Julian Okwara is ready to soar high! Signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on February 14th, he’s been flying through his NFL career. Fast forward five months, and Okwara is not just making plays on the field—he’s also found his perfect teammate off the field in Lauren Wenzel. It’s a touchdown for love when you find someone who can match your athletic fire.

Julian and Lauren shared their engagement news on Instagram on July 21st. Lauren’s caption was no short of a game-winning play, “The best night and easiest ‘yes’ of my life. My heart is so full, I love you forever.” Julian must be feeling like the MVP right now – a rarity for an LB. The carousel of nine pics was a highlight reel of their love story, with each photo showing more affection than the last. Picture a linebacker grinning from sideline to sideline. This was Julian in all the pictures – as if he had just made a match-winning tackle. But who’s the star player in his game of love?

We mentioned her athletic prowess because Lauren Wenzel is a volleyball player. She played for Notre Dame as her Instagram bio proudly states, “University of Notre Dame volleyball alum. ☘️” Her playing days might be a bit of a mystery, but a quick scroll through her Insta highlights, labeled “ND☘️”, and the university’s website shows she was a sophomore in 2019. Destined to be together with Julian? Guess so. The Eagles’ No. 52 was a junior in 2018, donning the Fighting Irish badge in 2019 before he got his Detroit Lions call-up in 2020. Talk about a pre-draft connection! Seems like these two were on a collision course even before the NFL showdown.

When she is not on the volleyball court, she walks into the gridiron with Julian. Yep! You can see that in one of her posts from the iconic day when the Lions won their first playoff match in 32 years. A nail-biting 24-23 win over the Rams at Ford Field Park. Lauren posted a photo of herself with her fiance with this caption: “Forever your #1 fan!” Their bond is pure teamwork. Through wins and losses. Now, in sickness and in health!

As they take their relationship to the next level, the linebacker dreams of his fiancée by his side in Philly—he’s got unfinished family business. Time to huddle up!

Julian Okwara’s new chapter with Lauren Wenzel by his side

“After some introspection and meditation, I have decided to step away from the NFL,” 28-year-old Romeo Okwara announced his retirement on his socials after eight seasons in the league. Hanging up his cleats, Romeo left the Lions. There, he played shoulder-to-shoulder with his brother, Julian Okwara. As the spotlight shifts towards the younger Okwara, he’s expected to have more gas left in his tank. Or so the playbook suggests.

During the 2020 Draft, Julian was the talk of the town. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described Okwara as “The lanky edge rusher.” He continued his analysis, writing, “[Julian] Followed up an impressive 2018 with a slightly disappointing senior season that saw a drop in production and ended prematurely due to a broken leg. One look at his NFL brother (Romeo Okwara, Lions) should tell teams to project Julian as a bigger, stronger player with time.”

Julian roared as a Lion for four seasons, suiting up for 38 games with nine starts. Now, he wants to spread his wings like an Iggle! The 26-year-old linebacker is no slouch, tallying 54 tackles, 16 QB hits, nine sacks, and even snagging one interception. He’s a tackling machine with a nose for the ball and a knack for getting to the quarterback.

With Romeo’s retirement, a chapter closes but opens a new page for Julian to write his story afresh. The Eagles are hoping he’s more than ready to tackle the challenge. Especially with his fiancée Lauren cheering him on from the sidelines. Time to see if the younger Okwara can make the end zone his own.