Nigerian Talent Shines in NFL, Says Umenyiora

Two-time Super Bowl winner and Head of NFL Africa, Osi Umenyiora, speaks about the NFL’s International Player Pathway Programme, the discovery of Nigerian player Uar Bernard, and the rising presence of African athletes in American football in this chat with PETER AKINBO.

This is a huge moment. Uar Bernard getting drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles shows that they believe in his great talent and athletic skills. For us in Nigeria, we know there are many athletes like him. We have so much talent in Africa, and now people are hopeful. They understand that this is possible. The whole programme was created on ideas like this. Even though Uar got drafted, we already have players from the NFL Africa programme playing in the NFL, despite never having played football before. There are no excuses anymore. We have proven that people can start late, train for a few years, and still reach the NFL. They are changing their lives and their families' lives. For us, this is a big moment.

Bernard joined our camps a few times. Another player, Joshua, took a different path. But Bernard caught our eye quickly. He was big, fast, strong, and hardworking. When you combine these qualities, there is always a place for you in our programme. He also did not give up. This was not his first try. He kept pushing and eventually made it. His story is not unique. We have had many athletes who showed up consistently and worked hard. But for Bernard, his size, strength, and work ethic were noticeable from the start.

The biggest issue is that many people are not playing the game widely yet. This makes it tough to find out who will be good. We focus on athletic ability and talk to them to see how smart they are because you need to be smart to play in the NFL. We also check their size, height, and weight, even if many are not as big as we need them to be at first. But in Nigeria and Africa, once you start training and eating well, they gain weight and develop quickly. So we look for potential first. We have a basic level of athleticism and size we want because these are people who have never played the game, and we are getting them ready for the highest level.

Speed is the most important. Then size, because we mainly look for offensive and defensive linemen, who are usually the bigger players. We also check strength, explosiveness, jumping ability, and overall athleticism. Mental strength is crucial because football is a tough game mentally. Age is also a factor. We usually work with two groups, ages 15 to 18, who could join the NFL Academy in the UK, and players around 20 to 22 years old because training them for the NFL takes a few years.

This is huge. It’s the only way these athletes can get into the NFL. Without this programme, how would a young athlete from Africa ever get a chance to play there? We don’t have a college football system in Africa like in America, so without the IPP programme, many of these talented athletes would go unseen. We are proud because it is helping many African youths succeed and opening doors that did not exist before.

My Nigerian background has greatly influenced what I am doing now. I lived in Nigeria from age six to 14, so my early years were spent there. I grew up with Nigerian values and discipline. I learned early how lucky I was to go to America to play football. In Nigeria, many people were better athletes than I was, but I got the chance. So when people talk about giving back or helping Nigerians, I know I can use the game I played to change lives. Many Nigerians and Africans have amazing talent. I started playing football late too, so I knew others could also begin late and still succeed. We just needed to connect that talent with the right opportunity.

Definitely. Right now, there are about 60 active NFL players of Nigerian descent. Considering the Nigerian population in America, that number is impressive. If you walk any street in Nigeria, you will see people with the physical tools to compete at the highest sports levels. The problem has always been opportunity. Looking at what American football needs, size, strength, speed, aggression, and intelligence, Africans have those traits in plenty. We just need to develop that talent, train them well, and give them chances.

Keep training and working hard. Learn as much as you can about American football because there is so much information online now. If you believe you have the right physical abilities and mindset, send us your videos. Reach out on Instagram or social media because we are always looking for talent. I have personally found athletes that way before. The key is to keep trying and keep working.

For sure. Flag football helps young players learn the game without needing all the gear right away. It teaches movement, cutting, offensive and defensive skills, and overall football knowledge. It is open to everyone, boys, girls, men, and women, so it is a great way to start with the sport. With flag football set to be part of the 2028 Olympics, it also creates another way for athletes to get into the game.

Success means creating more opportunities for African athletes. But we also want to build something lasting here in Africa. We do not just want to export talent. We want to set up systems and competitions within Africa so players can grow and compete locally. American football is an amazing game once you know it, and the chances it offers are huge. Our goal is to build stronger structures on the continent and continue spreading the game in Africa.

Honestly, probably not. Winning my first Super Bowl with the New York Giants was the best part of my playing career. But what we are doing now with NFL Africa is probably the most meaningful thing I have ever been a part of.

Seeing these young athletes come into camp one way and then, a few months later, they are on NFL teams earning money and changing their lives is an incredible feeling. I know where many of them come from, and I understand their struggles. Watching those changes means everything to me. I hope we can keep doing this for a long time.