Chukwuma Okorafor announced that he is leaving Steelers now present another significant issue for…

Chukwuma Okorafor born August 8, 1997, is a Nigerian born professional American football offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). At age 7, his parents—both medical professionals—moved from Nigeria to South Africa, to Botswana, and then the United States where education was central in their plan for their kids and Chukwuma Okorafor, the eldest, thankfully excelled in school. His schoolteachers, however, envisaged a different path.

For years, fellow teachers had been alerting Tim Conley, veteran coach of Pittsburg Steelers club to the sight of large kids roaming the halls of the suburban Detroit school, wondering if they could help impact his football team. The coach often walked away from such meetings disappointed. Big did not necessarily mean athletic. Even those students who looked the part sometimes had no interest in playing.

The Nigerian-born Okorafor was different in many ways. At age 14, he stood 6-foot-3 and weighed 230 pounds with room to grow. Just watching the youngster move around the ping-pong table, returning volleys, Conley could see the fluidity of motion, the supple hips.

The coach was certain of the asset before him, as was Okorafor who wanted to play ball. But his parents were reluctant, their eyes on education over sports. When they finally conceded tentatively, Conley embraced the task of honing a player now one of America’s most illustrious in the game.