International alum earns honors
Efe Obada is the first player to reach the NFL through its International Pathway Program.
Now the Nigerian-born Panthers pass rusher is the program’s first alum to win NFC defensive player of the week honors.
Making his regular-season debut Sunday against the Bengals, Obada finished with a sack and an interception in Carolina’s 31-21 win. “When my name did get called, I just knew I had to make the most of it,” he said Sunday.
Obada revealed this month that he was a victim of human trafficking as a child. He spent much of his childhood in Europe and was abandoned in London at 10. “I was young and I didn’t have any say into what was happening in my life,” Obada said. “I was ignorant to it.”
He hasn’t yet revealed many details of his ordeal.
“Right now I just want to focus on football and make the most of it.”