2014: Posted 39 total tackles and two forced fumbles in 13 games (12 starts).

2013: Played 13 games (1 start) and recorded 19 total tackles.

2012: Played linebacker and on special teams in 13 games while leading Notre Dame to the National Championship game.