Obi Melifonwu is a professional football player in the National Football league. He has played for many exceptional teams in his career.
He recently played for the New England Patriots. However, the footballer started his career with the Oakland Raiders. Furthermore, he is also the 2018 Super Bowl champion with the Patriots.
Recently in April, the New England team released him after his contract fulfillment. Hence, the Nigerian American player is not associated with any NFL team right now.
Nevertheless, with his exceptional skills, it’s not long before he is back on the field. Melifonwu wore jersey number 22 with the Patriots and served as a Safety for the team.
Although he was raised in America, the footballer was born in London. His parents immigrated to America when he was relatively young.
Obi developed profound love and respect for football as a kid. Hence, he relentlessly pursued his fierce desire to be a footballer, and in 2017 his dreams came true. The Raiders drafted Obiajulu in the second round.
Besides that, football player Ifeatu Melifonwu is his younger brother. He plays for the Syracuse Orange football team of Syracuse University.
Ifeatu is the youngest of five siblings and serves as a defensive back for his college team. Moreover, with his skills and hard work, he has a chance at a promising NFL career.
Before getting into details about the NFL Safety’s life and football journey, here are some quick facts about him.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Henry-William Obiajulu Melifonwu |
| Birth Date | April 5, 1994 |
| Birth Place | London, England |
| Nick Name | Obi |
| Religion | Odinani / Christian |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Education | University of Connecticut |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Father’s Name | Unavailable |
| Mother’s Name | Tina Melifonwu |
| Siblings | Four; Three Brothers, One Sister |
| Age | 28 Years Old |
| Height | 6 feet 4 inches |
| Weight | 224 lb (102 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Build | Athletic |
| Profession | NFL player |
| Recent Team | New England Patriots |
| Position | Safety |
| Active Years | 2017 – Present |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | Alyssa Okada |
| Kids | None |
| Net Worth | Over $3.5 million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Merch | Poster, Football Cards |
| Last Update | July, 2022 |
Early Life, Family, And Education | Obi Melifonwu
Tina Melifonwu and an unidentified father gave birth to Obi Melifonwu in London, England. His parents left Nigeria, where they were born, and moved to London.
However, they relocated to Massachusetts, USA, when Obi was just three years old. The information on his parents is scant to nonexistent. Nevertheless, Tina works as a nurse in a renowned medical facility.
The five kids are very close to their parents and look up to them as role models. Obi has a high regard and regard for his mother in particular.
With his three brothers and one sister, he grew up in America. Michael Melifonwu is the older brother of the NFL player. Nonso and Ifeatu Melifonwu, his two younger brothers, are also named.
Nonso recently received his degree from University of Massachusetts Amherst. He enjoys a little football. Ifeatu, the youngest Melifonwu child, plays football at the collegiate level.
He also attends Syracuse University and is well-known for his defensive abilities. Likewise, there are rumors that Ifeatu will be a popular pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
Grafton High School was where Obi played high school football. He played running back, quarterback, and defensive back.
He also graduated with a respectable GPA and decided to enroll at the University of Connecticut. With the UConn Huskies, the former Raiders safety enjoyed a successful college career.
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Age, height, and weight for Obi Melifonwu
On April 5, 2022, the NFL safety turned 28 years old. He is very concerned about his diet, fitness, and general health because he is an athlete. Obi is 6 feet 4 inches tall and 224 lb, or roughly 102 kg.
Football Career, School, And College Career of Obi Melifonwu
He played running back, quarterback, and defensive back for the team while attending a Massachusetts school.
He has even played with his brothers because they went to the same school, in addition. The Grafton student was well-known for his football prowess and fortifying defense.
Similar to this, he ran for 1,394 yards and scored 17 touchdowns in his senior year at Grafton High School.
After that, he went to the University of Connecticut and played football for the UConn Huskies there. He started playing in 2013 after redshirting his first season.
He started 12 games during his second year of college, recording 70 tackles and two interceptions.
Obi had 88 tackles and two interceptions the year after. He eventually started every game in his final season with the Huskies, racking up 118 tackles and four interceptions.
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NFL career Prior to the NFL
The NFL player received an invitation to the Senior Bowl, a postseason college football all-star game that showcases the top NFL Draft prospects.
He improved his draft prospects during practices and had three combined tackles while playing for the North team. Melifonwu made a strong impression on hiring managers.
He additionally attended the NFL Combine to finish his positional training. Obi excelled in other drills even though he skipped the three-cone drill and short shuttle.
After finishing the remaining drills at Connecticut’s Pro Day, he gave a great opening statement to 25 NFL scouts. In addition, he received invitations to private workouts from eleven NFL teams.
