International Player Pathway

The International Player Pathway (IPP) is a program run by the National Football League (NFL) to increase the number of non-American and non-Canadian players in the NFL. According to Mark Waller (NFL Executive Vice President of International & Events 2014–18[1][2]), the program is an important part of the NFL's overall strategy to grow internationally because it provides international athletes with the opportunity to play in the league which will increase the pool of talent, inspire others and ultimately drive fan growth.[3]

Background

The International Player Pathway is not the first initiative by the NFL to introduce international 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 IPP was instituted in 2017.

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[4] and was concluded five years later in 2009 but during that time many players from a multitude of nations[5] 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 contracts from their time in the NFL to create a training program and to set-up meetings and try-outs with NFL teams for a small number of specially selected football players. These players' potential had been scouted primarily by watching YouTube videos.[7] 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.

International Player Pathway

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.

Athlete eligibility and application

In 2017, potential applicants to NFL Undiscovered were asked to meet specific requirements and advised to follow a particular application process. These conditions were published widely through the media[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] when they were released and are reproduced below, though these 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 these criteria.

NFL's Athlete eligibility for IPP

  • be aged 24 or under
  • have been out of high school (or equivalent) for at least four years
  • cannot have played American football at a US college
  • having experience of playing American football is desirable but not essential
  • English language is essential because of the short timeframe being worked to
  • US and Canadian citizens are not eligible
  • Applicants must be available and eligible to travel to the US for two months from the first week in March

Applicants were asked to submit (by midnight UK time on the first Sunday in March) the following material via email to nfl.undiscovered at the NFL:

NFL's Application guidelines for IPP

  • Film of the applicant undertaking
    • vertical jump
    • box jump
    • timed 40-yard dash
  • Links to any relevant footage – e.g. workouts, football film or other sports footage
  • Details of age, height and weight
  • Full contact details.

Roster regulations

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[16] 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 have several options open to them;[17][18][19]

  1. assign their IPP player to their 53-man roster
    • the team can only have the usual 10-man practice squad
  2. assign their IPP player to their practice squad utilising the IPP exemption
    • like all players, the IPP player must first clear waivers (where he could be claimed by another team) before being assigned to the practice squad
    • the team can have an 11-man practice squad
    • the player cannot be called up to the 53-man roster that season but also cannot be claimed by another club
  3. assign their IPP player to their practice squad without utilising the IPP exemption
    • like all players, the IPP player must first clear waivers
    • the team can only have a regular 10-man practice squad
    • the player is a regular member of the practice squad so can be called up to the 53-man roster and can also be claimed by another club
  4. cut their IPP player after clearing waivers
    • the IPP player could be signed to another team's practice squad but they won't get the 11th man exemption for him

History

The IPP began in 2017 when four players (Alex Gray, Alex Jenkins, Efe Obada, and Eric Nzeocha) signed with NFL teams.[20][21][22] The program was continued in 2018,[23] 2019,[24][25][26][27] and 2020.

