By Lydia Jane Allison
Over 330 players and coaches will represent their heritage and cultural background by wearing international flag decals on their uniforms
NFL Heritage Program returns this season in weeks 7 and 8
October 19, 2023: The National Football League will celebrate players’ and coaching staff’s cultural origins this season with its NFL Heritage program, with all 32 teams represented.
Across weeks 7 and 8 of the 2023 season, over 330 players and coaches will return to the field wearing international flag decals – with players adding flags to their helmets and coaches wearing patches on jackets – to represent the ever-growing pool of various nationalities and cultures that make up the League.
Fans will see 70+ nations and territories represented by athletes including Tua Tagovailoa, Fred Warner, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Puka Nacua, Chris Olave, DJ Moore, Jimmy Garoppolo, Aaron Jones, Efe Obada and Jordan Mailata, among others, as well as coaching staff across 17 clubs including Bill Belichick, Arthur Smith, Ron Rivera, Brian Daboll and more.
“As we continue to prioritize the NFL’s growth globally, we’re proud to have our players and coaches honor their backgrounds through the NFL Heritage Program,” said Peter O’Reilly, Executive Vice President Club Business, International and Events at the NFL. “This initiative allows us to celebrate the heritage, families and cultures that make up the fabric of the League, and truly showcases the growing global reach and impact of the sport of football and the NFL.”
Participants can choose to wear the flag of an international country or territory where relatives have been born or where they’ve lived for over two years. Players will wear these flag decals alongside the American flag, and are able to represent their backgrounds throughout the remainder of the season.
“My grandmother was born and raised in Samoa, and recently left us in 2021,” said Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver, who will display the Samoan flag on his helmet. “To be able to represent our family’s heritage and feel like she is here with me on the field is the most incredible thing. I’m proud to play for all of our Samoan fans out there and can hopefully inspire future generations of Samoan athletes.”
“I’m very proud of my background and am happy to honor my heritage by representing both Puerto Rico and Mexico through the NFL Heritage program,” commented Ron Rivera, Head Coach of the Washington Commanders. “What a fantastic way to show the love of the game across the world.”
The complete list of participating players and coaches, alongside countries or territories they are representing, can be found here:
PLAYERS | ||
Arizona Cardinals | Bernhard Seikovits | Austria |
Arizona Cardinals | Jesse Luketa | Canada, Congo |
Arizona Cardinals | Victor Dimukeje | Nigeria |
Arizona Cardinals | Marco Wilson | Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago |
Arizona Cardinals | Kyler Murray | South Korea |
Arizona Cardinals | Elijah Wilkinson | Puerto Rico |
Arizona Cardinals | Hjalte Froholdt | Denmark |
Arizona Cardinals | Zach Pascal | Grenada |
Arizona Cardinals | Dennis Daley | Jamaica |
Arizona Cardinals | Keith Ismael | American Samoa |
