Browns‘ TE David Njoku is an insurmountable force on the field. What drives his passion and confidence stems from his parents’ support. Excelling in a range of sports, whether track and field or high jump, his transition to football has met with phenomenal success. Standing out at the University of Miami as a TE, with his domineering 6’4”, 246-pound frame, he joined the Browns in 2017.

Not just as an athlete, he has also excelled as a human with his off-field efforts. As he funded a borehole project in his Nigerian village in 2022, he remarked, “This is just the start. I plan on doing much more for my home country.” And, he finds the inspiration to excel from his parents, who constantly motivate him to be the best version of himself.

Who are Innocent Sr. and Stella Njoku?

Born to Nigerian parents Innocent and Stella Njoku in 1996, David Njoku comes from a large family. Innocent and Stella together have nine children, and they migrated to the US from Nigeria so that their children had the best of all opportunities. Professionally, Innocent Sr. was the owner of Trans Atlantic Airlines in Nigeria before he moved to the U.S. Stella managed a clothing store back in Nigeria. And now, after relocating from Nigeria, she joined Innocent Sr. on his many worldwide travels.

The seventh of Innocent and Stella’s children, David also bears the nickname Chief as he starkly resembles his father who has held the chieftaincy title for quite a long. Talking about his father in 2022, David said, “My dad is into oil, something with an oil business. They call him ‘Chief’ when he’s in Africa on business.” Even though they emigrated in 1987, the family regularly visits Nigeria, to maintain a strong connection to their roots.

How have David’s parents propelled their son to success?

Athletic ambitions are quite deeply rooted in the Njoku family. Known as a “track-and-field family,” Innocent Sr. and Stella have always motivated them to excel in sports. But, football was something unthinkable for them. David recalls, “Football they didn’t like. At all. But when you love something so much, you have to find ways to get it.”

David’s parents learned to be flexible with time. Seeing their sons, David, Charles, and Evidence excel in football, they began to support their aspirations. Reflecting on this, Innocent Jr. remarked in an interview (2018), “I think my parents became more lenient with sports when they saw success with David, Evidence, and Charles.”

For David, “Football is first.” However, he continues, “But I have fun competing in track.’’ His parents have been supportive of his decisions, which has indeed given him a boost to make a name in the NFL world.