Goodbye British legend: Efe Obada announces retirement from NFL

The British-Nigerian became the first player from the International Pathway Program to make a 53-man-roster.

The defensive end played with the Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders from 2017 to 2024.

Obada has "no regrets" over his career

The 34-year-old is happy with what he achieved in the NFL and is ready to move on to the next chapter in his life.

"I think that my best days and my best years are still ahead of me. Being in the NFL has been an immense privilege and it's changed my life and I wouldn't change it for the world, honestly.

"But I wasn't an NFL player. I was a guy that got the opportunity to play in the NFL.

"Being an NFL player is not my identity. It's not something that I internalised. It's just something that I did. It was a great job and it was an amazing experience." Obada said to ESPN.

Obada recorded a total of 88 combined tackles and 15 sacks over his career.

The upbringing that inspired Obada

Obada was born in Nigeria, but trafficked into the UK when he was 10 years old, forcing him to grow up in foster care in London before discovering American Football in his 20s.

Now, Obada is launching the Efe Obada Foundation, aimed at empowering young people aged 11-25 who have lived through the system by giving them opportunities that he never had.

"I grew up in foster care and unfortunately I fell through a lot of cracks and the home wasn't a safe space for me.

"I used youth clubs and those spaces to find my home and to find a sense of belonging. Ultimately, football gave me that and it changed the whole trajectory of my life.

"Now that I have the means and I have the platform, I want to use my voice and my resources and access to be able to meet these kids in my community that we have a shared lived experience with, where they are and support them.

"I need them to know that their past does not define their future and they have the ability to rewrite their whole lives," Obada mentioned to ESPN.

The British-Nigerian partnered with the NFL Foundation UK to create the foundation, also giving children the opportunity to play American Football and become familiar with the sport.

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