Arizona Cardinals | Will Hernandez | Mexico |
Arizona Cardinals | Trystan Colon | Puerto Rico |
Arizona Cardinals | Emari Demercado | Jamaica |
Arizona Cardinals | Leki Fotu | Tonga |
Arizona Cardinals | BJ Ojulari | Nigeria |
Arizona Cardinals | Owen Pappoe | Nigeria |
Arizona Cardinals | Bobby Price | Puerto Rico |
Arizona Cardinals | Michael Wilson | New Zealand, Jamaica |
Atlanta Falcons | Arnold Ebitketie | Cameroon |
Atlanta Falcons | Avery Williams | Mexico |
Atlanta Falcons | Ade Ogundeji | Nigeria |
Atlanta Falcons | Tyler Allgeier | Philippines |
Atlanta Falcons | Younghoe Koo | South Korea |
Atlanta Falcons | Nate Landman | Zimbabwe |
Atlanta Falcons | Jeff Okudah | Nigeria |
Atlanta Falcons | Kaden Elliss | Samoa |
Atlanta Falcons | Liam McCullough | Greece |
Atlanta Falcons | Eli Ankou | Canada |
Atlanta Falcons | Matthew Bergeron | Canada |
Baltimore Ravens | Odafe Oweh | Nigeria |
Baltimore Ravens | Kyle Hamilton | South Korea |
Baltimore Ravens | Nelson Agholor | Nigeria |
Baltimore Ravens | Tavius Robinson | Canada |
Baltimore Ravens | Brent Urban | Canada |
Baltimore Ravens | David Ojabo | Scotland, Nigeria |
Baltimore Ravens | Daniel Faalele | Australia, Samoa |
Baltimore Ravens | Gus Edwards | Liberia |
Buffalo Bills | Kingsley Johnathan | Nigeria |
Buffalo Bills | Taylor Rapp | China |
Buffalo Bills | Germain Ifedi | Nigeria |
Buffalo Bills | Dalton Kincaid | Canada |
Carolina Panthers | Frankie Luvu | American Samoa |
Carolina Panthers | Chuba Hubbard | Canada |
Carolina Panthers | Eddy Pinero | Cuba, Nicaragua |
Carolina Panthers | Ikem Ekwonu | Nigeria |
Carolina Panthers | Michael Strachan | Bahamas |
Chicago Bears | DJ Moore | Jamaica |
Chicago Bears | Cairo Santos | Brazil |
Chicago Bears | Trenton Gill | Canada, England |
Chicago Bears | Equanimeous St. Brown | Germany |
Chicago Bears | Khalil Herbert | Jamaica, British Virgin Islands |
Chicago Bears | Roy Mbaeteka | Nigeria |
Chicago Bears | Yannick Ngakoue | Martinique |
Chicago Bears | Deslin Alexandre | Haiti |
Chicago Bears | Parker Romo | Mexico |
Chicago Bears | Velus Jones | Netherlands |
Chicago Bears | Nsimba Webster | Democratic Republic of Congo |
Cincinnati Bengals | Chidobe Awuzie | Nigeria |
Cincinnati Bengals | Joshua Tupou | Tonga |
Cincinnati Bengals | Joseph Ossai | Nigeria |
Cincinnati Bengals | Chase Brown | Canada |
Cleveland Browns | Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah | Ghana |
Cleveland Browns | David Njoku | Nigeria |
Cleveland Browns | Ogbonnia Okoronkwo | Nigeria |
Cleveland Browns | Corey Bojorquez | Mexico |
Dallas Cowboys | Chuma Edoga | Nigeria |
Dallas Cowboys | Mazi Smith | Nigeria |
Dallas Cowboys | Neville Gallimore | Canada, Jamaica |
Dallas Cowboys | Israel Mukuamu | Democratic Republic of Congo |
Dallas Cowboys | Willington Previlon | Haiti |
Dallas Cowboys | Noah Igbinoghene | Nigeria |
Dallas Cowboys | Osawaru Odighizuwa | Nigeria |
Denver Broncos | Greg Dulcich | Croatia |
Denver Broncos | Jerry Jeudy | Haiti |
Denver Broncos | K’Wuan Williams | Jamaica |
Denver Broncos | Mike Purcell | Samoa |
Denver Broncos | Luke Wattenberg | South Korea |
Denver Broncos | Alex Singleton | Canada |
Denver Broncos | Alex Palczewski | Poland |
