In what was a down year for the New York Giants, who finished with a 6-11 record, there were few bright spots. Poor coaching, underperformance, injuries, and in-fighting dominated most headlines.
But that’s not to say all was bad.
There was the emergence of rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito, who briefly took the league by storm, and there was a season-ending victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
There was also the play of linebacker Bobby Okereke.
Signed to a four-year, $40 million contract in free agency, Okereke came in and immediately improved the inside linebacker position. He not only dominated at his post but raised the play of those around him — most notably Micah McFadden.
For his efforts, Okereke was named the Giants’ unsung hero by Kevin Patra of NFL Network.
It feels almost like cheating to name Okereke here, but the linebacker was snubbed from every awards list, getting shut out of the initial Pro Bowl rosters and All-Pro teams. In his first season with Big Blue, Okereke was all over the field, generating 149 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 21 QB pressures, two interceptions, 10 passes defended and four forced fumbles while playing every single defensive snap. Stellar in coverage and stout versus the run, Okereke was the glue for New York’s defense in 2023. He will remain a force in 2024 for the team’s next defensive coordinator.
For those associated with the Giants or those who watched them on a weekly basis, Okereke was far from under the radar. He was paramount to any success on defense and deserved any and all praise he received.
Unfortunately, as Patra notes, Okereke was passed over for both the 2024 Pro Bowl Games and the All-Pro Team. Perhaps that does make him an unsung hero.
