Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike has decided to use Nnamdi, his Nigerian name.
Telling the The Ravens website this weekMadubuike, 26, said that after last season’s breakout year, he was inspired by teammate Odafe Oweh, who is also of Nigerian descent and was known as Jayson until he was drafted in 2021.
“Because we come from Nigerian culture, our parents gave us an American name and a Nigerian name,” Madubuike said. “When we were kids, they called us by our Nigerian name. So Nnamdi, I believe in my heart, that’s my real name.”
Madubuike was selected in the third round of the 2020 draft by the Ravens out of Texas A&M and was a Second Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2023. In March, he signed a four-year, $98 million extension with the Ravens after leading all NFL defensive tackles with 13 sacks.
Madubuike has made a name for himself change in your Instagram and has a new name tag on his locker. He went on to explain that his parents have always called him Nnamdi, but in primary school it was Justin, the name on his birth certificate, the one that became popular and what he was called outside the home.
When Madubuike’s father, Festus, told her that he supported the name change, that’s when Madubuike fully agreed to the change.
“I felt like, if I stay true to reality, the better player I am, the better person I am,” Madubuike said. “I just thought, ‘I’m going to keep using my real name. Nnamdi is my real name.'”