The International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) is a scheme run by the National Football League (NFL) to increase the number of non-American and Canadian players 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 which will increase the pool of talent and ultimately drive fan growth globally.[1][2]
The International Player Pathway 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
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
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 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.[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
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
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. 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.
^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.
^"An updated look at the Steelers 91-man roster with jersey numbers before Preseason Week 4". Behind the Steel Curtain. August 29, 2019.
^"Bills' Wade and International Pathway Program: What fans need to know". newyorkupstate. August 19, 2019.
^Warren, Matt (August 18, 2019). "Clarifying the Buffalo Bills roster status with running back Christian Wade". Buffalo Rumblings.
^"What the Bills can do with RB Christian Wade". August 19, 2019.
^"France's Anthony Dablé Signs Contract With New York Giants". americanfootballinternational.com.
^"Minnesota Vikings cut ties with German receiver Moritz Böhringer". American Football International. September 2, 2017.
^"England sevens star Alex Gray signs for Atlanta Falcons practice squad". espn.co.uk.com.
^"Bath American footballer Alex Jenkins signs for NFL side New Orleans Saints for 2017 season". bathchronicle.co.uk.
^"Bucs Add International Player to Practice Squad for 2017 Season". buccaneers.com.
^"Panthers awarded international player". Panthers.com. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
^"Moritz Boehringer added to Cincinnati Bengals roster". NFL.com.
^"8 international players added to NFL rosters for 2018 Season". NFL.com.
^"Eagles draft Australian rugby player Jordan Mailata". NFL.com.
^"Browns assigned DB Tigie Sankoh to offseason roster from NFL's international program". dawgsbynature.com.
^"Steelers sign former ruby star Christian Scotland-Williamson". 247sports.com.
^Charean, Williams (April 8, 2019). "Jets sign Valentine Holmes". NBCSports.com.
^Wells, Adam (24 September 2019). "Jakob Johnson makes NFL debut with Patriots". USAToday.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
^. buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019.
^ abcd"NFC East teams assigned international players for 2020". NFL.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
^ abcd"Four players added to 2021 NFL rosters through Intentional Player Pathway program". NFL.com.
^"Roundup: Washington signs Sammis Reyes from International Player Pathway Program". NFL.com.
^ abcd"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.
^Urban, Darren (April 19, 2022). "Cardinals Sign Nigerian Offensive Lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi". AZCArdinals.com. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
^MacKenzie, Daniel (May 9, 2022). "Kansas City Chiefs sign NFL IPP's Kehinde Oginni Hassan". americanfootballinternational.com.
^Eisen, Michael (April 13, 2022). "Mentored by Osi Umenyiora, Nigerian OT Roy Mbaeteka signs with Giants". Giants.com. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
January 07, 2023
international, player, pathway, program, ippp, scheme, national, football, league, increase, number, american, canadian, players, program, formed, part, strategy, grow, globally, provides, athletes, with, opportunity, play, league, which, will, increase, pool,. The International Player Pathway Program IPPP is a scheme run by the National Football League NFL to increase the number of non American and Canadian players 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 which will increase the pool of talent and ultimately drive fan growth globally 1 2 Contents 1 Background 1 1 NFL International Development Practice Squad Program 1 2 NFL Undiscovered 2 Eligibility 3 Roster regulations 4 Notable participants 5 See also 6 ReferencesBackground EditThe International Player Pathway 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 Edit 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 Edit 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 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 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 EditIn 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 MarchRoster regulations EditThe 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 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 EditAccurate as of the 2022 NFL seasonActiveNFL players who participated in the NFL Undiscovered and International Player Pathway programs Season Player Nationality Previous sport s Position Debut team Ref2016 Anthony Dable France Football Wide receiver New York Giants 14 Moritz Bohringer Germany Football Wide receiver Minnesota Vikings 15 2017 Alex Gray UK Rugby union Tight end Atlanta Falcons 16 Alex Jenkins UK Football Defensive end New Orleans Saints 17 Eric Nzeocha Germany