The NFL is once again enabling players to make the leap into the best football league in the world via the International Pathway Program. With eight selected, the number is larger than ever.

It’s that time again: For the 2023 season, the NFL will again offer international players the opportunity to join the best football league in the world through the International Pathway Program (IPP).

Eight players will get the chance to prove themselves with a team next season – more athletes than at any time since the program’s inception in 2017. The league announced in a statement that one Australian, one French and six Nigerian players have been assigned to a team.

“It is very exciting to see this highly talented group of players join NFL squads, and it is a testament to the success of the NFL’s global football development programs for international athletes,” NFL Executive Vice President Peter O’Reilly is quoted as saying.

International Program as a stepping stone

After an international Combine was held at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium last year with 38 players from 13 countries, 13 athletes were invited to participate in the IPP program.

Earlier this year, they spent ten weeks in an intensive training camp at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida and were able to present themselves to team scouts at the Pro Day at the University of South Florida. Selected for an NFL adventure now are eight of them.

But which franchises will the talented players get a chance with? By lottery, the NFC North and AFC West were selected as the divisions that will host the players.

These eight players will get a chance:

NFC North

Roy Mbaeteka (Nigeria – Chicago Bears).

Patrick Murtagh (Australia – Detroit Lions)

Kenneth Odumegwu (Nigeria – Green Bay Packers)

Junior Aho (France – Minnesota Vikings)

AFC West

Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi (Nigeria – Denver Broncos)

Chukwuebuka Godrick (Nigeria – Kansas City Chiefs)

David Ebuka Agoha (Nigeria – Las Vegas Raiders)

Basil Chijioke Okoye (Nigeria – Los Angeles Chargers)

By the way: the chosen ones get one tip for free. Jordan Mailata, a former participant in the program from Australia and now an offensive tackle with the Philadelphia Eagles, said, “My advice to players coming into the program would be to enjoy the process. Give it everything you’ve got. Take the opportunity and don’t let it go to waste. Hard work will always outlast talent.”

Of the 37 total International players since the program’s inception, 13 are currently on an NFL team’s squad, with four on the active roster. In addition to Mailata, they include Germans Jakob Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders) and David Bada (Washington Commanders), as well as his British teammate Efe Obada.