Few moments capture the culmination of a career quite like a game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, and Uchenna Nwosu delivered one with a 45-yard pick-six in Super Bowl LX.
As Seahawks fans erupted with excitement, Nwosu’s elation could not be contained, for his joy had come after years of trials.
The Seahawks linebacker was sidelined with injuries for most of 2023 and 2024, playing just six games in each of those seasons, and missed the opening week of the 2025 season.
But Nwosu, whose first name translates to “God’s Will” in the Igbo language, has viewed every setback and triumph as part of a larger plan.
“What I’ve gone through is a testament to what God has done in my life and my family’s life.”
In the conversation below, part of NBC Sports’ By Way of Africa series, Nwosu shares how his Nigerian roots and his parents’ sacrifices helped shape the resilience that carried him to the NFL’s biggest stage. He also opens up about his journey with the Seahawks and why Seattle means so much to him.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Mary Omatiga: Uchenna, how does it feel to be a Super Bowl champion?
Uchenna Nwosu: It feels great, honestly. I never thought I’d ever become one. You know, some people get it in year one, some people never get it. I was able to become one. Life is a little bit better when you’re a Super Bowl champion!
A lot of people see your Super Bowl ring, but they don’t necessarily know the road that it took to get there.
Can you talk about the difficulties you faced and the injuries you dealt with along the way?
Nwosu: Yeah, it was definitely tough. The year prior, 2024, I was just coming off a torn pec. I had a great offseason and came in in the best shape of my life. Then I went down in the last preseason game, in the first series. I got a pretty bad MCL sprain that caused me to miss the first four weeks of that season.
In my first game back, I ended up tearing my quad. Thankfully, I didn’t need surgery. I let that heal and missed another six weeks. I came back later that season, and then, in the last game of that season, I tore my meniscus.
I had surgery literally the week after the Super Bowl of the 2024 season, and I had no offseason training. I had no training camp. I missed the first game of the [2025] season, but I trusted my rehab, trusted the doctors, prayed, and I was able to continue and play the rest of the season. I didn’t miss a single game, and I became a Super Bowl champion. Everybody’s road is different, and I’m grateful for my journey and how strong it made me.
SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 08: LB Uchenna Nwosu (7) of the Seattle Seahawks attempts to tackle QB Drake Maye (10) of the New England Patriots during the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots Super Bowl LX game on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 08: LB Uchenna Nwosu (7) of the Seattle Seahawks with a 44 yard interception during the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots Super Bowl LX game on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
TOPSHOT - Seattle Seahawks’ linebacker #07 Uchenna Nwosu scores a touchdown during Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8, 2026. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
I know it takes a village to get here. I want to talk about your tribe, quite literally. Your family is Igbo. I know names are a significant part of African culture.
Can you share your full name and tell us what it means?
Nwosu: Uchenna Nwosu. My name means God’s will. It’s a very common name in Nigeria, and in Africa in general. There are a lot of Uches and Uchennas, but my name means a lot. I carry it with pride, and I’m grateful for the name.
My parents could have named me anything, but they named me Uchenna because I am God’s will. What I’ve gone through is a testament to what God has done in my life and my family’s life. He’s blessed me and put me in positions to be successful far beyond my imagination. I’m definitely thankful for that. Nigerian heritage is very important to me, and I’ll always wear it as a heavy crown.
I love that! Can you tell me about your parents? When did they move to the U.S., and how did their journey shape the way your family lived?
Nwosu: My dad came to the United States in the early ‘90s. He came first, and then my mom was able to come after they saved up enough money. My parents’ journey is pretty much what made me who I am today.
My dad struggled coming up. He used to sleep out of his car and worked at a donut shop, but, you know, education is very important in Nigerian culture, so my dad always kept that near and true.
He studied his butt off. He ended up working at American Airlines once he got a little older, then eventually went into medicine. My dad has always worked hard.
The same with my mom. When she was able to come [to the U.S.], she immediately got into her studies, got into nursing, and they both worked their butts off to be the great parents that I have and pioneered a way for me and my sisters to become successful as well.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 20: Uchenna Nwosu #7 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates during the NFL 2025 game against the Houston Texans at Lumen Field on October 20, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)
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As you mentioned, education is such an important part of African culture. Success typically looks like being a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer in an African home.
Were your parents always on board with you playing football? What was their initial response?
Nwosu: I wouldn’t say they were always on board with it. I was always an active kid growing up. Living in a house with three sisters, you’ve got to find ways to keep yourself busy, so sports were always my thing.
My parents supported me playing sports, but, like I said, education was always first. They didn’t really understand football too much. They knew basketball because of Kobe [Bryant] and L.A., and during those times, that’s when L.A. was great, back in the early 2000s.
But football wasn’t really part of African culture like that, and they didn’t really start [understanding] what was going on until I told them I got a scholarship to go to college for free. Then they started getting more invested. When they saw me attend USC and saw what could transpire, they started to understand more and more.
Now you can’t talk football without my parents knowing every detail about every player in the league. My mom knows everything; she reads constantly. My dad is constantly getting updates on his phone. He’s reading constantly. So if you tell them something that happened, they already knew three days before. They know everything about football now.
Uchenna Nwosu’s Instagram
You’ve gotten a shoutout from the Nigerian president. You were honored in your hometown in Carson. What do you think your success means to them?
Nwosu: It means a lot. My mom constantly tells me how her friends are always saying they wish they had a son like me. They wish their families were great, like her family, and all this stuff. I’m just like, wow, I guess I’ve really inspired my parents’ community.