Denver Broncos | Fabian Moreau | Haiti |
Denver Broncos | Haggai Ndubuisi | Nigeria |
Denver Broncos | Thomas Incoom | Ghana |
Detroit Lions | Devine Ozigbo | Nigeria |
Detroit Lions | Max Pircher | Italy |
Detroit Lions | Penei Sewell | American Samoa |
Detroit Lions | Darrin Paulo | American Samoa |
Detroit Lions | Jason Cabinda | Cameroon |
Detroit Lions | Amon-Ra St. Brown | Germany |
Detroit Lions | Kerby Joseph | Haiti |
Detroit Lions | Scott Daly | Ireland |
Detroit Lions | Alex Anzalone | Italy |
Detroit Lions | Malcolm Rodriguez | Mexico |
Detroit Lions | Ifeatu Melifonwu | Nigeria |
Detroit Lions | Julian Okwara | Nigeria |
Detroit Lions | Kayode Awosika | Nigeria |
Detroit Lions | Halapoulivaati Vaitai | Tonga |
Detroit Lions | Romeo Okwara | Nigeria, UK |
Detroit Lions | Levi Onwuzurike | Nigeria |
Detroit Lions | Mitchell Agude | Nigeria |
Detroit Lions | Brandon Joseph | Antigua, Italy |
Green Bay Packers | Aaron Jones | Germany |
Green Bay Packers | Corey Ballentine | Jamaica |
Green Bay Packers | Kingsley Enagbare | Nigeria |
Green Bay Packers | Yosh Nijman | Suriname |
Green Bay Packers | Samori Toure | Senegal |
Green Bay Packers | Daniel Whelan | Ireland |
Green Bay Packers | Kenneth Odumegwu | Nigeria |
Houston Texans | Dieter Eiselen | South Africa |
Houston Texans | Dare Ogunbowale | Nigeria |
Houston Texans | Troy Hairston | Panama |
Houston Texans | Adedayo Odeleye | UK, Nigeria |
Houston Texans | Neville Hewitt | Jamaica |
Houston Texans | Cameron Johnston | Australia |
Houston Texans | Brevin Jordan | South Korea |
Houston Texans | Michael Dwumfour | Ghana |
Houston Texans | John Metchie | Nigeria, Canada |
Houston Texans | Henry To’oto’o | Tonga, Samoa |
Indianapolis Colts | Bernhard Raimann | Austria |
Indianapolis Colts | Marcel Dabo | Germany |
Indianapolis Colts | Segun Olubi | Nigeria |
Indianapolis Colts | Adetomiwa Adebawore | Nigeria |
Indianapolis Colts | Nnamaka Samson Ebukam | Nigeria |
Indianapolis Colts | Nicolas Cross | Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago |
Indianapolis Colts | Rigoberto Sanchez | Mexico |
Indianapolis Colts | Kwity Paye | Liberia |
Indianapolis Colts | DeForest Buckner | American Samoa |
Indianapolis Colts | Dayo Odeyingbo | Nigeria |
Indianapolis Colts | McTelvin Agim | Nigeria |
Indianapolis Colts | Julian Blackmon | Samoa |
Indianapolis Colts | Darrell Baker | Panama |
Indianapolis Colts | Mo Alie-Cox | Sierra Leone |
Jacksonville Jaguars | Michael Dogbe | Nigeria |
Jacksonville Jaguars | Adam Gotsis | Australia |
Jacksonville Jaguars | Foye Oluokun | Nigeria |
Jacksonville Jaguars | Ayo Oyelola | UK |
Jacksonville Jaguars | Amani Oruwariye | Nigeria |
Kansas City Chiefs | George Karlaftis | Greece |
Kansas City Chiefs | Isiah Pacheco | Puerto Rico |
Kansas City Chiefs | Derrick Nnadi | Nigeria |
Kansas City Chiefs | Prince Oghenetega Wanogho | Nigeria |
Kansas City Chiefs | Joshua Williams | St. Kitts and Nevis |
Kansas City Chiefs | Charles Omenihu | Nigeria |
Kansas City Chiefs | Tommy Townsend | Italy |
Kansas City Chiefs | Daniel Arias | Dominican Republic |
Kansas City Chiefs | Felix Anudike-Uzomah | Nigeria |
Kansas City Chiefs | Lucas Niang | Ivory Coast, France |
Kansas City Chiefs | Chukwuebuka Godrick | Nigeria |
