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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Monaghan's Rory Beggan and Wicklow's Mark Jackson. Pictures: Sportsfile
Four Irish athletes have been included among the 16 participants in this year's NFL International Player Pathway (IPP) programme.
Monaghan's All-Star goalkeeper Rory Beggan is the most high-profile GAA star on the list alongside fellow shotstoppers Mark Jackson from Wicklow and Down's Charlie Smyth, and Connacht Rugby player Darragh Leader.
The quartet will begin training in the United States at the IMG Academy this month and will have the opportunity to showcase their talents to NFL club scouts in March.
HISTORY: Ireland's Rory Beggan, Mark Jackson, Darragh Leader and Charlie Smyth will enter the NFL International Player Pathway and attend the NFL Combine next month. You can watch interviews with all players here: https://t.co/iEObC0sJC5
— Michael McQuaid (@Michael_NFL) January 18, 2024
: @NFLUK
Established in 2017, the IPP program aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills and ultimately work to earn a spot on an NFL roster.
The IPP Class of 2024, including the program's first-ever specialists, spans talent from eight nations and represents a total of 16 players transitioning to the sport of American football.
Athletes come from various sporting backgrounds including rugby, basketball, track, Gaelic football and Australian football, among others — showcasing how diverse sporting experience and capabilities can continue to enable the impact of international player pathways in enriching the fabric of the league.
"The IPP Class of 2024 presents a group of incredibly talented athletes from diverse sporting backgrounds and nations across the globe," said Osi Umenyiora, a British-Nigerian former player who is spearheading the NFL's Africa program.
"Our international football development programs at the NFL offer life-changing opportunities for talent, and will only continue to impact the league this season and in the seasons ahead. This is only the beginning for these players, and we look forward to sharing their stories and the game of football with the world."
Since its inception, 37 international players have signed with NFL teams, with 18 IPP athletes currently on NFL rosters.
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