International Player Pathway

NFL program for non-American players From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

International Player Pathway (IPP) is a program run by the National Football League (NFL) to increase the number of players from outside the United States or Canada in the NFL. The program was formed as part of the NFL's strategy to grow globally as it provides athletes with the opportunity to play in the league. Its aim is to increase the pool of talent and ultimately drive global fan growth.[1][2]

Background

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Perspective

The International Player Pathway (IPP) program was not the first initiative by the NFL to introduce foreign talent into its pool of players and neither is it, as yet, the longest running. The first such program was the NFL International Development Practice Squad Program that ran between 2004 and 2009. Following a short hiatus of seven years there was a single incarnation of NFL Undiscovered in 2016 and building immediately on the success of that trial the IPPP was instituted in 2017.[3][4][5]

NFL International Development Practice Squad Program

The NFL International Practice Squad Program was an initiative run by the NFL in which selected players from outside the United States or Canada were assigned to the practice squads of NFL teams. The program began in 2004[6] and was concluded five years later in 2009 but during that time many players from a multitude of nations[7] were given the opportunity to play in the NFL or other professional football leagues like the Arena Football League, the United Football League and the Canadian Football League.

NFL Undiscovered

Two British-born former NFL players, Aden Durde (NFLUK head of football development) and two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora, were concerned that there were no clear pathways into the NFL for players who had not gone to high school and/or college in the United States, and, as a result, the NFL was potentially missing out on some exceptional players. Wanting to remedy this, in early 2016, they used their personal and professional contacts from their time in the NFL to create a training program and to set up meetings and tryouts with NFL teams for a small number of specially selected football players. These players' potential had been scouted primarily by watching YouTube videos.[8] The initial group of players all lived, worked and played amateur football in Europe. At the time, the program was not yet officially named the International Player Pathway, but it was fully sanctioned and supported by the NFL. Additionally, the League had commissioned a mini-series documentary to be made, called NFL Undiscovered, that followed the participants of the program.

In 2017, the IPP was implemented with systems for choosing which division sponsors the program annually, as well as special regulations applying to the teams being assigned the players. The program has grown every year since its launch and, as of 2020, more than half (19 of 32) of all NFL teams have signed international players as a direct result of the program.

Eligibility

In 2017, potential applicants to NFL Undiscovered were asked to meet specific requirements and were advised to follow a particular application process.[9] Some of these criteria have either changed over time or there is some discretion applied during the selection process, as not all the athletes that have come through the program in the intervening years meet all of the following criteria.

  • age 24 or younger
  • out of high school (or equivalent) for at least four years
  • did not play football at an American college
  • ability to speak English
  • not a citizen of the U.S. or Canada
  • must be available and eligible to travel to the U.S. for two months from the first week in March

Roster regulations

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Perspective

The NFL has specific regulations for players that sign through the IPP. The teams to which each IPP player is assigned are allowed 91 players[10] on their off-season rosters, one more than those teams that are not participating in the IPP that year. At the point when these rosters need to be cut to 53 (at the end of pre-season), the participating teams must decide the status of their IPP players.[11][12][13]

First, the team can keep their IPP player on their 53-man roster. If they waive the player, he goes through the NFL's waiver system, which allows him to be claimed by another team. If he clears waivers, the team can sign the player to their practice squad. If they do, they may elect to take an exemption for the IPP player, giving them an extra spot on their practice squad. If they utilize the exemption, that player cannot be signed to the active roster of any team during the season, but starting in 2024 the player can be elevated for up to three games.[14] If the exemption is declined, the player is treated like any other practice squad player, and can be promoted to a team's active roster. If the player chooses to sign with a team other than the one to which he was assigned, that team may not claim the exemption.

