Copr. David Banks-Imagn Images 2026
We all saw this one coming. The New York Giants were able to save $9 million by cutting ties with their top linebacker from last season. Okereke, 29, led the Giants in total and combined tackles by sizable margins in 2025 but with multiple factors coming into play including the expected return of fellow linebacker Micah McFadden next year, serious interest in Sonny Styles in next month’s draft, and a need for money to spend as free agency opens this week, the defensive captain had little chance of being retained.
While there are no hard feelings (hopefully) going into this release for both sides, it would be a crime not to acknowledge Okereke’s contributions to the Big Blue defense during a difficult time for the franchise as a whole. Okereke was signed by the G-Men in 2023 and led the team in tackles in two of his three seasons in New York and acquired 17 combined tackles for loss between 2023 and 2024. Despite only recording two TFL’s this past year, he carried a LB core which was rocked immediately in week 1 with a season ending injury to McFadden as he accumulated 143 combined tackles and 2 interceptions on the year.
Copr. AP Photo/Bryan Woolston 2023
The move is the first in an expected string of transitions on the Giant’s roster under the new leadership of head coach John Harbaugh. For more on what the Giants offseason plans following the move, check out Edward Pereksta’s last article on what Big Blue may do at LB.
-Jack Barber
Works Cited
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OkerBo00.htm
https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/leading-tackler-on-the-giants-2025 https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-tackles-player-new-york-giants-2023
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