LONDON -- Next month, the NFL will host an international combine that includes 50 athletes representing 14 countries.
The invitational scouting showcase mirrors the annual NFL combine, which is usually held in Indianapolis. It is designed to identify international athletes with the potential and skill set to play in the league. It will be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 12.
At the invitation are athletes from Britain and Germany, Belgium. New Zealand. France. Nigeria. Austria. Slovakia. Slovakia. Slovakia. Italy. Switzerland. Japan. Finland. Sweden.
Damani Leech (NFL chief operating officer for international), stated that the event would help to uncover new talent and increase global exposure of the game.
The NFL's International Player Pathway program will evaluate potential athletes for a possible position. This program has seen players such as Sammis Reyes, Washington tight end Sammis Reyes, and Jakob Johnson in New England.
A select few athletes will be allowed to train in America for three months in the Pathway program, following the international combine. After the training phase, the group will be cut again and some of them will be allocated to the NFL teams for the 2022 seasons.
In 2018, the league hosted similar events in Australia and Germany. A combine will be held in Mexico by the NFL later in October, for those athletes who are unable to travel from London due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
