Wikipedia

International Player Pathway

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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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

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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

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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

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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 American football at a US college
  • ability to speak English
  • not a citizen of the US or Canada
  • must be available and eligible to travel to the US for two months from the first week in March

Roster regulations

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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

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Accurate as of the 2024 NFL season
Active
NFL players who participated in the NFL Undiscovered and International Player Pathway programs
Season Player Nationality Previous sport(s) Position Debut team Ref
2016 Anthony Dablé   France Football Wide receiver New York Giants [15]
Moritz Böhringer   Germany Wide receiver Minnesota Vikings [16]
2017 Alex Gray   UK Rugby union Tight end Atlanta Falcons [17]
Alex Jenkins Football Defensive end New Orleans Saints [18]
Eric Nzeocha   Germany Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers [19]
Efe Obada   UK Defensive end Carolina Panthers [20]
2018 Moritz Böhringer   Germany Tight end Cincinnati Bengals [21]
Christopher Ezeala Running back Baltimore Ravens [22]
Jordan Mailata   Australia Rugby league Offensive tackle Philadelphia Eagles [23]
Tigie Sankoh   UK Football Defensive back Cleveland Browns [24]
Christian Scotland-Williamson Rugby union Tight end Pittsburgh Steelers [25]
2019 Valentine Holmes   Australia Rugby league Running back New York Jets [26]
Jakob Johnson   Germany Football Fullback New England Patriots [27]
Durval Queiroz Neto   Brazil Defensive tackle Miami Dolphins [28]
Christian Wade   UK Rugby union Running back Buffalo Bills [29]
2020 Isaac Alarcón   Mexico Football Offensive tackle Dallas Cowboys [30]
David Bada   Germany Defensive tackle Washington Football Team [30]
Matt Leo   Australia Australian rules football Defensive end Philadelphia Eagles [30]
Sandro Platzgummer   Austria Football Running back New York Giants [30]
2021 Aaron Donkor   Germany Defensive end Seattle Seahawks [31]
Alfredo Gutiérrez   Mexico Offensive tackle San Francisco 49ers [31]
Max Pircher   Italy Handball Offensive tackle Los Angeles Rams [31]
Sammis Reyes   Chile Basketball Tight end Washington Football Team [32]
Bernhard Seikovits   Austria Football Tight end Arizona Cardinals [31]
2022 Marcel Dabo   Germany Cornerback Indianapolis Colts [33]
Roy Mbaeteka   Nigeria Offensive tackle New York Giants [34]
Haggai Ndubuisi Offensive tackle Arizona Cardinals [35]
Adedayo Odeleye   UK Defensive end Houston Texans [33]
Thomas Odukoya   Netherlands Tight end Tennessee Titans [33]
Kehinde Oginni Hassan   Nigeria Basketball Defensive end Kansas City Chiefs [36]
Ayo Oyelola   UK Football Strong safety Jacksonville Jaguars [33]
2023 Junior Aho   France Defensive line Minnesota Vikings [37]
C. J. Okoye   Nigeria Basketball Defensive line Los Angeles Chargers [37]
Haggai Ndubuisi Football Offensive tackle Denver Broncos [37]
David Ebuka Agoha Basketball Defensive line Las Vegas Raiders [37]
Chukwuebuka Godrick Offensive tackle Kansas City Chiefs [37]
Roy Mbaeteka Football Offensive tackle Chicago Bears [37]
Kenneth Odumegwu Basketball Defensive line Green Bay Packers [37]
Max Pircher   Italy Handball Offensive tackle Detroit Lions [38][note 1]
2024 Isaac Alarcón   Mexico Football Offensive tackle San Francisco 49ers [39]
Louis Rees-Zammit   UK Rugby union Running back Kansas City Chiefs [40]
Charlie Smyth   Ireland Gaelic football Kicker New Orleans Saints [41]
Max Pircher   Italy Handball Offensive tackle Seattle Seahawks [42]
Haggai Ndubuisi   Nigeria Football Offensive tackle Washington Commanders [43]
Lorenz Metz   Germany Offensive lineman Tampa Bay Buccaneers [44]
Patrick Murtagh   Australia Australian rules football Tight end Jacksonville Jaguars [45]
Travis Clayton   UK Rugby union Offensive guard Buffalo Bills [46]
Bayron Matos   Dominican Republic Basketball Offensive tackle Miami Dolphins [47]
Roy Mbaeteka   Nigeria Football Offensive tackle Cleveland Browns [48]
Julius Welschof   Germany Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers

[49]

Laekin Vakalahi   Australia Rugby league Offensive tackle Philadelphia Eagles [50]
Kehinde Oginni Hassan   Nigeria Basketball Defensive end Atlanta Falcons [51]
Jude McAtamney   Ireland Gaelic football Kicker New York Giants [52]
Denzel Daxon   The Bahamas Football Defensive tackle Dallas Cowboys [53]
Thomas Yassmin   Australia Tight end Denver Broncos [54]
David Olajiga   UK Defensive tackle Los Angeles Rams [55]
Sammis Reyes   Chile Basketball Tight end Minnesota Vikings [56]
Jotham Russell   Australia Rugby league Defensive end New England Patriots [57]
Junior Aho   France Football Defensive line Carolina Panthers [58]
Praise Olatoke   Nigeria Track and field Wide receiver Los Angeles Chargers [59]
Alex Hale   Australia Football Kicker Green Bay Packers [60]
Adedayo Odeleye   UK Defensive end Baltimore Ravens [61]
Ayo Oyelola Strong safety Pittsburgh Steelers [62]
Kenneth Odumegwu   Nigeria Basketball Defensive line Seattle Seahawks [63]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Lions were originally assigned Australian tight end Patrick Murtagh, but he left the International Player Pathway Program due to a medical concern.[38]

