Despite all the critics and doubters, German professional football player Leander Wiegand has made it onto an NFL team. “They told me, ‘Leander, it’s not going to work, you’re not fast enough, not strong enough, not good enough,’” Wiegand said he felt he was ready. A week ago, he signed with the New York Jets.

The franchise signed the offensive lineman as an undrafted free agent. “Of course, you have to let it all sink in first,” said Wiegand: “I’m excited about this opportunity and the hard work ahead of me.” Wiegand had previously recommended himself for a contract through the league’s International Player Pathway Program (IPP).

This route has a major advantage. Players who sign an NFL contract through the program for non-North American footballers are not subject to the roster limit during the offseason and preseason. Wiegand therefore has a guaranteed place in the Jets’ squad during these phases.

After stints with the Cologne Centurions, Rhein Fire in Düsseldorf, and the Munich Ravens in the European League of Football (ELF), Wiegand now has the chance to gain a foothold in the world’s best football league – and finally prove his critics wrong. “As soon as you have dreams that many consider unrealistic, people have something to say about it – especially on social media,” Wiegand complained.