After last season's breakout year, Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike received a new contract and newfound inspiration to change his first name. Madubuike has decided to go with his Nigerian name, Nnamdi. His nameplate above his locker was changed to Nnamdi Madubuike this week. "Coming from Nigerian culture, our parents give us like an American name and give us a Nigerian name," Madubuike told the Ravens' website. "When we were growing up as little kids, they addressed us as our Nigerian name. So Nnamdi, I believe in my heart, that's my real name." Madubuike's parents have always called him Nnamdi. But the name on his birth certificate is Justin, which is what others outside his home used, including during his first four seasons in the NFL. Madubuike started thinking of changing his first name after last season, when he led all NFL defensive tackles with 13 sacks and reached his first Pro Bowl. He was rewarded with a four-year, $98 million contract from Baltimore this offseason. "I just felt like when I keep it real, the better player I am, the better man I am," Madubuike told the team's website. "I just was like, you know, I'm going to go with my real name. So Nnamdi is my real name." ## Nnamdi's Meaning The name Nnamdi means "my father's son" or "my father's legacy," which is one of the reasons Madubuike changed back to his birth name. Justin is the name on his birth certificate, but his parents call him Nnamdi at home. He was inspired to change the name after seeing his teammate, Odafe Oweh, change his name in 2021. Odafe went by Jayson at Penn State and in his years prior to joining the NFL. "Just learning from the older vets and stuff, I keep finding ways to get better every single year. I just started to just keep everything real in terms of my life," Madubuike said. "After I signed my contract, I just need to keep doing that. I just felt like when I keep it real, the better player I am, the better man I am. "I just was like, you know, I'm going to go with my real name. So Nnamdi is my real name." Madubuike signed a four-year contract extension this offseason, making him one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the league. Madubuike was a game wrecker on the interior of the defensive line last season, accumulating 65 pressures, 13 sacks and 33 quarterback hits and pressure rate of 13.4%. He played a massive role in Baltimore having the No. 1 scoring defense in the regular season. ## A Cultural Shift Beyond his own preference, Madubuike said he wants this to have a cultural impact. Between him and Oweh, he said they could start a trend — although he emphasized this isn’t a situation where one or the other is a bad choice. "I think culture’s really, really important, just how you were raised. ... I think it’s important to know where you come from and your roots," Madubuike said. "But it’s your choice. At the end of the day, I could have stuck with Justin, but it was just in my heart for a long time to hit that button." "I think it’s a movement," Madubuike added. "I think it’s a good movement. If it’s really in your heart to do that, I think you should do it." ## The Power of Nnamdi It had only been a few hours, but Madubuike had no regrets. "I love my name," he said. And don’t worry, he’s still cool to go by his locker room nickname, as well: "Beeks." ## A New Era for Nnamdi Madubuike Nnamdi Madubuike is ready to make a name for himself, and the name he's chosen is one that represents his heritage, his identity, and his journey. His decision to embrace his Nigerian-given name signifies a commitment to authenticity and a powerful message for all athletes who are grappling with their cultural identities. The Ravens' defense is poised for another dominant season, and Nnamdi Madubuike is a key piece of that puzzle. With his newfound sense of self, he is ready to lead the Ravens to victory and leave an indelible mark on the league.