Bobby Okereke Visits Boys & Girls Clubs Across New Jersey

New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke is spending his offseason making an impact off the field. The 28-year-old has made it his mission to visit every Boys & Girls Club in New Jersey — and he’s well on his way.

So far, Okereke has visited 11 clubs, including a return trip to Hudson County where he brought the Giants’ entire linebacker group. He’s hoping to become the first athlete to visit all 16 Boys & Girls Clubs across the state.

During a recent stop at the Monmouth County club, some of the kids weren’t quite sure who the towering visitor was — until one boy searched his name on a computer. A quick image search revealed Okereke in full Giants uniform.

“Yeah, that’s me,” Okereke said with a smile, sparking a flood of questions from the boy about money, football, and whether he knew Ravens running back Derrick Henry. Okereke answered them all patiently, leaving a lasting impression.

Driven by Personal Experience

Okereke’s passion for giving back is rooted in his own childhood. Growing up in California, he was a Boy Scout and eventually became an Eagle Scout. He says those early experiences taught him the importance of mentorship and safe spaces for kids.

The idea for the club visits came after a tough 2023 season that included a back injury. Feeling he hadn’t done enough community work during the season, Okereke teamed up with his marketing rep, Theresa Villano Reed, and connected with Boys & Girls Club state director Susan Haspel in November.

“Just being in those clubs, meeting the kids, meeting the teachers, it kind of called on me to keep going back and pouring into those communities,” Okereke said at a 7-on-7 flag football event in Jersey City. “So yeah, we’ve just been building as we grow.”

Making Time Despite Football Uncertainty

Okereke admits he sometimes feels like he gets more out of these visits than the kids do.

“I know sometimes, selfishly, I feel like I get more out of it than the kids,” he said. “[It’s] so fulfilling to come here to engage these kids and really feel like you’re making an impact. To kind of have one-on-one conversations with these kids where they feel they can open up, it’s really fulfilling to me. So it warms my heart and yeah, it’s something I hope I get to do a lot more of.”

While his community involvement has grown, his football future is a bit uncertain. In 2023, he struggled in a new defensive scheme and missed the last five games with a back injury. At one point, the pain was so bad he tried everything — from yoga to hanging upside down — to get relief. Fortunately, surgery wasn’t needed.

Now heading into the second year of his four-year, $40 million contract, Okereke has no guaranteed money left. He knows 2025 will be a critical year.

“I see me flying around making plays. I see me filling up the stat sheet, and I see me being a leader,” he said.

Trade rumors swirled this offseason, but Okereke stayed focused on recovery and service.

A Familiar Face in the Community

Haspel said Okereke’s visits have had a major impact.

“If you see the smiles on the kids’ faces, that pretty much says it all,” she said. “But everyone from the kids and on. I mean, he interacts with the staff. If the families are coming for pickup, he talks to the families, he takes pictures with them. If the siblings come with the parents for pickup, he takes pictures. The guy just doesn’t say no to anybody or anything when he comes to these clubs. And it’s just amazing. It’s really, really special.”

Unlike many NFL players who leave town in the offseason, Okereke has stayed in New Jersey to train and rehab. He’s hosted events like the flag football tournament and even welcomed New Jersey Senator and fellow Stanford alum Cory Booker into his home for a community event.

“Jersey feels like home,” Okereke said. “When I got here in 2023, Jersey welcomed me with open arms. I’ve really felt the love here.”

A Leader On and Off the Field

Teammates like new safety Jevon Holland have taken notice of Okereke’s presence on the team.

“Bobby’s the leader, man. He is loud. He’s in control of everything,” Holland said. “He’s the man in the middle, so he encompasses everything that I would see in a middle linebacker.”

Whether or not Okereke’s future remains in New Jersey, his dedication to service isn’t going anywhere.

“Fulfill your community at the end of the day,” Okereke said as his flag football tournament came to completion, “and take it from there. So it’s fun.”