With Football Going International, a Look at NFL Players Born Outside the US

The NFL is going global. In the last two decades, the league has been on a serious road trip, scouting talent beyond the borders of the good ole USA and Canada. First up is the NFL International Development Practice Squad Program (2004-2009), where international players got their warm-up on the practice squads. Fast forward to 2017, enter the International Player Pathway (IPP) program – the VIP pass for non-American and non-Canadian ballers. Since then, 37 global game-changers have strapped on their helmets and signed up for the NFL ride.

As of the 2022 season’s final whistle, there are about 82 players born outside the red, white, and blue. Rocking it on NFL rosters or tearing it up on the practice squads. It’s a gridiron globe out there, and we’ve got playmakers from all corners making waves. Check out this international lineup making the NFL the ultimate melting pot of pigskin prowess!

Jordan Mailata

Jordan Mailata, the Aussie sensation rewriting NFL history books. The hulking offensive tackle went from raking in 200 bucks for a rugby win to holding down the line for the Philadelphia Eagles in the freakin’ Super Bowl! That’s the stuff legends are made of. Just four seasons deep, and this Aussie Man Mountain is already flexing a $64M contract with the Eagles. From earning peanuts in rugby to dishing out million-dollar blocks in the NFL, Mailata’s story is a masterclass in grit and grind.

The Samoan powerhouse landed in the States at 20 and took the pathway program by storm. Got drafted by the Eagles in ’18, and hit the field against the 49ers in 2020. It’s not just a game for Mailata; it’s a journey from a $200 paycheck to making it rain with NFL gold. Watch out, world, this Aussie’s not just kicking goals; he’s smashing records!

David Ojabo

Looks like the Baltimore Ravens snagged the draft’s hidden gem in 2022. Meet Ojabo, the Big Ten’s pass-rushing maestro who tore up the field in the previous year. Plot twist? He tore his Achilles at his pro day, cut to this year and he’s back. Making waves in the NFL pre-season.

This former Scottish track and hoops sensation isn’t just a comeback story; he’s a force to be reckoned with. The gridiron spotlight’s on him this pre-season, showcasing the skills that had scouts drooling in the 2022 draft. Ravens fans, get ready for a show because Ojabo’s here to turn setbacks into comebacks!

Laurent Duvernay- Tardif

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, not just a powerhouse on the offensive line but also one of the brainiacs of the NFL. Duvarnay-Tardif has more than just touchdowns on his resume. He’s a medical doctor who tackled the COVID-19 pandemic and even bagged the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.

In a September surprise, he dropped the bomb on social media – cleats officially hung up! After 73 games and 65 starts, including a Super Bowl win in 2019 with the Kansas City Chiefs, Duvernay-Tardif decided to trade the gridiron for a new playbook. Talk about making moves on and off the field.

Ezekiel Ansah

Meet Ezekiel Ansah, the Detroit Lions‘ game-changer drafted fifth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. The defensive end is like a gridiron superhero – size, length, and foot speed that’s unmatched in the NFL. When he hits, opponents feel it from their helmets to their cleats.

Now, most NFL stars start their football fairy tale in elementary school, right? Not Ziggy. His journey? A plot twist at every turn, making his rise to stardom nothing short of extraordinary. From complicated beginnings to delivering jaw-dropping first contacts, Ansah’s story isn’t your typical playbook, it’s a tale of grit, courage, and resilience.

Chigbo Roy Mbaeteka

The NY Giants signed Chigbo Roy Mbaeteka – a 6-9, 320-pound force from Nigeria in 2022. Bringing a whole new meaning to the term ‘rookie sensation.’ The interesting part? He has zero high school or college football experience! Thanks to the Uprise program scouting talents in Africa, Mbaeteka went from unknown to signed with the Big Blue. More so, he was mentored by the legendary Osi Umenyiora, who’s not just a former Giants defensive end but also a player-scout extraordinaire in the NFL’s international office.

