American Football is a sport almost exclusive to the United States, but the organization behind the league, the NFL, is known in all the continents of the world. Also, there are several football leagues in Europe, Mexico and other parts of the world that from time to time send players to schools in the US.
Since 1920 there are reports of foreigners playing in the NFL, among them are the Nesser brothers of German origin (John Nesser and Phil Nesser). A player from a famous island, Cuba, played in the NFL during 1927, his name was Ignacio Saturnino “Lou” Molinet.
The only continent that has not sent players to the NFL is Antarctica, it would be crazy for a player to come from such a desolate place where there is supposedly no life, according to the governments of the world.
How many foreign players are active in the NFL right now?
89 international players are active for the upcoming 2022 NFL season, most of them were born in another country but have lived most of their lives in the United States, while others are already U.S Citizens.
Most of the foreign players are really good at what they do since traveling from their countries to play in the NFL requires talent, but there is the other factor that they were influenced by college football in the country.
| Birthplace | Nationality | Player | Position | Debut | Current team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | USA | Penei Sewell | OT | 2021 | Detroit Lions |
| Australia | Australia | Michael Dickson | P | 2018 | Seahawks |
| Australia | Australia | Jordan Berry | P | 2015 | Vikings |
| Australia | Australia | Daniel Faalele | OT | 2022 | Ravens |
| Australia | Australia | Cameron Johnston | P | 2017 | Texans |
| Australia | Australia | Arryn Siposs | P | 2020 | Eagles |
| Australia | Australia | Mitch Wishnowsky | P | 2019 | SF 49ers |
| Australia | Australia | Matt Leo | DE | 2020 | Eagles |
| Australia | Australia | Jordan Mailata | OT | 2018 | Eagles |
| Austria | Austria | Sandro Platzgummer | RB | 2021 | NY Giants |
| Austria | Austria | Bernhard Raimann | OT | 2022 | Colts |
| Austria | Austria | Bernhard Seikovits | TE | 2021 | Cardinals |
| Bahamas | Bahamas | Michael Strachan | WR | 2021 | Colts |
| Belgium | USA | Corliss Waitman | P | 2020 | Broncos |
| Belize | Belize | Rakeem Nuñez-Roches | DE | 2015 | Buccaneers |
| Brazil | Brazil | Cairo Santos | K | 2014 | Bears |
| Cameroon | Cameroon | Arnold Ebiketie | DE | 2022 | Falcons |
| Canada | Canada | Eli Ankou | NT | 2017 | Buffalo Bills |
| Canada | Canada | Tevaughn Campbell | CB | 2019 | Chargers |
| Canada | Canada | Chase Claypool | WR | 2020 | Steelers |
| Canada | Canada | Christian Covington | DT | 2015 | Chargers |
| Canada | Canada | Drew Desjarlais | G | 2022 | Patriots |
| Canada | Canada | Laurent Duvernay-Tardif | OG | 2014 | Free agent |
| Canada | Canada | Neville Gallimore | DE | 2020 | Cowboys |
| Canada | Canada | Michael Hoecht | DE | 2020 | LA Rams |
| Canada | Canada | Jevon Holland | FS | 2021 | Dolphins |
| Canada | Canada | Chuba Hubbard | RB | 2021 | Panthers |
| Canada | Canada | Ryan Hunter | G | 2018 | Chargers |
| Canada | Canada | Brett Jones | C | 2015 | Free Agent |
| Canada | Canada | Nikola Kalinic | FB/TE | 2022 | Colts |
| Canada | Canada | Brayden Lenius | WR | 2022 | Falcons |
| Canada | Canada | Jesse Luketa | OLB | 2022 | Cardinals |
| Canada | Canada | John Metchie III | WR | 2022 | Texans |
