By Lydia Jane Allison
14 Athletes Representing 13 Nations Selected to Participate in This Season’s Program
NEW YORK — Dec. 9, 2024 — The NFL has announced its International Player Pathway (IPP) program Class of 2025 featuring 14 athletes representing 13 nations around the world, as the league continues to focus on creating more opportunities for talented international athletes to play the game at the highest level.
Established in 2017, the IPP program identifies elite global talent with the aim of providing selected athletes the opportunity to improve and develop their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster.
Starting in January 2025, athletes on the program are invited to train in American football — both on the field and in the classroom — for 10 weeks at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, before showcasing their skills in front of NFL club scouts as part of the University of South Florida’s Pro Day in March.
Players can be signed as a free agent or, if eligible, selected during the 2025 NFL Draft. Each NFL club is permitted one roster exemption for a qualifying international player from the start of the club’s offseason program through the roster reduction to 53 players. At that time, qualifying international players are eligible to be signed to a 17th practice squad roster spot reserved for international athletes across any of the 32 teams.
The program has historically welcomed athletes from diverse sporting backgrounds, including rugby, basketball, Gaelic football, track & field and more, and is supported by elite football coaching staff.
“The Class of 2025 is an exciting one, and we are delighted to welcome these talented athletes from around the world to the International Player Pathway program,” said Executive Vice President International, Events and Club Business at the NFL Peter O’Reilly. “Focusing on our global football development efforts and fostering international talent is crucial to growing our game globally. The IPP program offers life-changing opportunities for international talent, and we look forward to following their progress in the weeks and months ahead.”
The International Player Pathway Program Class of 2025 includes:
| PLAYER | COUNTRY |
| Jordan Petaia | Australia |
| Laitia Moceidreke | Australia |
| Laki Tasi | Australia |
| Jeneiro Wakeham | Fiji |
| Joachim Trouabal | France |
| Maceo Beard | France |
| Leander Wiegand | Germany |
| Aaron Sexton | Ireland |
| Rojé Stona | Jamaica |
| Nathaniel Salmon | New Zealand |
| Paschal Ekeji Jr | Lesotho / Nigeria / South Africa |
| Dante Barnett | United Kingdom |
| Mapalo “Maz” Mwansa | United Kingdom / Zambia |
| TJ Maguranyanga | Zimbabwe |
A group of specialists, consisting of international kickers and punters, will also join the wider Class of 2025 in the coming weeks.
The IPP program is part of a long-term commitment by the NFL and its 32 clubs to accelerate global football development efforts and establish a pathway for international talent to play the game at the highest level.
Since its inception, 41 international players have signed with NFL teams (allocated, drafted or signed as a free agent), with 23 IPP athletes currently on NFL rosters. Six of these players — Jordan Mailata (Australia), Jakob Johnson (Germany), Efe Obada (United Kingdom), Sammis Reyes (Chile), Thomas Odukoya (Netherlands) and David Bada (Germany) — have seen active rosters since 2017.
For more information on the International Player Pathway program, visit: www.nfl.com/international/player-pathway.
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International Player Pathway Program Appendix:
International Player Definition: A qualifying International Player (IP) is defined as a player whose citizenship and principal place of residence are outside the United States and Canada, and who has a maximum of two years of United States high school experience. In addition, an IP must: (i) satisfy all NFL player eligibility rules; and (ii) have been eligible for a prior NFL Draft. An IP can also play any position, including kicker or punter.
Relevant IPP Program Rules: Each of the 32 NFL clubs can fill a 17th roster spot on the practice squad with a qualifying international player. A player may be an International Practice Player for a maximum of three (3) seasons, with a season defined as being on the Practice Squad or Active/Inactive List for at least six games (a bye week counts as a game). After an IP’s third season as an International Practice Player, the player remains eligible to be signed to a club’s Active/Inactive List or Practice Squad subject to standard roster rules (i.e., Standard, Exception, Veteran player).
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