Football Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers 18 Efe Obada UK Football Defensive end Carolina Panthers 19 2018 Moritz Bohringer Germany Football Tight end Cincinnati Bengals 20 Christopher Ezeala Germany Football Running back Baltimore Ravens 21 Jordan Mailata Australia Rugby league Offensive tackle Philadelphia Eagles 22 Tigie Sankoh UK Football Defensive back Cleveland Browns 23 Christian Scotland Williamson UK Rugby union Tight end Pittsburgh Steelers 24 2019 Valentine Holmes Australia Rugby league Running back New York Jets 25 Jakob Johnson Germany Football Fullback New England Patriots 26 Durval Queiroz Neto Brazil Football Defensive tackle Miami Dolphins 27 Christian Wade UK Rugby union Running back Buffalo Bills 28 2020 Isaac Alarcon Mexico Football Offensive tackle Dallas Cowboys 29 David Bada Germany Football Defensive tackle Washington Football Team 29 Matt Leo Australia Football Defensive end Philadelphia Eagles 29 Sandro Platzgummer Austria Football Running back New York Giants 29 2021 Aaron Donkor Germany Football Defensive end Seattle Seahawks 30 Alfredo Gutierrez Mexico Football Offensive tackle San Francisco 49ers 30 Maximilian Pircher Italy Handball Offensive tackle Los Angeles Rams 30 Sammis Reyes Chile Basketball Tight end Washington Football Team 31 Bernhard Seikovits Austria Football Tight end Arizona Cardinals 30 2022 Marcel Dabo Germany Football Cornerback Indianapolis Colts 32 Haggai Ndubuisi Nigeria Football Offensive tackle Arizona Cardinals 33 Adedayo Odeleye UK Football Defensive end Houston Texans 32 Thomas Odukoya Netherlands Football Tight end Tennessee Titans 32 Kehinde Oginni Hassan Nigeria Basketball Defensive end Kansas City Chiefs 34 Ayo Oyelola UK Football Strong safety Jacksonville Jaguars 32 Roy Mbaeteka Nigeria Football Offensive tackle New York Giants 35 See also EditForeign players in the National Football LeagueReferences Edit Four International Players Added to Practice Squads for 2017 Season NFL Football Operations operations nfl com What exactly is the NFL International Pathway Player program americanfootballinternational com New program opens doors for four NFL hopefuls ESPN com 2 November 2017 Retrieved 21 June 2020 The International Player Pathway Program What it is and why it will change the NFL 26 June 2017 Retrieved 7 May 2019 International players added to four practice squads NFL com Retrieved 7 May 2019 Bill Williamson International practice squad players assigned ESPN June 12 2008 NFL Expands International Practice Squad Program The News Tribune May 23 2008 NFL Undiscovered video NFL 2016 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 An updated look at the Steelers 91 man roster with jersey numbers before Preseason Week 4 Behind the Steel Curtain August 29 2019 Bills Wade and International Pathway Program What fans need to know newyorkupstate August 19 2019 Warren Matt August 18 2019 Clarifying the Buffalo Bills roster status with running back Christian Wade Buffalo Rumblings What the Bills can do with RB Christian Wade August 19 2019 France s Anthony Dable Signs Contract With New York Giants americanfootballinternational com Minnesota Vikings cut ties with German receiver Moritz Bohringer American Football International September 2 2017 England sevens star Alex Gray signs for Atlanta Falcons practice squad espn co uk com Bath American footballer Alex Jenkins signs for NFL side New Orleans Saints for 2017 season bathchronicle co uk Bucs Add International Player to Practice Squad for 2017 Season buccaneers com Panthers awarded international player Panthers com Retrieved 28 August 2022 Moritz Boehringer added to Cincinnati Bengals roster NFL com 8 international players added to NFL rosters for 2018 Season NFL com Eagles draft Australian rugby player Jordan Mailata NFL com Browns assigned DB Tigie Sankoh to offseason roster from NFL s international program dawgsbynature com Steelers sign former ruby star Christian Scotland Williamson 247sports com Charean Williams April 8 2019 Jets sign Valentine Holmes NBCSports com Wells Adam 24 September 2019 Jakob Johnson makes NFL debut with Patriots USAToday com Retrieved September 25 2019 Miami Dolphins re sign Brazilian Durval Queiroz Neto americanfootballinternational com NFL International player Christian Wade allocated to the Bills buffalobills com Archived from the original on 9 April 2019 a b c d NFC East teams assigned international players for 2020 NFL com Retrieved 2020 04 28 a b c d Four players added to 2021 NFL rosters through Intentional Player Pathway program NFL com Roundup Washington signs Sammis Reyes from International Player Pathway Program NFL com 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 Urban Darren April 19 2022 Cardinals Sign Nigerian Offensive Lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi AZCArdinals com Retrieved April 19 2022 MacKenzie Daniel May 9 2022 Kansas City Chiefs sign NFL IPP s Kehinde Oginni Hassan americanfootballinternational com Eisen Michael April 13 2022 Mentored by Osi Umenyiora Nigerian OT Roy Mbaeteka signs with Giants Giants com Retrieved April 16 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title International Player Pathway Program amp oldid 1111935817, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