| Canada | Canada | J.J. Molson | K | 2020 | Packers |
| Canada | Canada | Josh Palmer | WR | 2021 | Chargers |
| Canada | Canada | Nathan Shepherd | DE | 2018 | New York Jets |
| Canada | Canada | Benjamin St-Juste | CB | 2021 | Commanders |
| Canada | Saint Vincent | N’Keal Harry | WR | 2019 | Patriots |
| Canada | USA | Alaric Jackson | OT | 2021 | LA Rams |
| Chile | Chile | Sammis Reyes | TE | 2021 | Commanders |
| Congo | Canada | Jonathan Kongbo | DE | 2022 | Broncos |
| Denmark | Denmark | Hjalte Froholdt | OG | 2019 | Browns |
| England | Nigeria | Julian Okwara | DE | 2020 | Detroit Lions |
| Germany | Germany | David Bada | DT | 2020 | Commanders |
| Germany | Germany | Marcel Dabo | DB | 2022 | Colts |
| Germany | Germany | Aaron Donkor | OLB | 2021 | Seahawks |
| Germany | Germany | Dominik Eberle | K | 2020 | Packers |
| Germany | Germany | Jakob Johnson | FB | 2019 | Raiders |
| Germany | USA | Vyncint Smith | WR | 2018 | Buccaneers |
| Ghana | USA | Brian Asamoah | LB | 2022 | Vikings |
| Greece | Greece | George Karlaftis | DE | 2022 | Chiefs |
| Greece | USA | Kyle Hamilton | SS | 2022 | Ravens |
| Guinea | Liberia/USA | Kwity Paye | DE | 2021 | Colts |
| Haiti | Haiti | Lewis Cine | S | 2022 | Vikings |
| Italy | Italy | Max Pircher | OT | 2021 | LA Rams |
| Jamaica | Jamaica | Corey Ballentine | CB | 2019 | Falcons |
| Jamaica | Jamaica | Danielle Hunter | DE | 2015 | Vikings |
| Jamaica | Jamaica | Matt Peart | OT | 2020 | NY Giants |
| Japan | USA | DaeSean Hamilton | WR | 2018 | Texans |
| Kosovo | Canada | Lirim Hajrullahu | K | 2020 | Panthers |
| Liberia | Liberia | Kelvin Harmon | WR | 2019 | Commanders |
| Mexico | Mexico | Isaac Alarcón | OT | 2020 | Cowboys |
| Mexico | Mexico | Alfredo Gutierrez | G | 2021 | SF 49ers |
| Netherlands | Netherlands | Thomas Odukoya | TE | 2022 | Titans |
| Nigeria | Nigeria/USA | Nelson Agholor | WR | 2015 | Patriots |
| Nigeria | Nigeria | Jeremiah Attaochu | OLB | 2014 | Bears |
| Nigeria | Nigeria | Ben Banogu | DE | 2019 | Colts |
| Nigeria | UK | Efe Obada | DE | 2015 | Commanders |
| Nigeria | Nigeria | Emmanuel Ogbah | OLB | 2016 | Dolphins |
| Nigeria | Canada | Amen Ogbongbemiga | OLB | 2021 | Chargers |
| Nigeria | Nigeria/UK | David Ojabo | OLB | 2022 | Ravens |
| Nigeria | Nigeria | Chukwuma Okorafor | OT | 2018 | Steelers |
| Nigeria | Nigeria | Romeo Okwara | DE | 2016 | Detroit Lions |
| Nigeria | Nigeria/Canada | David Onyemata | DT | 2016 | NO Saints |
| Nigeria | Nigeria | Joseph Ossai | DE | 2021 | Bengals |
| Scotland | UK/USA | Graham Gano | K | 2009 | NY Giants |
| Scotland | UK | Jamie Gillan | P | 2019 | NY Giants |
| South Africa | South Africa | Greg Joseph | K | 2018 | Vikings |
| South Korea | South Korea | Younghoe Koo | K | 2017 | Falcons |
| Spain | Spain | J. J. Arcega-Whiteside | WR | 2019 | Eagles |
| Tonga | Tonga | Star Lotulelei | DT | 2013 | Free agent |
| Tonga | Tonga | Netane Muti | OG | 2020 | Broncos |
| Trinidad Tobago | Trinidad Tobago | Javon Kinlaw | DT | 2020 | SF 49ers |
| Turkey | Turkey/USA | Chris Conley | WR | 2015 | Texans |
| USA | Canada/USA | Brett Rypien | QB | 2019 | Broncos |
| USA | Germany/USA | Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | 2021 | Detroit Lions |
| USA | Germany/USA | Equanimeous St. Brown | WR | 2018 | Bears |
| USA | Nigeria/USA | Foyesade Oluokun | LB | 2018 | Jaguars |
| Venezuela | Venezuela | José Borregales | K | 2021 | Buccaneers |