Las Vegas Raiders | Netane Muti | Tonga |
Las Vegas Raiders | Jakob Johnson | Germany |
Las Vegas Raiders | Curtis Bolton | Italy |
Las Vegas Raiders | Jermaine Eluemunour | Nigeria, UK |
Las Vegas Raiders | Josh Jacobs | Philippines |
Las Vegas Raiders | Brian Hoyer | Germany |
Las Vegas Raiders | Daniel Carlson | Sweden |
Las Vegas Raiders | Nesta Silvera | Jamaica, Panama |
Las Vegas Raiders | Jimmy Garoppolo | Italy |
Las Vegas Raiders | Hroniss Grasu | Romania |
Las Vegas Raiders | David Agoha | Nigeria |
Los Angeles Chargers | Essang Bassey | Nigeria |
Los Angeles Chargers | Christian Covington | Canada |
Los Angeles Chargers | Deane Leonard | Canada |
Los Angeles Chargers | Joshua Palmer | Canada |
Los Angeles Chargers | Tre’ McKitty | Jamaica |
Los Angeles Chargers | Amen Ogbongbemiga | Nigeria |
Los Angeles Chargers | Raheem Layne | Jamaica |
Los Angeles Chargers | Basil Chijioke Okoye | Nigeria |
Los Angeles Rams | Michael Ojemudia | Nigeria |
Los Angeles Rams | Michael Hoecht | Canada |
Los Angeles Rams | Alaric Jackson | Canada |
Los Angeles Rams | Puka Nacua | Samoa |
Los Angeles Rams | Nikola Kalinic | Serbia, Canada |
Los Angeles Rams | Olakunle Fatukasi | Nigeria |
Miami Dolphins | Chase Claypool | Canada |
Miami Dolphins | Eli Apple | Ghana |
Miami Dolphins | Jevon Holland | Canada |
Miami Dolphins | Kader Kohou | Ivory Coast |
Miami Dolphins | Emmanuel Ogbah | Nigeria |
Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | Samoa, American Samoa |
Miami Dolphins | Braxton Berrios | Puerto Rico |
Miami Dolphins | Tyler Kroft | Germany |
Minnesota Vikings | Khyiris Tonga | Tonga |
Minnesota Vikings | N’Keal Harry | St. Vincent |
Minnesota Vikings | William Kwenkeu | Cameroon |
Minnesota Vikings | Luiji Vilain | Canada |
Minnesota Vikings | Brian Asamoah | Ghana |
Minnesota Vikings | Patrick Jones | Japan |
Minnesota Vikings | Olisaemeka Udoh | Nigeria |
Minnesota Vikings | Kene Nwangwu | Nigeria |
Minnesota Vikings | Camryn Bynum | Philippines |
Minnesota Vikings | Danielle Hunter | Jamaica |
Minnesota Vikings | Greg Joseph | South Africa |
Minnesota Vikings | Junior Aho | France |
New England Patriots | JuJu Smith-Schuster | Samoa |
New England Patriots | Kendrick Bourne | American Samoa |
New England Patriots | Daniel Ekuale | American Samoa |
New England Patriots | Matt Judon | Burundi |
New England Patriots | Michael Onwenu | Nigeria |
New England Patriots | Jahlani Tavai | Samoa, American Samoa |
New England Patriots | Atonio Mafi | Tonga |
New England Patriots | Joe Cardona | Mexico |
New England Patriots | Christian Gonzalez | Colombia |
New England Patriots | Marté Mapu | American Samoa |
New England Patriots | Andrew Stueber | Germany |
New England Patriots | Josh Uche | Nigeria |
New Orleans Saints | Max Garcia | Mexico |
New Orleans Saints | Isaac Yiadom | Ghana |
New Orleans Saints | Chris Olave | Cuba |
New Orleans Saints | Cesar Ruiz | Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico |
New Orleans Saints | Tanoh Kpassagnon | Ivory Coast, Uganda |
New Orleans Saints | Ugo Amadi | Nigeria |
New Orleans Saints | Lou Hedley | Australia |
New York Giants | Bobby Okereke | Nigeria |
New York Giants | Matthew Peart | Jamaica |
New York Giants | Joshua Ezeudu | Nigeria |
