The UK’s Dante Barnett and Mapalo ‘Maz’ Mwansa feature among the 14 athletes joining the NFL’s International Player Pathway program class of 2025, as does Australian rugby union player Jordan Petaia and Ulster’s Aaron Sexton
Jamaican Olympic discus champion Roje Stona is among the latest group of athletes to leave their sport in order to pursue a career in the NFL.
Stona clinched gold in Paris earlier this summer while also breaking the Olympic discus record as the first Jamaican ever to win a throwing event at the Olympics.
He will now step away from his discipline to join the International Player Pathway program’s class of 2025 alongside 13 other athletes from across 13 nations around the world in view of securing an opportunity in football.
Stona and his fellow participants will train for 10 weeks at the IMG Academy in Florida beginning in January before demonstrating their skills before the eyes of NFL scouts at a Pro Day in March.
Also among those joining the program is Australia rugby union international Jordan Petaia and Ulster player Aaron Sexton, representing Ireland.
Louis Rees-Zammit made headlines earlier this year when he quit rugby on the eve of the Six Nation’s to join the IPP, initially signing with the Kansas City Chiefs for whom he featured in preseason before eventually landing on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.
Irish kicker Charlie Smyth also came through the class of 2024 to sign with the New Orleans Saints practice squad, while the UK’s Travis Clayton was drafted by the Buffalo Bills.