The NFL has grown internationally over the past decade. With their International Player Pathway program, it should only continue to expand further.
The UK has three players that have been selected to participate in this year’s program. An offensive lineman playing in college at Utah University, Bamidele Olaseni, and two players who participated in last year’s program; linebacker Ayo Oyelola, and defensive end Adedayo Odeleye.
The program started in 2017, with the goal of providing high-level international athletes with an opportunity to be competitive at the NFL level. At the same time, the program is designed to support players in improving their football-specific skills and hopefully earning an NFL roster spot. There have been three different players from the program to play over 1,000 snaps in the NFL, Jakob Johnson for New England, Efe Obada for Buffalo and Jordan Mailata for Philadelphia.
With multiple players making it in the league, the program has gained more traction and has become a place where NFL teams are genuinely looking for players. With the program’s success, it has increased the number of countries where it is looking for players.
The plan is for players to begin training in the US in about a month. NFL teams will have the chance to scout players during the training portion of the program. Teams scouting the players will likely make several invites to their training camps, with players hoping to earn a roster spot or a practice squad spot. One division in the NFL will be chosen at random to receive an international player practice squad exemption. This is a free roster spot for that team and helps international players gain more of a foothold in the NFL.
The Chief Operating Officer of NFL International Damani Leech said this about the program: “The International Player Pathway program is an important part of our ongoing efforts to help ensure the best athletes in the world are playing in the NFL – regardless of their country of origin. We are excited to have players from around the world competing for a spot in the 2022 program.”
The NFL’s goal of becoming a more global game is admirable as it is one of the highest levels of athletic competition. With that said, it shouldn’t be limited to players from the US, as fantastic athletes can be found worldwide. Players that have travelled a non-traditional path to football offer some advantages.
For one thing, they do not have a lifetime of bumps and bruises, having played football since their youth league days. They often do not have as many bad habits and can be coached by some of the world’s best early in their playing careers. This non-traditional path does not come without disadvantages, as they also have to learn an entirely new game. Yet one thing is certain with the success of the program, it will not be shocking when 10 years from now there are a few players from the program in most teams in the league.
