Photo courtesy: Drew Hallowell/Philadelphia Eagles
The 2025 NFL regular season kicks off with Canadian flavour included.
More than 30 players with ties to our home and native land begin the year with NFL teams. There are over 20 players on active rosters, some on practice squads and one quarterback on the non-football injured list.
*Players are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
1) OL Isaiah Adams (N) — Arizona Cardinals
CFL rights holder: none
The Ajax, Ont. native made five starts for the Cards last season after being taken in the third round, 71st overall, during the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s slated to start at right guard for Arizona. Adams started his collegiate career at Wilfrid Laurier University, went to Garden City Community College for one season and transferred to the University of Illinois.
2) REC Elic Ayomanor (N) — Tennessee Titans
CFL rights holder: none
The Medicine Hat, Alta. native was selected in the fourth round, 136th overall, during the 2025 NFL Draft. He became a collegiate star at Stanford University, where he made 125 catches for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns over two seasons. The six-foot-two, 206-pound pass catcher begins 2025 as Tennessee’s third receiver behind Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett.
3) OL Theo Benedet (N) — Chicago Bears
CFL rights holder: B.C. Lions
The two-time J. P. Metras Trophy winner spent his entire rookie season on Chicago’s practice roster after joining the team as an undrafted NFL free agent. He added muscle while developing in the offseason to make the Bears’ 53-man active roster as a tackle.
4) OL Matthew Bergeron (N) — Atlanta Falcons
CFL rights holder: none
The Victoriaville, Que. native has started 34 straight games for the Falcons since being selected in the second round, 38th overall, during the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s slated to start at left guard and protect franchise quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Courtesy: AP photo/Kareem Elgazzar/NFL Canada
5) RB Chase Brown (N) — Cincinnati Bengals
CFL rights holder: Montreal Alouettes
The London, Ont., native started 10 games for the Bengals in 2024, his second NFL season, while carrying the football 229 times for 990 yards, catching 54 passes for 360 yards and scoring 11 total touchdowns. That was one of the most prolific seasons in NFL history from a Canadian running back, and Brown could top those numbers in 2025 alongside QB Joe Burrow as part of a dynamic Cincinnati offence.
6) DB Sydney Brown (N) — Philadelphia Eagles
CFL rights holder: Toronto Argonauts
The London, Ont. native was relegated to a depth role in 2024 amid his return from a torn ACL, though he still helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl. Brown has been named the Week 1 starter at free safety for Philly as the team defends its NFL title.
7) DL Neville Gallimore (N) — Indianapolis Colts
CFL rights holder: Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Ottawa, Ont., native signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal to join the Colts in free agency after splitting the 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams. The six-foot-two, 315-pound defender slots in as a rotational defensive tackle for Indy in a group that includes DeForest Buckner.
8) DL Michael Hoecht (N) — Buffalo Bills
CFL rights holder: Ottawa Redblacks
The Oakville, Ont., native signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Bills in the offseason. He’ll miss the first six games of the regular season after violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Once he returns, Hoecht brings versatility to Buffalo’s defensive front.
9) DB Jevon Holland (N) — New York Giants
CFL rights holder: none
The Coquitlam, B.C. native signed a three-year, $45.3 million deal with the Giants in free agency following a four-year run with the Miami Dolphins. Holland brings his playmaking ability to the Big Apple in 2025 as the team’s starting free safety.
10) RB Chuba Hubbard (N) — Carolina Panthers
CFL rights holder: Calgary Stampeders
The Sherwood Park, Alta. native is coming off his best professional season as he rushed 250 times for 1,195 yards, caught 43 passes for 171 yards and scored 11 total touchdowns with Carolina. He signed a four-year, $33.2 million extension with the Panthers late last season. Hubbard looks to help Bryce Young and Carolina be a consistently competitive team in 2025.
11) OL Alaric Jackson (N) — Los Angeles Rams
CFL rights holder: B.C. Lions
The Windsor, Ont. native, who was raised primarily in Detroit, Mich., started 35 regular-season games over his first four years with the Rams and was rewarded with a three-year, $56.3 million contract extension in the offseason. Jackson has fought through blood clot issues to start at left tackle in Week 1.
12) TE Theo Johnson (N) — New York Giants
CFL rights holder: B.C. Lions
The Winnipeg, Man. native, who was raised in Windsor, Ont., started 11 games for the Giants in his rookie NFL season. Johnson caught 29 passes for 331 yards and one touchdown last year and returns as the team’s starter in 2025.
13) TE Nikola Kalinic (N) — Chicago Bears
CFL rights holder: none
The Toronto native was released by the Atlanta Falcons in late August and signed a practice squad contract with the Bears days later. He’s earned over $1.4 million USD in his NFL career.