New York Giants | Graham Gano | Scotland |
New York Giants | Rakeem Nunez-Roches | Belize |
New York Giants | Azeez Ojulari | Nigeria |
New York Jets | Ifeadi Odenigbo | Nigeria |
New York Jets | Sam Eguavoen | Nigeria |
New York Jets | Kenny Yeboah | Liberia, Ghana |
New York Jets | Alijah Vera-Tucker | Mexico |
New York Jets | Bradlee Anae | Samoa, The Cook Islands |
New York Jets | Laken Tomlinson | Jamaica |
Philadelphia Eagles | Albert Okwuegbunam | Nigeria |
Philadelphia Eagles | Sydney Brown | Canada |
Philadelphia Eagles | Marcus Mariota | American Samoa |
Philadelphia Eagles | Olamide Zaccheaus | Nigeria |
Philadelphia Eagles | Iosua Opeta | American Samoa |
Philadelphia Eagles | Jordan Mailata | Australia, Samoa |
Philadelphia Eagles | Britain Covey | Chile |
Philadelphia Eagles | Marlon Tuipulotu | Tonga |
Philadelphia Eagles | Moro Ojomo | Nigeria |
Philadelphia Eagles | Christian Elliss | Samoa |
Philadelphia Eagles | Tanner McKee | Brazil |
Pittsburgh Steelers | Obinna Eze | Nigeria |
Pittsburgh Steelers | Larry Ogunjobi | Nigeria |
Pittsburgh Steelers | Chukwuma Okorafor | Nigeria |
San Francisco 49ers | Alfredo Gutierrez | Mexico |
San Francisco 49ers | Fred Warner | Mexico |
San Francisco 49ers | Talanoa Hufanga | Tonga |
San Francisco 49ers | Javon Kinlaw | Trinidad & Tobago |
San Francisco 49ers | Jonathan Feliciano | Puerto Rico |
San Francisco 49ers | Brandon Aiyuk | Cameroon |
San Francisco 49ers | Mitch Wishnowsky | Australia |
Seattle Seahawks | Michael Dickson | Australia |
Seattle Seahawks | Boye Mafe | Nigeria |
Seattle Seahawks | Uchenna Nwosu | Nigeria |
Seattle Seahawks | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Sierra Leone |
Seattle Seahawks | Julian Love | Mexico, Cuba |
Seattle Seahawks | Olusegun Oluwatimi | Nigeria |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Vita Vea | Tonga |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Ko Kieft | Netherlands |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tanner Taula | Samoa |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | YaYa Diaby | Guinea |
Tennessee Titans | Nick Folk | Germany |
Tennessee Titans | Nicholas Petit-Frere | Haiti |
Tennessee Titans | Thomas Odukoya | Netherlands |
Tennessee Titans | Chigoziem Okonkwo | Nigeria |
Tennessee Titans | Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | Nigeria |
Washington Commanders | Benjamin St-Juste | Canada |
Washington Commanders | David Bada | Germany |
Washington Commanders | Tyler Larsen | Norway |
Washington Commanders | Sam Cosmi | Romania |
Washington Commanders | Sam Howell | South Korea |
Washington Commanders | Efe Obada | UK, Nigeria |
Washington Commanders | Jabril Cox | American Samoa |
Washington Commanders | Alex Armah Jr | Ghana |
Washington Commanders | Christian Holmes | Djibouti |
Washington Commanders | Chris Paul | Nigeria |
Washington Commanders | Abdullah Anderson Jr | England |
Washington Commanders | Tariq Castro-Fields | Philippines |
Washington Commanders | Brycen Tremayne | Japan, China |
Washington Commanders | Joshua Kalu | Nigeria |
Free Agent | Kemoko Turay | Ivory Coast |
Free Agent | JJ Arcega-Whiteside | Spain |
Free Agent | Dezmon Patmon | Norway |
Free Agent | David Anenih | Nigeria |
