Who are the NFL's best active international players in 2023? One pick for all 32 teams
The NFL has announced a new initiative to create new opportunities in football for international athletes.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday morning that the NFL would be expanding practice squad rosters for all 32 teams to include one international player starting next season.
The NFL has a history of international players that have found success playing American football. This new rule is aimed to continue that history by giving teams more chances to discover and develop athletes outside the U.S.
Starting next season, the NFL is expanding practice squads on all 32 teams to include one international player, helping to create more football opportunities for athletes from around the world to be identified and developed.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2023
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Best international athletes for all 32 teams
Almost every NFL team has an active or practice squad player that was born outside of the U.S. These international players are those who have stood out the most for their team.
Arizona Cardinals: Jesse Luketa, LB, Canada
Atlanta Falcons: Younghoe Koo, K, South Korea
Baltimore Ravens: David Ojabo, LB, Nigeria
Buffalo Bills: Eli Ankou, DT, Canada
Carolina Panthers: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Canada
Chicago Bears: Cairo Santos, K, Brazil
Cincinnati Bengals: Joseph Ossai, DE, Nigeria
Cleveland Browns: none (Most recent: Hjalte Froholdt, OG, Denmark)
Dallas Cowboys: Neville Gallimore, DT, Canada
Denver Broncos: none (Most recent: Jonathan Kongbo, DL, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Detroit Lions: Penei Sewell, OT, American Samoa
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Green Bay Packers: Corey Ballentine, CB, Jamaica
Houston Texans: Cameron Johnston, P, Australia
Indianapolis Colts: Kwity Paye, DE, Guinea
Jacksonville Jaguars: Tevaughn Campbell, CB, Canada
Kansas City Chiefs: George Karlaftis, DE, Greece
Las Vegas Raiders: Jakob Johnson, FB, Germany
Los Angeles Chargers: Josh Palmer, WR, Canada
Los Angeles Rams: Michael Hoecht, LB, Canada
Miami Dolphins: Jevon Holland, FS, Canada
Minnesota Vikings: Danielle Hunter, LB, Jamaica
New England Patriots: none (Most recent: Nelson Agholor, WR, Nigeria)
New Orleans Saints: none (Most recent: David Onyemata, DT, Nigeria)
New York Giants: Graham Gano, K, Scotland
New York Jets: none (Most recent: Nathan Shepherd, DT, Canada)
Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Mailata, OT, Australia
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Pittsburgh Steelers: Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Nigeria
San Francisco 49ers: Javon Kinlaw, DT, Trinidad and Tobago
Seattle Seahawks: Michael Dickson, P, Australia
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vita Vea, DT, Tonga
Tennessee Titans: Thomas Odukoya, TE, Netherlands
Washington Commanders: Efe Obada, DE, Nigeria
International players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
There have been nine former international NFL players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. These are those nine players as well as their position, nationality and team(s) they played for.
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Morten Andersen, PK, Denmark (Saints, Falcons, Giants, Chiefs, Vikings, Falcons)
Tom Fears, WR, Mexico (Rams)
Ted Hendricks, LB, Guatemala (Colts, Packers, Raiders)
Bronko Nagurski, FB, Canada (Bears)
Leo Nomellini, DT, Italy (49ers)
Ernie Stautner, DT, Germany (Steelers)
Jan Stenerud, K, Norway (Chiefs, Packers, Vikings)
Steve Van Buren, RB, Honduras (Eagles)
Arnie Weinmeister, DT, Canada (Giants)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best NFL international players on the rosters for all 32 teams in 2023
