Sometimes, mothers really do know best. At a little press conference in Irmo, South Carolina, back in 2021, now-Seattle Seahawks defensive back Nick Emmawori sat at a table flanked by his mother to his left and his father to his right. His older brother Oka stood behind him.
The youngest of the five Emanwori brothers was about to commit to play football at the University of South Carolina, the only Power Five school that had recruited him.
It was during COVID, and the event was held outside in front of a small crowd. A big day for the Emmanwori family and Irmo. Not so big on the national landscape. But the people sitting and standing around that table knew something special was happening.
His coach, Aaron Brand, noted that his prized defensive player had nicknames like “Batman” and “Transformer,” before saying, “We just call on him when it’s time to make some plays.” He went on to tell the small crowd that Nick “can’t play another game here, but he’s getting ready to light this national stage up.”
Seattle Seahawks star’s mother predicted a Super Bowl long before the national pundits caught on
Coach Brand was right in his prediction. Last month, Nick’s mother Justina did him one better.
When Seattle traveled to Charlotte in week 17 to play the Panthers, the local media covered the rookie sensation, who had been born less than 100 miles away in Greensboro, and who played football 100 miles away in Irmo.
Local ABC sports reporter Noah Chast talked to Justina: “As long as my son is a Seahawk … is in Washington … Seahawks will never lose again …. Because Nicholas is there …. Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl.”
After Seattle beat Los Angeles last Sunday to make Justina Emmawnori’s Nostrodamus-like words come true, Chast posted that clip online, and it has spread throughout the land of the 12.
Getting the support of his family is not a new phenomenon for Nick – or perhaps we should call him Nicholas at this point – Emmanwori.
He wears a chain with the number “777” on it. It references his birthday – February 7th. But more importantly, it honors his seven-member family. His mother and father came to America from Nigeria. Legun Emmanwori was studying engineering. He went on to a career in academia, building a life for his five children.
Justina was their biggest fan. Though she was initially concerned about her youngest child playing such a rough game, Oka reassured her. Nick’s older brother preceded him at Irmo and would go on to play college ball himself. He told his mother her baby would be just fine.
Oka was 5’10”, 185 pounds. As he watched his kid brother grow to 6’3” and 220 pounds, he knew great things were in store. He just didn’t predict a Super Bowl. That kind of faith only comes from a mom.
Cleveland’s Carson Schwesinger is going to win defensive rookie of the year this season. He deserves it. The linebacker finished sixth in the league in tackles, one of the best rookie totals ever recorded.
But I don’t think any Seahawks fan would swap Emmanwori for Schwesinger at this point. They were chosen within a few picks of each other at the top of the second round in last year’s draft, and both have extremely bright futures.
But only one of them is going to the Super Bowl as a rookie. Only one of them has the guarantee of a mother who seems to know what she is talking about that his team will not lose as long as her son is playing for them.