14) TE Dalton Kincaid (N) — Buffalo Bills
CFL rights holder: none
Kincaid was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nev. but is a dual citizen through his mom, Vicki, who hails from Sarnia, Ont. He has sported a Canadian flag on his NFL helmet in the past. Kincaid aims for a Super Bowl ring with reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen in 2025.
15) DB Deane Leonard (N) — Los Angeles Chargers
CFL rights holder: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Calgary, Alta., native was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return after four games following a leg injury suffered in the preseason. Once healthy, he should return to contributing for the Bolts.
16) OL Giovanni Manu (N) — Detroit Lions
CFL rights holder: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The six-foot-eight, 352-pound blocker spent his adolescence in Pitt Meadows, B.C., and he’s come “a long way” following his rookie season in the NFL. Lions’ offensive line coach Hank Fraley envisions him “contributing” in 2025.
Photo courtesy: Philadelphia Eagles
17) REC John Metchie III (N) — Philadelphia Eagles
CFL rights holder: B.C. Lions
The Brampton, Ont. native was traded from the Houston Texans to Philly midway through August. He’s learning the offensive playbook while working with fellow receivers A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson.
18) TE Tanner McLachlan (N) — Cincinnati Bengals
CFL rights holder: Calgary Stampeders
The Lethbridge, Alta., native was waived after training camp and placed on injured reserve.
19) LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (N) — Chicago Bears
CFL rights holder: Calgary Stampeders
The Nigerian native, who spent his adolescence in Calgary, Alta., earned a two-year, $5 million contract extension with Chicago after playing all 17 regular-season games last year. He starts the 2025 season on injured reserve with a designation to return after four games.
20) DL David Onyemata (N) — Atlanta Falcons
CFL rights holder: Saskatchewan Roughriders
The University of Manitoba product enters the 2025 season as a starter at defensive end on Atlanta’s base 3-4 defensive scheme. He’s scheduled to earn over $10 million USD in the final year of his contract with the Falcons.
21) REC Josh Palmer (N) — Buffalo Bills
CFL rights holder: none
The Brampton, Ont., native signed a three-year, $29 million free-agent contract with Buffalo following a four-year run with the Los Angeles Chargers. He slots in as the Bills’ third receiver behind Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman entering the 2025 season.
22) DB Taylor Rapp (N) — Buffalo Bills
CFL rights holder: none
Rapp’s father was born in Canada, which gives him dual citizenship. He’s Buffalo’s starter at strong safety to begin 2025.
23) LB Tavius Robinson (N) — Baltimore Ravens
CFL rights holder: Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Guelph, Ont., native started seven games for the Ravens in 2024, his second year with the team. He looks to continue his development in the NFL as a versatile piece along Baltimore’s stout defensive front.
24) QB Kurtis Rourke (N) — San Francisco 49ers
CFL rights holder: Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Oakville, Ont., native has been placed on the non-football injured list, which is meant for players who are unable to participate in on-field activities due to a health issue or injury that wasn’t sustained during an NFL game or practice..
25) QB Brett Rypien (N) — Cincinnati Bengals
CFL rights holder: none
His dad, Tim, is a Calgary native and was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 1982 MLB Draft. Rypien signed to the Bengals’ practice squad in late August and starts the 2025 season in Cincy’s QB room with Joe Burrow.
26) DL Nathan Shepherd (N) — New Orleans Saints
CFL rights holder: none
The Ajax, Ont., native begins the 2025 season as a rotational defensive lineman for the Saints. He’s earned over $20 million during his NFL career to date.
27) LB Alex Singleton (N) — Denver Broncos
CFL rights holder: none
The dual citizen has recovered from a Week 3 torn ACL suffered last season and is ready to start at linebacker for the Broncos in 2025. He’s been named a team captain going into the season.
28) OL Sidy Sow (N) — Houston Texans
CFL rights holder: Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Bromont, Que. native was released among final training camp cuts by the Patriots following two seasons in New England, which included 14 starts. Houston brought him in for a workout and signed him to the team’s practice squad entering 2025.
29) DB Benjamin St-Juste (N) — Los Angeles Chargers
CFL rights holder: Toronto Argonauts
The Montreal, Que. native begins the 2025 NFL campaign as a backup cornerback for the Bolts. He signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Chargers in the offseason.
30) DL Brent Urban (N) — Baltimore Ravens
CFL rights holder: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Mississauga, Ont. native signed to Baltimore’s practice squad in late August. He enters his 11th NFL season and eighth with the Ravens.
31) REC Jared Wayne (N) — Houston Texans
CFL rights holder: Toronto Argonauts
The Peterborough, Ont. native has returned to the team on the practice squad after being waived earlier in August.
Canadian NFL free agents worth tracking: DL Eli Ankou, REC Chase Claypool, QB Taylor Elgersma, OL Kyle Hergel, DL Hayden Harris, DL Paris Shand, and OL Dakoda Shepley.