Summary of program and participants' achievements
Players who have participated in NFL Undiscovered and the NFL International Player Pathway program
# Player Nationality Age
entering
program		 Previous
sport(s)		 NFL
season		 Sponsoring
NFL division		 NFL team
signed to		 Football
position		 Resulting contract(s)
1 Anthony Dablé [28] France27Football2016N/A
NFL Undiscovered		New York GiantsWide Receiver2016 – signed as a free agent then released during final roster cuts[29] first player signed in the NFL from NFL Undiscovered
2017 – signed with Atlanta Falcons and again released at the end of pre-season[30]
2 Harry Innis  UK20Football–Tight End–[31]
3 Moritz Böhringer [32] Germany22FootballMinnesota VikingsWide Receiver2016 – drafted (R6#180) spent season on 10-man practice squad, first player drafted in the NFL from NFL Undiscovered[33]
2017 – waived by Vikings in September[34]
4Alex Gray[35] UK25Rugby Union2017NFC SouthAtlanta FalconsTight End2017 – 11th member of practice squad
2018 – signed to practice squad
2019 – on 2-year futures contract to 2020[36]
5Alex Jenkins[37] UK23FootballNew Orleans SaintsDefensive End2017 – 11th member of practice squad
2018 – reserve/futures contract in January and to practice squad[38]
6Eric Nzeocha[39] Germany23FootballTampa Bay BuccaneersLinebacker2017 – 11th member of practice squad
2018 – reserve/futures contract in January and to practice squad[40]
7Efe Obada[41] UK24FootballCarolina PanthersDefensive End2017 – 11th member of practice squad
2018 – reserve/futures contract in January and to practice squad, first player to make an NFL 53-man active roster from IPP and play in a regular season game (Sep-23-2018 versus Cincinnati)[42][43]
2019 – signed 1-year contract[44]
3 Moritz Böhringer [45] Germany24Football2018AFC NorthCincinnati BengalsTight End2018 – 11th member of practice squad and reserve/futures contract
2019 – again assigned by NFL to roster as IPP (roster exempt)[46][47]
8 Christopher Ezeala [48] Germany22FootballBaltimore RavensRunning Back2018 – 11th member of practice squad
2019 – re-signed[49]
9 Jordan Mailata [50] Australia20Rugby LeaguePhiladelphia EaglesOffensive Tackle2018 – drafted 2018 (R7#233) first player drafted in the NFL from IPP signed 4-year contract, spent season on 53-man roster, injured reserve in December[51]
2019 –
10 Tigie Sankoh [52] UK20FootballCleveland BrownsDefensive Back2018 – 11th member of practice squad
2019 – signed to reserve/futures list in January[53][54]
11Christian Scotland-Williamson[55] UK24Rugby UnionPittsburgh SteelersTight End2018 – 11th member of practice squad, terminated in September[56]
2019 – re-signed[57]
12 David Bada  Germany23Football2019AFC East–Defensive End–
13 Moubarak Djeri [58] Germany23Football–Defensive End–
14 Valentine Holmes [59] Australia23Rugby LeagueNew York JetsRunning Back2019 – assigned by NFL to roster as IPP (roster exempt) and released at the end of the season.[60] Returned to Australia and NRL to play for Queensland Cowboys[61]
15 Jakob Johnson [62] Germany24FootballNew England PatriotsFullback2019 – signed to 10-man practice squad then promoted to 53-man roster, first IPP player in 2019 class to be activated and play in a regular season game (Sep-22-2019 versus Jets)[63][64] then put on injured reserve list
2020 –[65]
16 Durval Queiroz Neto [66] Brazil26FootballMiami DolphinsDefensive Tackle2019 – assigned by NFL to roster as IPP (roster exempt)
2020 – signed futures contract[67]
17 Máximo González Sánchez  Mexico23Football–Linebacker–
18 Christian Wade [68] UK27Rugby UnionBuffalo BillsRunning Back2019 – assigned by NFL to roster as IPP (roster exempt)
2020 – signed reserve/future contract[69]
19 Isaac Alarcón  Mexico21Football2020NFC EastDallas CowboysTackle2020 – assigned by NFL to roster as IPP (roster exempt)[70]
20 Otávio Amorim  BrazilTBCFootball–TBC–[71]
12 David Bada  Germany24FootballWashington RedskinsDefensive End2020 – assigned by NFL to roster as IPP (roster exempt)[72]
21 Leo Krafft  NorwayTBCFootball–TBC–[73]
22 Matt Leo  Australia27[74]FootballPhiladelphia EaglesDefensive End2020 – assigned by NFL to roster as IPP (roster exempt)[75]
23 Boqiao Li (李伯乔) ChinaTBCFootball–TBC–[76]
24 Chris Mulumba  FinlandTBCFootball–TBC–[77]
25 Sandro Platzgummer  Austria22[78]FootballNew York GiantsRunning Back2020 – assigned by NFL to roster as IPP (roster exempt)[79]
26 Antoni Podgórski  PolandTBCFootball–Wide Receiver–[80]
27 Bernhard Seikovits  AustriaTBCFootball–TBC–[81]
gollark: If your IP was blocked, I would send 403 errors.
gollark: My logs appear to corroborate the suggestion that your browser is wrong. Please make it not wrong.
gollark: It's never done that for me, evidently your browser is wrong.
gollark: I'm using a random free email service because postfix is hard.
gollark: They are apparently a bit slow.

