The National Football League’s (NFL) Career Pathway Program opens doors for talented international athletes to pursue their dreams of playing professional football in the United States. Established in 2017, this initiative provides a structured route for elite, foreign-born players to showcase their abilities, refine their skills, and potentially secure a coveted spot on an NFL team roster.
Damani Leech, Chief Operating Officer of NFL International, emphasizes the program’s significance, stating, “The International Player Pathway Program provides athletes with a viable route to the NFL and an opportunity to further develop their skills.” This program not only enriches the NFL with diverse talent but also offers life-changing opportunities for international athletes.
Alt text: Group photo of the 2024 NFL International Player Pathway Program participants, showcasing diverse athletes ready for their NFL journey.
Each NFL season, a randomly selected division participates in the IPP program. Teams within that division are granted an additional offseason roster spot specifically for an assigned IPP player. This dedicated spot allows teams to evaluate and integrate international talent without impacting their standard roster limits.
Upon completion of training camp, teams face a decision point regarding their IPP players. They can either sign them to their 53-man active roster, signifying a significant achievement and immediate NFL career opportunity, or they may choose to waive the player. However, even if waived, IPP players have another avenue: the practice squad. Teams can sign waived IPP players to their practice squad, utilizing an IPP exemption which provides an extra practice squad position. Crucially, players on the practice squad under this exemption cannot be promoted to any team’s active roster during that season, allowing for focused development. In contrast, IPP players signed to the practice squad without the exemption are treated the same as any other practice squad player, offering more roster flexibility.
The impact of the NFL Career Pathway Program is undeniable and growing. By 2024, over half of all NFL teams had signed international players directly from the IPP program to their offseason or practice squad rosters. More impressively, several IPP alumni have successfully transitioned to active rosters, contributing significantly to their teams. Since its inception, the program has hosted over 50 athletes from 18 countries, providing them with invaluable training and exposure in the United States.
The program has already produced notable NFL success stories. Efe Obada (UK), Jordan Mailata (Australia), and Jakob Johnson (Germany), all products of the IPP, have each surpassed 1,000 career NFL snaps, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in cultivating international talent and integrating them into the highest level of professional American football. The NFL Career Pathway Program is not just a pathway; it’s a proven launchpad for international athletes seeking an NFL career.
