{"id":886206,"date":"2026-09-09T22:58:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T22:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/886206\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T22:58:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T22:58:15","slug":"from-afl-to-nfl-the-seven-players-who-made-the-unlikely-switch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/886206\/","title":{"rendered":"From AFL to NFL: The seven players who made the unlikely switch"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The NFL is taking over the MCG this week, with the first game of the 2026\/27 NFL season kicking off this Friday on the hallowed turf.<\/p>\n

For the first time in history, an NFL game will be played in Australia, as the NFL aims to expand its market globally, but it’s not the first time Australians have been exposed to the NFL.<\/p>\n

Several former AFL<\/a> players have made the switch to the NFL, using arguably an AFL<\/a> player’s best skill: kicking.<\/p>\n

AFL<\/a> players have been able to use the most common ability in AFL<\/a> to carve out a role in the NFL and evolve the position of punting.<\/p>\n

Darren Bennett<\/p>\n

Bennett featured in 74 games across the West Coast Eagles<\/a> and Melbourne Demons<\/a> from 1987 to 1993 and was the Demons’ leading goal-kicker in 1989 and 1990.<\/p>\n

His AFL<\/a> career was derailed by injuries, only featuring in two games in his final season at the Demons before retiring at the end of 1993.<\/p>\n

The forward tried out for the San Diego Chargers in 1994, but only made the practice squad.<\/p>\n

The next season, he went on to become the Chargers’ lead punter in his rookie season, also becoming the oldest rookie in NFL history.<\/p>\n

In his rookie season who would go on to make the AFC Pro Bowl and finished second in punting average for the whole league.<\/p>\n

He became arguably the best punter of the 1990s and was named punter of the NFL’s All-Decade team, and was eventually inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n


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