I’m blessed to be able to do that, and my parents get all the praise about how well they’ve raised us, and they’ve done a good job. So shout out to my parents, of course, for doing a great job, but all glory to God for keeping us safe through the journey.
What does your Igbo culture mean to you, and what does it mean for you to get to represent your Nigerian heritage on the NFL stage?
Nwosu: It means a lot. As Africans, where we come from, it’s tough growing up. There’s not much. You’ve got to fight. You’ve got to be strong. That’s exactly what I represent because of my journey. I’ve had to fight. I’ve had to stay strong through my season-ending injuries, my offseasons where I’ve been on crutches, in bed for two to three years straight.
I represent Igbo culture very well. I had to fight and struggle my way to the top, but also be very resilient, and no matter what comes our way, we can’t show fear. We can’t be scared. We can’t shy away from the moment. We embrace everything, and that’s what makes Africans so strong.
We embrace all the hardships, and no matter what, when we come out on top, we celebrate. And you will know when we celebrate.
What specific values from your culture helped you the most during those hard times?
Nwosu: Definitely God. God has been a very core part of where I come from, my family, and my heritage. We stay close to the church and keep God first in everything we do.
He’s the reason why all this has happened. That’s one thing that will always stick with me that my parents have taught me: to keep God first. Give thanks and glory to God, and always thank the ones that have shown you the way and have been around you during those hard times.
There are actually a handful of African players on the Seahawks roster. How have you guys celebrated your culture and shared it with the team?
Nwosu: During the Super Bowl, we had a bunch of flags out, letting people know that we’re here. It was me, Jaxon [Smith-Njigba], Nick [Emmanwori], and Boye Mafe, who is now in Cincinnati doing great things.
We made sure we had those flags out at the Super Bowl. We’re representing, letting everybody know. We play African music in the locker rooms. I have the whole team vibing and dancing before practice. The guys like that stuff, so that’s how I like to express and share the culture with the team.
Are all of your parents in a group WhatsApp chat? Do they sit together during games?
Nwosu: Oh, you know Nigerians are always in the WhatsApp chats. You know that! All they know is WhatsApp, that’s how they communicate with people here and back home.
I’m like, “Mom, you can just text me.” She’s like, Oh no, send it on WhatsApp, send on WhatsApp. I’m like, “All right, Mom, I’ll send it in WhatsApp.”
So, yeah, they’re definitely communicating. My mom has gotten close to Nick Emmanwori’s mom. Nick’s mom doesn’t live here in Seattle with him, and she’s kind of [learning] football as well, so my mom is helping her adjust to her son being a superstar and being away from home.
I know family and community are so important to you. I want to talk about some of the ways that you’ve given back.
Can you tell me about your foundation and why it’s been important to you to make an impact?
Nwosu: Yeah, my foundation, the Uchenna Nwosu Foundation, we help [empower] kids and youth in any way possible. It’s very important. That’s another thing my parents taught me: to always give to the next generation and take care of others. I feel like there’s no better way to start than with the youth. The youth is the next generation, so trying to be a leader and an outlet for them, to make sure they have the resources to be successful, is something I’ve always been about.
Even before I had a foundation, I would volunteer my time during the season to coach a flag football team and go visit the local Boys and Girls Clubs. When I started getting more educated on a foundation and other ways to help out, that’s when I started doing that. Being able to be an extended hand for the youth and the next generation is something that’ll always be with me.
Looking ahead, this is your ninth NFL season, year five in Seattle. What do you love about this city and about this team?
Nwosu: I love the city! They really embrace their players. I feel like they’re all about sports here. They’re all about football here. Where I’m from in L.A., you’ve got a million things going on, all these different sports teams, celebrities, and different activities.
But in Seattle, they ride or die for the Seahawks and the Mariners. I really appreciate these fans. They’ve been great to me since I’ve been here, and the team is just a real family here.
I’ve had my best years here, my highest and my lowest, and during all those times, it’s been enjoyable because of the people that are around me, and the fans have supported me.
Seattle is a very special place to me, and I’ll forever be grateful for this place.
All right, Uchenna, I’ve got a very quick game to wrap. Give me the first answer that comes to your mind. Afrobeats or Amapiano?
Nwosu: Afrobeats.
Name your top three Afrobeats artists.
Nwosu: Right now, I’d have to say Seyi Vibez, Asake, and ahhh, that’s a tough one... probably Wizkid.
What Afrobeats song has been on repeat for you lately?
Nwosu: I’ll probably say Man of the Year by Seyi Vibez.
Pounded yam or jollof rice?
Nwosu: Jollof rice.
Egusi soup or okra soup?
Nwosu: Egusi soup.
Fried yam or plantain?
Nwosu: Plantain.
Okay, GM decision. You’ve got to put one of these in the starting lineup, one of these on the practice squad, and one of these gets cut: Moin Moin, Puff Puff, and Akara.
Nwosu: I’d probably put Puff Puff in the starting lineup. I love Puff Puff. I’ll probably put Moin Moin on the bench, and I’ve got to cut Akara.
Editor’s Note: By Way of Africa is a series committed to highlighting the talent and stories from the African continent and its diaspora. African stories are worth telling, and the culture—all of the languages, tribes, and traditions—is worth celebrating. Embedded in these narratives is a profound testament to the diligence, discipline, and work ethic deeply ingrained in African heritage. Whether born on the continent or dispersed across the globe, the contributions of these stories to society resound uniquely, by way of Africa.