First spotted at a camp in Nigeria in May 2021, Mbaeteka’s journey took him to the NFL Academy in London. Where he earned a ticket to the 2022 International Player Pathway program. This season, the OT extraordinaire has moved base to Chicago after signing a deal with the Chicago Bears.

Chase Claypool

From British Columbia to the big leagues, it’s the Claypool Chronicles! The Canadian sensation first made waves tearing it up with the Notre Dame crew, earning himself a sweet second-round spot with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2020 draft.

Fast forward to the windy city, and the Bears threw down a second-round pick to snag Claypool. The hype was real, but the immediate return on investment needed a little time to marinate. 2022 was a bit of a puzzle, but hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day, right? Now, Claypool’s got a fresh start in Miami with the Dolphins, joining the ranks of the wide receiver elite alongside Hill and Jaylen Waddle. No pressure, just pure playmaking potential. It’s a whole new chapter for Claypool.

Efe Obada

Efa Obada’s journey? More like the Obada Odyssey, it’s just a blockbuster script waiting to be written! Before diving into the IPP program in 2017, he was on a football world tour – Chiefs, Falcons, and even the London Warriors. He was racking up those miles. Post-IPP boot camp, he landed on the Carolina Panthers active roster and won NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his very first regular season dance. Fast forward to 2021, he was a free agent signing for the Buffalo Bills – new team, same Obada magic. This year, he is with the Washington Commanders.

Now let’s rewind to the start, where life dealt him a tough hand. Trafficked to the UK and left to fend for himself at just 10 years old. From those rough beginnings, he emerged as the first-ever player to leap from the European Football League straight into the NFL. This isn’t just a journey; it’s a masterpiece in the making,

Mitch Wishnowsky

Meet Mitch ‘Boomin’ Onion’ Wishnowsky, because every team needs a player with a nickname that sizzles. This Aussie sensation is not just entering the big league’s Year Five, he’s still repping that red and gold with the San Francisco 49ers.

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Wishnowsky isn’t just a nickname king; he’s Mr. Consistency on the field, never missing a game and keeping the Niners on lockdown. Oh, and did we mention he’s not just flipping punts but also flipped the script on history? Yup, he’s the first Aussie to score points in an NFL game. Mitch ‘Boomin’ Onion’ – making punting cool one kick at a time.

Younghoe Koo

Debuting with the LA Chargers, Younghoe Koo went from not knowing a lick of English to cashing those NFL checks as the second-highest-paid kicker in the league. It’s a success story that’ll have you saying, ‘What a Koo comeback!’ His football saga kicked off at Georgia Southern University, and now he’s lacing up for the Atlanta Falcons, making waves and kicking records. The Pro Bowl? Been there, done that – Koo’s got a nod on his resume as the NFL’s leading scorer in 2019.

In sixth grade, he landed in Jersey from Korea. Little did he know, he wasn’t just mastering English; he was mastering the art of being an elite kicker. Undrafted in 2017, but guess who’s laughing now? The Seoul native is not just climbing the all-time field goal percentage charts; he’s nipping at the heels of the legendary Justin Tucker. Koo is kickin’ it, and the NFL’s taking notes!

Lou Hedley

Down under to the Big Easy, meet the newest Aussie on the NFL block – Lou Hedley! His journey reads like a Hollywood script: from a life of ink and catching waves to snagging a spot on the New Orleans Saints‘ 53-man roster, leaving former starter Blake Gillkin in the dust. That’s one way to ride the wave to success!

Sure, Hedley’s life was a canvas of tattoos and surfboards, but deep down, he had that itch for pro sports. AFL dream? Dead in the water. So, what does he do? Side into ProKick, the Aussie kicker pipeline to US college programs. Here’s the rock-solid kicker (pun intended): he not only found a home at the University of Miami but also got the nod from Hurricanes legend Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Honoring #94 and making it his own, Hedley is now living the dream in the NFL. And made his debut against the Titans on September 11.

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