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.png) Ariri playing soccer for Clemson in 1976 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: | (1956-04-04)April 4, 1956 (age 68) Owerri,Nigeria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Kicker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Clemson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1981, round: 7, pick: 178 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As player | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981 | Baltimore Colts* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983 | Washington Federals (USFL) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987 | Washington Redskins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Miami Hooters (AFL) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career stats | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Obed Chukwuma Ariri (// ⓘ; born April 4, 1956) is a Nigerian-born formerAmerican footballplacekicker who played two seasons in theNational Football League (NFL).[1] He is distinguished as being the firstNigerian to play in the NFL.[2] He also played in theUnited States Football League (USFL) for theWashington Federals and in theArena Football League (AFL) for theMiami Hooters.
Ariri was born in Nigeria, and his middle name Chukwuma means "God Only Knows". He became a skilled soccer player and was scouted byClemson University's soccer coachIbrahim M. Ibrahim. After watching him play in Nigeria, Ibrahim offered Ariri a soccer scholarship to Clemson on the spot.[1]
Ariri was enrolled at Clemson in 1977 when Clemson football coachCharlie Pell was in dire need of a kicker. Ibrahim allowed Ariri to try out only if he agreed to continue to play soccer. Pell agreed, and Ariri went on to nail every attempt, thus securing his place as the kicker for the Tigers. His scholarship was shifted to football and Pell insisted that Obed forget about soccer. Ariri never kicked a football until he was at Clemson.
He was so popular in campus during his senior year that "Obed Ariri for the Heisman Trophy" bumper stickers were made up.
In 1979, Ariri was granted permission to play in the 1979NCAA Division I National Soccer Championships atTampa Stadium inTampa, Florida. The Tigers lost 3–2 toSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville. Ariri's performance during the game led to a job offer with theChicago Sting of theNorth American Soccer League, where he made four appearances during the 1980 season.[3]
Ariri wasdrafted in the seventh round of the1981 NFL draft by theBaltimore Colts but was cut from the team days before the season. He was on the initial roster of the USFL's Washington Federals but did not last the entire season due to inconsistency and poor performance. TheTampa Bay Buccaneers acquired Obed in the 1984 pre-season but was waived before final cuts. After kickerBill Capece flopped in the final Buccaneer pre-season game, Ariri was hired in time for the start of the regular season and he was their regular kicker that season, only to be released during the 1985 training camp. He was nicknamed the "Automatic African" by his teammates.[1]
Young Nigerian soccer playerDonald Igwebuike had idolized Ariri back in Nigeria. Ariri encouraged Igwebuike to attend Clemson and inspired him to kick a football. The young player attended Clemson and was looked after by Ariri. After graduating Ariri even encouraged CoachDanny Ford to give Igwebuike a chance to kick for the football team. Igwebuike not only made the team, he went on to the NFL and beat out Ariri for the kicking spot at Tampa Bay.[1]
After his playing career concluded, Ariri has stayed in the Tampa Bay area, driving ataxi inSt. Petersburg, Florida.[4] In 2018, Ariri was awarded aSuper Bowl ring for playing for the Redskins in 1987, the year they wonSuper Bowl XXII.[5]