With the first NFL Academy now open for business in the U.K., the growth and promotion of the sport overseas took another step forward today with the announcement that the second NFL International Combine will be held in Germany later this year.
After a successful first outing in Australia last year, the latest batch of up to 50 foreign prospects will be given their shot to impress in their pursuit of a spot on an NFL roster, at the Sportschule Hennef sports facility near Cologne.
“Following last year’s inaugural International Combine in Australia, we are excited to explore the talent pool internationally,” said Damani Leech, NFL Chief Operating Officer of International. “Since 2017, the NFL’s International Player Pathway program has provided international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level and develop their skills, and we hope to discover new talent through this event in Germany.”
The NFL International Player Pathway has proved a great success thus far, giving opportunities to the likes of Efe Obada at the Carolina Panthers. In 2019 once again eight teams will be given an extra practice squad spot to be taken up by a foreign prospect. And this year’s combine participants will be competing for “to train in the U.S. for 3 months,” following which they will target next year’s Pathway openings.
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