Larry Ogunjobi

Larry Ogunjobi's Biography

Olumide Larry Ogunjobi, an acclaimed professional football player, was born on June 3, 1994 and hails from an African lineage. His Yoruba parents immigrated from Nigeria to Livingston, New Jersey, where Larry was born and raised. Raised by hardworking immigrant parents, Larry’s experiences of growing up instilled in him lessons of grit, persistence, and aspiration.

Ogunjobi had a normal upbringing in North Carolina, where he attended Ragsdale High School in Jamestown. It was then and there his football journey launched, leading him to become one of the prominent defensive tackles in the United States. However, his journey to success was never devoid of challenges and roadblocks.

He pursued higher education at Charlotte, double majoring in Computer Science and Biology. Along with his academic achievements, Larry was making monumental strides in his football career. From 2013 to 2016, he played college football at Charlotte and made quite a mark by recording 217 tackles and 13 sacks. His academic journey came to a successful conclusion when he graduated with a degree in Computer Science in December 2016.

As Ogunjobi approached the end of his college career, multiple sports analysts and experts began to take notice. The anticipation for his future in professional football surged as he was ranked as the 15th best defensive tackle by CBSSports.com. Attending the 2017 Senior Bowl further accentuated his football prowess, thereby increasing his draft stock. Various scouts and representatives closely followed his journey while he completed all the required combine and positional drills at the NFL Combine, showcasing his talent to a host of NFL teams.

Fortunately, his potential didn’t go unnoticed, and he was projected as a second or third-round pick during the 2017 NFL Draft. His prowess in the game continued to earn him accolades, with heavyweights like ESPN ranking him as the third-best defensive tackle. He was also ranked as the fifth-best by NFL Analyst Mike Mayock, and sixth-best by Sports Illustrated.

In May 2017, Larry’s hard work paid off when he was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the NFL Draft. Here, he was offered a contract worth $3.9 million, marking the onset of his soaring professional career. It wasn’t long before Larry was caught amidst a controversial moment kicked off by an altercation between teammate Myles Garrett and Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. Ogunjobi found himself involved in the incident, which resulted in a suspension and fine.

As the years went by, Larry saw growth and expansion in his career, signing a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in March 2021. He had a successful run, recording a career-best seven sacks, 49 tackles, and a team-high 12 tackles for loss. Although a foot injury in a wild card playoff game resulted in his season ending early, Ogunjobi quickly re-emerged, right in time for the 2022 season.

In June 2022, Larry joined the Pittsburgh Steelers, starting 16 games, and recording 48 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His steady performance convinced the Steelers to offer him a three-year contract extension, worth $28.75 million, in March 2023, underlining the team’s confidence in his skills.

Despite the many twists and turns during his career, Larry Ogunjobi has continued to make significant strides in the sport. Starting from a small town in North Carolina to making it big in the National Football League, Ogunjobi’s journey is an inspiring sports narrative. His tenacity and talent have secured his place as one of the most prominent defensive tackles in American football.