References

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  1. ^ "Four International Players Added to Practice Squads for 2017 Season". NFL.com. May 25, 2017.
  2. ^ "What exactly is the NFL International Pathway Player program?". americanfootballinternational.com. January 17, 2022.
  3. ^ "New program opens doors for four NFL hopefuls". ESPN.com. November 2, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "The International Player Pathway Program: What it is, and why it will change the NFL". June 26, 2017. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  5. ^ "International players added to four practice squads". NFL.com. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  6. ^ Bill Williamson, International practice-squad players assigned Archived September 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, ESPN, June 12, 2008.
  7. ^ NFL Expands International Practice Squad Program Archived July 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, The News Tribune, May 23, 2008.
  8. ^ NFL Undiscovered (video). NFL. 2016.
  9. ^ Malyon, Ed (February 23, 2017). "The NFL want talented young European athletes to enter the draft - here's how to be in with the chance of a lifetime". The Independent.
  10. ^ "An updated look at the Steelers 91-man roster with jersey numbers before Preseason Week 4". Behind the Steel Curtain. August 29, 2019.
  11. ^ "Bills' Wade and International Pathway Program: What fans need to know". newyorkupstate. August 19, 2019.
  12. ^ Warren, Matt (August 18, 2019). "Clarifying the Buffalo Bills roster status with running back Christian Wade". Buffalo Rumblings.
  13. ^ "What the Bills can do with RB Christian Wade". August 19, 2019.
  14. ^ "NFL to Expand Practice Squad To Include One International Player For All 32 Clubs in 2024". National Football League. September 13, 2023.
  15. ^ "France's Anthony Dablé Signs Contract With New York Giants". americanfootballinternational.com. February 18, 2016.
  16. ^ "Minnesota Vikings cut ties with German receiver Moritz Böhringer". American Football International. September 2, 2017.
  17. ^ "England sevens star Alex Gray signs for Atlanta Falcons practice squad". espn.co.uk.com. May 25, 2017.
  18. ^ "Bath American footballer Alex Jenkins signs for NFL side New Orleans Saints for 2017 season". bathchronicle.co.uk. May 25, 2017.
  19. ^ "Bucs Add International Player to Practice Squad for 2017 Season". buccaneers.com.
  20. ^ "Panthers awarded international player". Panthers.com. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  21. ^ "Moritz Boehringer added to Cincinnati Bengals roster". NFL.com.
  22. ^ "8 international players added to NFL rosters for 2018 Season". NFL.com.
  23. ^ "Eagles draft Australian rugby player Jordan Mailata". NFL.com.
  24. ^ "Browns assigned DB Tigie Sankoh to offseason roster from NFL's international program". Dawgs by Nature. May 14, 2018.
  25. ^ "Steelers sign former ruby star Christian Scotland-Williamson". 247sports.com.
  26. ^ Charean, Williams (April 8, 2019). "Jets sign Valentine Holmes". NBCSports.com.
  27. ^ Wells, Adam (September 24, 2019). "Jakob Johnson makes NFL debut with Patriots". USAToday.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  28. ^ "Miami Dolphins re-sign Brazilian Durval Queiroz Neto". americanfootballinternational.com. April 10, 2020.
  29. ^ "NFL International player Christian Wade allocated to the Bills". buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019.
  30. ^ a b c d "NFC East teams assigned international players for 2020". NFL.com. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  31. ^ a b c d "Four players added to 2021 NFL rosters through Intentional Player Pathway program". NFL.com.
  32. ^ "Roundup: Washington signs Sammis Reyes from International Player Pathway Program". NFL.com.
  33. ^ a b c d "Four players added to AFC South rosters for 2022 season through NFL International Player Pathway program". NFL.com. May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  34. ^ Eisen, Michael (April 13, 2022). "Mentored by Osi Umenyiora, Nigerian OT Roy Mbaeteka signs with Giants". Giants.com. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  35. ^ Urban, Darren (April 19, 2022). "Cardinals Sign Nigerian Offensive Lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi". AZCArdinals.com. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  36. ^ MacKenzie, Daniel (May 9, 2022). "Kansas City Chiefs sign NFL IPP's Kehinde Oginni Hassan". americanfootballinternational.com.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g "International Player Pathway program adds eight players to NFL rosters for 2023 season". NFL.com. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  38. ^ a b Birkett, Dave (May 22, 2023). "Detroit Lions add OT Max Pircher through NFL's International Pathways Program". Freep.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  39. ^ "49ers Sign OL Alarcon to Reserve/Future Contract". 49ers.com. January 23, 2024.
  40. ^ "Louis Rees-Zammit: Former Wales rugby union wing joins Kansas City Chiefs". BBC Sport. March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  41. ^ "Charlie Smyth: Gaelic footballer gets NFL deal with New Orleans Saints". BBC Sport. March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  42. ^ "Seahawks Sign Tackle Max Pircher". www.seahawks.com. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  43. ^ "Commanders sign DL Haggai Chisom Nduisi". Washington Commanders. April 3, 2024.
  44. ^ Easterling, Luke (April 15, 2024). "Bucs sign international player to bolster offensive line depth". USA Today.
  45. ^ Oehser, John (April 15, 2024). "Jaguars Sign Australian TE Patrick Murtagh". Jacksonville Jaguars.
  46. ^ "Watch | Bills select Travis Clayton with No. 221 pick in 2024 draft". www.buffalobills.com. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  47. ^ Furones, David (April 27, 2024). "Dolphins reach agreements with undrafted rookies after draft, including prospect who never played a college snap". Sun Sentinel.
  48. ^ "Browns sign T Roy Mbaeteka". ClevelandBrowns.com. April 29, 2024.
  49. ^ Koelher, Allison (April 27, 2024). "Steelers agree to terms with Charlotte UDFA OLB Julius Welschof". USA Today.
  50. ^ Boyle, Owen (May 3, 2024). "Eagles sign 7 rookie free agents". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  51. ^ "Kehinde Oginni: Lands in Atlanta". CBS Sports. RotoWire. May 9, 2024.
  52. ^ Salomone, Dan (May 10, 2024). "Giants sign 8 undrafted rookies, including 1 international player". New York Giants.
  53. ^ "Minor NFL Transactions: 5/10/2024". ProFootballRumors.com. May 10, 2024.
  54. ^ DiLalla, Aric (May 10, 2024). "Broncos sign 13 college free agents". Denver Broncos.
  55. ^ "NFL Transactions: Monday 5/13". NFLTradeRumors.co. May 13, 2024.
  56. ^ "Vikings Sign TE Sammis Reyes After Tryout". Vikings.com. May 13, 2024.
  57. ^ "Patriots Sign Four Rookie Free Agents; Release RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn". New England Patriots. May 13, 2024.
  58. ^ Smith, Michael David (May 20, 2024). "Panthers sign French defensive lineman Junior Aho as their international player". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports.
  59. ^ Smith, Michael David (June 14, 2024). "Chargers sign Nigerian-Scottish sprinter Praise Olatoke to play wide receiver". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports.
  60. ^ Western, Evan (August 21, 2024). "Packers designate K Alex Hale as international player, release Kenneth Odumegwu". ProFootballTalk. SB Nation. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  61. ^ Mink, Ryan (August 30, 2024). "Ravens Sign International Player to Practice Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  62. ^ Varley, Teresa (September 2, 2024). "Steelers make roster move". Steelers.com.
  63. ^ Boyle, John. "Seahawks Sign Kenneth Odumegwu & Quinton Bohanna To Practice Squad". seahawks.com. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
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