For some time the NFL has set up initiatives to bring foreign talent into the world’s most prestigious American football league. The International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), established in 2017, has had some success to this end. As well as bringing overseas players to the NFL, it has also attracted athletes from abroad involved in other sports.
For players changing sport, most have a background in rugby. While both games require a different set of skills, there is a similar focus on physical attributes and the ability to handle and sometimes kick an oval ball well. This is why a growing list of rugby players have attempted to make a name for themselves in the highly lucrative NFL, where wages far outstrip those offered in rugby league or union.
In this article, we will look at the players who have made the full switch since the IPPP launched in 2017.
Rugby to NFL Switchers
Here are seven rugby players that have ended up signing for an NFL side. As you will find out, in most cases, switching between the sports has not worked out especially well (or in some cases it is too early to tell).
Alex Gray
- First NFL Season – 2017
- NFL Team – Atlanta Falcons
- Position – Tight End
- Nationality – English
Alex Gray is perhaps best recognised as being Apollo in the re-boot of Gladiators. Before featuring on the prime-time TV show though, Gray had tried his luck at both rugby union and American football. Despite having stints at Newcastle Falcons and London Irish, top division rugby was not for him and he ended up dropping down to play for Yorkshire Carnegie. It was at this point Gray decided to switch and join the NFL, signing a deal with the Falcons.
In doing so, Gray became the first British rugby player to make this switch to the NFL but the move was far from a success. He was initially only signed as a practice squad player and the Falcons took up this option the following year too. However, by the time he left America, and returned to rugby union, he never had made an appearance for the Falcons in an NFL game.
Jordan Mailata
- First NFL Season – 2018
- NFL Team – Philadelphia Eagles
- Position – Offensive Tackle
- Nationality – Australian
The only success story so far involves the 6ft 8in, 365lb Mailata who made a real impact in the NFL. He was hardly an established rugby union player when he caught the attention of NFL executives though. Before his switch he had only played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs U18s and South Sydney Rabbitohs U20s. His size and speed got people talking about him though, as Mailata can really move despite his gigantic frame.
Mailata signed for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 and more recently signed a three-year contract extension in April 2024. This big money deal included a guaranteed $48m plus a $20m signing-on bonus. This makes him one of the league’s best-paid offensive tackles and it’s a deserving reward for someone that has been so key for the Eagles in recent years. By the end of the 2023 season, Mailata had made 62 appearances for the Super Bowl LII winners, with 57 of these coming as a starter.
Christian Scotland-Williamson
- First NFL Season – 2018
- NFL Team – Pittsburgh Steelers
- Position – Tight End
- Nationality – English
As with his fellow countryman Gray, Scotland-Williamson never made a full NFL appearance. Instead, he only took part in practice squad matches for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps he would have been better off staying at the Worcester Warriors but after a huge tackle of his went viral in 2017, the attention it attracted inspired him to give the NFL a chance.
After a couple of years being a reserve player for the Steelers, the Loughborough University graduate returned to English rugby and signed for Harlequins. He was released at the end of the season though having made just two appearances.
Valentine Holmes
- First NFL Season – 2019
- NFL Team – New York Jets
- Position – Running Back
- Nationality – Australian
Whereas a lot of rugby players who make the switch to the NFL are not particularly well established, this was not the case for Valentine Holmes. In Australia, the Queensland-born player had made over 100 appearances for Cronulla Sharks and had represented his country.
Despite enjoying a good rugby league career though, Holmes fancied a new challenge (and no doubt a shot at a huge payday!) and signed for the New York Jets in April 2019. He made a few appearances in some pre-season matches but failed to impress and was released in November of the same year.
With his absence from rugby league brief, Holmes was able to quickly return to the NRL, signing for the North Queensland Cowboys.
Christian Wade
- First NFL Season – 2019
- NFL Team – Buffalo Bills
- Position – Running Back
- Nationality – English
Former England 7s player Christian Wade spent seven years at Wasps when he fancied a career change. He left the now-folded club in 2018, after making 165 appearances, to pursue an opportunity in the NFL which began brightly enough. For the Bills, Wade scored a 65-yard touchdown in a pre-season debut against the Indianapolis Colts. He was signed to the practice squad the next day but never made a first-team appearance before being released in April 2022.
After this unsuccessful NFL spell, Wade returned to rugby union and penned a deal with French side Racing 92.
Louis Rees-Zammit
- First NFL Season – 2024
- NFL Team – Kansas City Chiefs
- Position – Running Back
- Nationality – Welsh
All eyes will be on Louis Rees-Zammit when (or if) he makes his debut for the Chiefs. As such a well-known rugby union star with 32 caps for Wales, his move to the NFL created a lot of headlines. Having also represented the British & Irish Lions, this is a player that many were expecting to have a long and successful rugby union career. The glitz and glamour – and yes, the money – of the NFL proved too tempting but given his young age, the rugby union door will likely always be open if things do not work out.
Travis Clayton
- First NFL Season – 2024
- NFL Team – Buffalo Bills
- Position – Offensive Guard
- Nationality – English
Another 2024 IPPP graduate is Travis Clayton. He was far from a rugby star before moving across the Atlantic, however. Prior to the switch he was playing for Basingstoke R.F.C, a team in the eighth tier of the rugby union pyramid. So, while this is not a proper rugby to American football conversion, it will still be interesting to see what the 6ft 7in, 301lb youngster can do.