Free Agent | Tanner Vallejo | Ecuador |
Free Agent | Corliss Waitman | Suriname, Netherlands |
Free Agent | Terrell Lewis | Guyana |
Free Agent | Aaron Monteiro | Cape Verde |
Free Agent | Jarrett Guarantano | Dominican Republic |
Free Agent | Devery Hamilton | Germany |
Free Agent | Arryn Siposs | Australia |
Free Agent | Rachad Wildgoose | Bahamas |
Free Agent | Robert Quinn | Puerto Rico |
Free Agent | Harvey Langi | Tonga |
Free Agent | Ola Adeniyi | Nigeria |
Free Agent | Dakoda Shepley | Canada |
COACHES | ||
Atlanta Falcons | Arthur Smith | Scotland |
Atlanta Falcons | Dave Ragone | Italy |
Baltimore Ravens | Sam Rosengarten | Australia |
Buffalo Bills | Spencer Haws | Italy |
Dallas Cowboys | Aden Durde | UK |
Detroit Lions | Jessica Gray | Jamaica |
Green Bay Packers | Luke Butkus | Lithuania |
Green Bay Packers | Darryl Franklin | Canada |
Kansas City Chiefs | Tom Melvin Jr. | Ireland, Belgium |
Kansas City Chiefs | Alex Whittingham | New Zealand |
Minnesota Vikings | Brian Flores | Honduras |
Minnesota Vikings | Imarjaye Albury | Bahamas |
Minnesota Vikings | Dalmin Gibson | Belize |
New England Patriots | Bill Belichick | Croatia |
New England Patriots | Cam Achord | France |
New England Patriots | Brian Belichick | Croatia |
New England Patriots | Joe Houston | Cuba, Spain |
New England Patriots | Joe Kim | Korea |
New England Patriots | Mike Pellegrino | Italy |
New England Patriots | Vinnie Sunseri | Italy |
New England Patriots | Joe Judge | Ireland |
New England Patriots | Adrian Klemm | Belize |
New England Patriots | Steve Belichick | Croatia |
New England Patriots | Berj Najarian | Armenia |
New York Giants | Brian Daboll | Canada |
New York Giants | Mike Kafka | Puerto Rico |
New York Giants | Cade Knox | Denmark, China |
New York Jets | David Szott | Poland, Ireland |
New York Jets | Armando Taddei | Italy |
Philadelphia Eagles | Matt Patricia | Italy |
Philadelphia Eagles | Sean Desai | India |
Philadelphia Eagles | Michael Clay | Mexico |
Philadelphia Eagles | Jemal Singleton | England |
Philadelphia Eagles | Kevin Patullo | Italy |
Philadelphia Eagles | Matt Leo | Australia |
San Francisco 49ers | Miguel Reveles | Mexico |
Seattle Seahawks | Sanjay Lal | India |
Seattle Seahawks | Karl Scott | Liberia |
Seattle Seahawks | Patrick McPherson | Italy, Ireland |
Washington Commanders | Vincent Rivera | Korea |
Washington Commanders | Juan Castillo | Mexico |
Washington Commanders | Cristian Garcia | Cuba |
Washington Commanders | Ron Rivera | Puerto Rico, Mexico |
Washington Commanders | Masahiro Takahagi | Japan |
Washington Commanders | Mark McCracken | Korea |
Washington Commanders | Lindsay Gately | Haiti |
Washington Commanders | Doug Quon | China |
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About the National Football League
The National Football League is America’s most popular sports league, comprised of 32 franchises that compete each year to win the Super Bowl, the world’s biggest annual sporting event. Founded in 1920, the NFL developed the model for the successful modern sports league, including national and international distribution, extensive revenue sharing, competitive excellence, and strong franchises across the country.
COURTESY NFLmedia.com