Bobby Okereke Optimistic About Bounce-Back Season with Giants After Injury-Plagued Year
The 2024 NFL season was a tough one for New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke. Known for his consistency and durability, Okereke faced both physical and performance challenges in his second year with the team. A major issue was his adjustment to defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s new system, which significantly differed from what he had previously played in.
Adding to his struggles was a scary back injury involving a disc issue that caused nerve pain and even made sitting down difficult for a couple of weeks. Speaking after the team’s second OTA session, Okereke described the injury as serious but confirmed that rest helped him recover. He now feels physically back to form and is once again performing at a level similar to what fans saw during his impressive 2023 season.
Mentally, Okereke is also in a much better place. He expressed excitement about entering a second consecutive season under the same defensive coordinator—something he hasn’t experienced since his early days in the league. This continuity has allowed him to understand Bowen’s system more deeply, helping him play with more instinct and less hesitation.
The Giants are hoping for that improved version of Okereke. In 2024, he fell just short of a fourth straight 100+ tackle season, largely due to a slow start. However, he began to adapt before his season was cut short. Over his last five games, he tallied at least nine tackles per outing, including multiple double-digit performances.
With more familiarity and confidence in the system, Okereke is aiming to return to being one of the Giants’ top tacklers. He believes he’s capable of leading the team and filling the stat sheet as expected when he was signed. He emphasized his commitment to immersing himself fully in the defense and building chemistry with his teammates to play more freely.
One critical area where the Giants are looking for improvement is their run defense, which ranked 23rd in the league last season. They gave up an average of 104.9 rushing yards per game and 4.21 yards per carry. Poor block shedding, missed tackles, and inconsistent gap discipline all contributed to these struggles.
The team allowed 66 plays where opponents gained at least 10 rushing yards—the fourth-highest in the NFL. They also gave up 3.15 yards after contact per play on average, ranking eighth-worst in that category. Opposing offenses exploited these weaknesses, running against the Giants on nearly 48% of their plays—third-most in the league.
Okereke believes that better communication and understanding of each player’s responsibilities are key to turning things around. He described run defense as a combination of mindset, pride, and tactical clarity. When players are confident in their assignments, they can play faster and more physically. He’s optimistic that the second year in the system will bring that needed cohesion across the defense.