See also

References
  1. https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/story/_/id/16077241
  2. http://www.sloansportsconference.com/people/mark-waller/
  3. https://operations.nfl.com/updates/the-players/four-international-players-added-to-practice-squads-for-2017-season/
  4. Bill Williamson, International practice-squad players assigned, ESPN, June 12, 2008.
  5. NFL Expands International Practice Squad Program, The News Tribune, May 23, 2008.
  6. "Rolando Cantu". National Football League. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  7. NFL Undiscovered (video). NFL. 2016.
  8. http://dblcoverage.com/are-you-the-next-nfl-undiscovered-star/
  9. https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/want-chance-play-nfl-nfl-undiscovered-2017-training-programme-launches/
  10. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/us-sport/nfl-draft-2017-undrafted-european-athletes-a7596096.html
  11. https://www.skysports.com/nfl/news/12040/10778480/nfl-undiscovered-programme-returns
  12. http://ballcharts.com/team/?team=texasindoorfootball&pg=new&id=67820&archived=0
  13. https://www.givemesport.com/992499-nfl-undiscovered-2017-training-programme-launches
  14. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nfl-want-talented-young-european-165552092.html
  15. http://instantscouting.com/the-nfl-want-talented-young-european-athletes-to-enter-the-draft-heres-how-to-be-in-with-the-chance-of-a-lifetime/
  16. https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2019/8/29/20837438/updated-look-at-the-steelers-91-man-roster-with-jersey-numbers-before-preseason-week-4-jhavonte-dean
  17. https://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/2019/08/buffalo-bills-christian-wade-and-the-international-pathway-program-what-fans-needs-to-know.html
  18. https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2019/8/18/20810950/clarifying-the-buffalo-bills-roster-status-with-running-back-christian-wade
  19. https://billswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/19/what-the-buffalo-bills-can-do-christian-wade/
  20. "New program opens doors for four NFL hopefuls". ESPN.com. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  21. "The International Player Pathway Program: What it is, and why it will change the NFL". 26 June 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  22. "International players added to four practice squads". NFL.com. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  23. "NFL expands program for overseas practice squad players". AP NEWS. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  24. "Meet the NFL International Player Pathway Players of 2019". 22 March 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  25. "Christian Wade joined by six others in NFL International Player Pathway". NFL.com. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  26. "Alex Jenkins: New York Giants sign English defensive end as free agent". 6 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  27. "4 international players added to NFL rosters for 2019 season". USA TODAY. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  28. http://www.nfl.com/player/anthonydable/2555573/profile
  29. https://www.giants.com/team/transactions/
  30. https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/transactions/
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxj_s7DrU8Q
  32. http://www.nfl.com/player/moritzboehringer/2556261/profile
  33. https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/minnesota-vikings-cut-ties-german-receiver-moritz-bohringer/
  34. https://www.vikings.com/team/transactions/
  35. http://www.nfl.com/player/alexgray/2559379/profile
  36. https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/transactions/
  37. http://www.nfl.com/player/alexjenkins/2559380/profile
  38. https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/transactions/
  39. http://www.nfl.com/player/ericnzeocha/2559381/profile
  40. https://www.buccaneers.com/team/transactions/
  41. http://www.nfl.com/player/efeobada/2553310/profile
  42. http://www.nfl.com/player/efeobada/2553310/gamelogs?season=2018
  43. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001012850/article/international-star-efe-obada-resigns-with-panthers
  44. https://www.panthers.com/team/transactions/
  45. http://www.nfl.com/player/moritzboehringer/2556261/profile
  46. https://www.bengals.com/team/transactions/
  47. https://nflcommunications.com/Documents/06%2028%2019%20-%20NFL%20International%20Combine%20in%20Germany.pdf
  48. http://www.nfl.com/player/christopherezeala/2561571/profile
  49. https://nflcommunications.com/Documents/06%2028%2019%20-%20NFL%20International%20Combine%20in%20Germany.pdf
  50. http://www.nfl.com/player/jordanmailata/2561122/profile
  51. https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/transactions/
  52. http://www.nfl.com/player/tigiesankoh/2561594/profile
  53. https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/transactions/
  54. https://nflcommunications.com/Documents/06%2028%2019%20-%20NFL%20International%20Combine%20in%20Germany.pdf
  55. http://www.nfl.com/player/christianscotland-williamson/2561517/profile
  56. https://www.steelers.com/team/transactions/
  57. https://nflcommunications.com/Documents/06%2028%2019%20-%20NFL%20International%20Combine%20in%20Germany.pdf
  58. http://www.nfl.com/player/moubarakdjeri/2561082/profile
  59. http://www.nfl.com/player/valentineholmes/2562889/profile
  60. https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/transactions/
  61. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/nov/25/cowboys-sign-holmes-on-six-year-nrl-deal
  62. http://www.nfl.com/player/jakobjohnson/2562890/profile
  63. Wells, Adam. "Jakob Johnson makes NFL debut with Patriots". USAToday.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  64. Wells, Adam (September 21, 2019). "Patriots' Jakob Johnson 1st International Pathway Program Player to Be Activated". BleacherReport.com. Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  65. https://www.patriots.com/team/transactions/
  66. http://www.nfl.com/player/durvalqueiroz/2562867/profile
  67. https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/transactions/
  68. http://www.nfl.com/player/christianwade/2562896/profile
  69. https://www.buffalobills.com/team/transactions/
  70. "NFC East teams assigned international players for 2020". NFL.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  71. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001086183/article/nine-players-to-compete-in-international-pathway-program
  72. "NFC East teams assigned international players for 2020". NFL.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  73. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001086183/article/nine-players-to-compete-in-international-pathway-program
  74. https://cyclones.com/sports/football/roster/matt-leo/10279
  75. "NFC East teams assigned international players for 2020". NFL.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  76. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001086183/article/nine-players-to-compete-in-international-pathway-program
  77. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001086183/article/nine-players-to-compete-in-international-pathway-program
  78. https://recruit.thepodyum.com/recruits/3188
  79. "NFC East teams assigned international players for 2020". NFL.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  80. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001086183/article/nine-players-to-compete-in-international-pathway-program
  81. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001086183/article/nine-players-to-compete-in-international-pathway-program
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.