Former NFL defensive end Efe Obada retires and launches youth charity in London

After ten years of professional football, including stints with the Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders, Efe Obada declared his retirement, noting that the 2025 season left him unsigned. In tandem with the announcement, he established a foundation focused on providing services and a permanent community hub for care-experienced individuals aged 11 to 25 in south London. Born in Nigeria and trafficked as a child, Obada spent his youth in more than ten foster homes after being abandoned in east London.

His rise from a warehouse security guard to an NFL defensive end was sparked by a chance invitation to play for the London Warriors, leading to a try-out with the Dallas Cowboys. Throughout his career he has spoken out about human trafficking and the care system, and now aims to use his earnings and platform to support others facing similar hardships.