Notable participants

More information Season, Player ...
Players who participated in the NFL Undiscovered and International Player Pathway programs
Season Player Nationality Background Position Debut team Ref
2016 Anthony DabléFranceFootballWide receiverNew York Giants[15]
Moritz BöhringerGermanyWide receiverMinnesota Vikings[16]
2017 Alex GrayUnited KingdomRugby unionTight endAtlanta Falcons[17]
Alex JenkinsFootballDefensive endNew Orleans Saints[18]
Eric NzeochaGermanyLinebackerTampa Bay Buccaneers[19]
Efe ObadaUnited KingdomDefensive endCarolina Panthers[20]
2018 Christopher Ezeala GermanyRunning backBaltimore Ravens[21]
Jordan MailataAustraliaRugby leagueOffensive tacklePhiladelphia Eagles[22]
Tigie SankohUnited KingdomFootballDefensive backCleveland Browns[23]
Christian Scotland-WilliamsonRugby unionTight endPittsburgh Steelers[24]
2019 Valentine HolmesAustraliaRugby leagueRunning backNew York Jets[25]
Jakob JohnsonGermanyFootballFullbackNew England Patriots[26]
Durval Queiroz NetoBrazilDefensive tackleMiami Dolphins[27]
Christian WadeUnited KingdomRugby unionRunning backBuffalo Bills[28]
2020 Isaac AlarcónMexicoFootballOffensive tackleDallas Cowboys[29]
David BadaGermanyDefensive tackleWashington Football Team[29]
Matt LeoAustraliaAustralian rulesDefensive endPhiladelphia Eagles[29]
Sandro PlatzgummerAustriaFootballRunning backNew York Giants[29]
2021 Aaron DonkorGermanyDefensive endSeattle Seahawks[30]
Alfredo GutiérrezMexicoOffensive tackleSan Francisco 49ers[30]
Max PircherItalyHandballOffensive tackleLos Angeles Rams[30]
Sammis ReyesChileBasketballTight endWashington Football Team[31]
Bernhard SeikovitsAustriaFootballTight endArizona Cardinals[30]
2022 Marcel DaboGermanyCornerbackIndianapolis Colts[32]
Roy MbaetekaNigeriaOffensive tackleNew York Giants[33]
Haggai NdubuisiOffensive tackleArizona Cardinals[34]
Adedayo OdeleyeUnited KingdomDefensive endHouston Texans[32]
Thomas OdukoyaNetherlandsTight endTennessee Titans[32]
Kehinde Oginni HassanNigeriaBasketballDefensive endKansas City Chiefs[35]
Ayo OyelolaUnited KingdomFootballStrong safetyJacksonville Jaguars[32]
2023 Junior AhoFranceDefensive lineMinnesota Vikings[36]
C. J. OkoyeNigeriaBasketballDefensive lineLos Angeles Chargers[36]
Haggai NdubuisiFootballOffensive tackleDenver Broncos[36]
David Ebuka AgohaBasketballDefensive lineLas Vegas Raiders[36]
Chukwuebuka GodrickOffensive tackleKansas City Chiefs[36]
Kenneth OdumegwuBasketballDefensive lineGreen Bay Packers[36]
2024 Louis Rees-ZammitUnited KingdomRugby unionRunning backKansas City Chiefs[37]
Charlie SmythIrelandGaelic footballPlacekickerNew Orleans Saints[38]
Lorenz MetzGermany FootballOffensive linemanTampa Bay Buccaneers[39]
Patrick MurtaghAustraliaAustralian rulesTight endJacksonville Jaguars[40]
Travis ClaytonUnited KingdomRugby unionOffensive guardBuffalo Bills[41]
Bayron MatosDominican RepublicBasketballOffensive tackleMiami Dolphins[42]
Jotham RussellAustraliaRugby leagueDefensive endNew England Patriots[43]
Praise OlatokeNigeriaTrack and fieldWide receiverLos Angeles Chargers[44]
Jude McAtamneyIrelandGaelic footballPlacekickerNew York Giants[45]
Laekin VakalahiAustraliaRugby leagueOffensive tacklePhiladelphia Eagles[46]
Denzel DaxonThe BahamasFootballDefensive tackleDallas Cowboys[47]
Thomas YassminAustraliaTight endDenver Broncos[48]
David OlajigaUnited KingdomDefensive tackleLos Angeles Rams[49]
Alex HaleAustraliaFootballPlacekickerGreen Bay Packers[50]
Julius WelschofGermanyFootballLinebackerPittsburgh Steelers[51]
2025 Lenny Krieg Germany Football Placekicker Atlanta Falcons [52]
Jordan PetaiaAustraliaRugby unionTight endLos Angeles Chargers[53]
T. J. MaguranyangaZimbabweRugby unionDefensive endWashington Commanders[54]
Dante BarnettUnited KingdomFootballDefensive tackleCincinnati Bengals[55]
Mapalo MwansaUnited KingdomFootballDefensive endCarolina Panthers[56]
Leander WiegandGermanyFootballOffensive tackleNew York Jets[57]
Laki TasiAustraliaRugby unionDefensive linemanLas Vegas Raiders[58]
Oscar ChapmanAustraliaFootballPunterMinnesota Vikings[59]
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References

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