And In addition, the majority of NFL draft analysts and experts predicted his selection in the second round.
In addition, Mike Mayock, an NFL analyst, and NFLDraftScout.com ranked him as the fourth-best strong safety in the 2017 draft.
The former quarterback was ranked sixth in Sports Illustrated and fifth on ESPN, respectively.
Career with the New England and Oakland Raiders
Melifonwu was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. But the Raiders placed him on the injured list after he got hurt.
He took less than two months to get to the field, though. However, the safety had hip surgery, which returned him to the injured list.
He was waived by the Oakland team in 2018 and added to the injured list. Eventually, on October 23, 2018, the Raiders released him.
Obi switched to another NFL team after having a mediocre career with his previous team. In less than a month, the football player committed to a two-year deal with the New England Patriots.
He reached the Super Bowls finals by making three tackles in the two games he played. Melifonwu shared the Super Bowl LIII championship with the New England team. To win the championship, the New England Patriots team defeated the Los Angeles Rams.
He was nonetheless released by the Patriots and later re-signed to the practice squad. Obiajulu was let go on April 27, 2020 despite having a future contract with the team.
On January 4, 2021, he agreed to a reserve/future contract with the San Francisco 49ers after leaving the Patriots.
Relationship, marriage, and children with Obi Melifonwu
The former UConn Huskie is dating Alyssa Okada, a fitness enthusiast. The two have been dating ever since they first connected at the University of Connecticut.
They are therefore sweethearts from college. Okada holds a degree in communications and public relations. She primarily works as a personal trainer at the gym.
The fitness enthusiast also excels in the classroom. Her mother is German American, and her father is of Japanese ancestry. She was born in 1995.
Due to racist remarks, Alyssa resigned from her position as a gym trainer at Fort Myers. Two of her male coworkers mentioned her boyfriend in a racist way. Furthermore, after they refuted those accusations, she posts their conversation online.
Okada strongly opposes racism and backs the “Black Lives Matter” movement and organization. She currently acts as a model for the sportswear brand Physiq Apparel.
Obi and Alyssa are both very career-focused, so they don’t have any plans to get married. Although it is not irrational to expect to hear wedding bells in the coming years.
Obi Melifonwu’s earnings and net worth
Despite having been a safety for four years, he has made a respectable salary.
His total NFL earnings indicate a $3,577,751 net worth. However, we are unaware of his exact compensation. He reportedly received $750,000 from the Patriots in accordance with his contract in 2020, though.
His wealth and income indicate that he has a comfortable life. In addition, a number of well-known brands and businesses sponsor him.
The presence of Obi Melifonwu on social media
On social media, the former Raider is quite active. He frequently shares pictures, football highlights, and training with his coworkers.
In addition, he frequently takes photos alongside his mother, brothers, and girlfriend. He also flaunts his Super Bowl ring on occasion.
I was a Pats fan growing up, and as a young child, I used to pray that one day I would play for this team and make it to the Super Bowl. I can only express gratitude to God. You would understand why I am so grateful if you knew what I’ve been through; I am truly blessed beyond measure. pic.twitter.com/vuxDD1eK3k
— Obi Melifonwu on January 21, 2019 (@Obi 1nOnly)
Additionally, Melifonwu has over 14,000 followers on Twitter. He joined in 2011 and is followed by numerous athletes, including football players.
Obi typically tweets news about football. You can quickly infer from his Twitter account that he likes children and enjoys playing football with them.
Common Queries:
Who is Obi Melifonwu’s brother?
The former Patriots’ brother is Ifeatu Melifowu. He plays college-level football for Syracuse Orange. After graduating from Grafton High School, he joined Syracuse University to further his education.
Besides that, Ifeatu is well-known for his defensive skills as a footballer. Furthermore, he is also famous as the brother of NFL player Obi Melifonwu.
What team is NFL Player Obi Melifonwu playing for?
Currently, the NFL player is not playing for any team. He is a free agent as of now. However, he recently played for New England Patriots.
Furthermore, Obi was the Super Bowl LIII champion with them. He served as safety for Oakland Raiders before that. Moreover, he started his NFL journey after the Raiders picked him in the 2017 NFL draft.
Does Obi Melifonwu have a girlfriend?
Yes, Melifonwu has a girlfriend. Her name is Alyssa Okada. She is a fitness enthusiast and has worked as a trainer in gyms.
The two are college sweethearts. Besides that, she has a degree in Public Relations and Communications from the University of Connecticut.
What position Obi Melifonwu Plays for?
Obi plays for the safety position.
What’s the Jersey number of Obi?
Obi wears the Jersey number of 20,22.
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