At the end of training camp, IPP players can either be signed to their assigned club’s 53-man roster or waived. Players who clear waivers may be signed to their assigned team’s practice squad using an IPP exemption that allows for an extra practice squad spot. IPP players signed to a practice squad using the exemption may not be signed to any team’s active roster that season; however, players signed to a practice squad without the exemption are treated in the same way as other practice squad players for roster purposes.

As of 2024, more than half of NFL teams have signed international players to their offseason/practice squad rosters as a direct result of the IPP program, with several players making active rosters. Since the IPP was instituted in 2017, more than 50 players from 18 countries have trained in the U.S. through the IPP program.

Three players whose careers started in the IPP program — Efe Obada, Jordan Mailata, and Jakob Johnson— have recorded over 1,000 career NFL snaps.

NFL Africa

The NFL’s expanded presence in Africa reflects the league’s commitment to growing the game at all levels across the continent. This expansion builds on successful events in Ghana in 2022 and Kenya in 2023 and includes camps, NFL FLAG clinics, and fan events. The program expanded its reach to Nigeria in 2024.

“It has always been a dream of mine to bring the NFL to Africa, and over the past couple of years, The Uprise and NFL have made that dream a reality,” said Osi Umenyiora, NFL Legend and lead ambassador for NFL Africa. “It’s been incredible to see the opportunities it has provided through the International Player Pathway Program, the NFL Academy and NFL FLAG, and this is only the beginning.”

As of 2024, more than 125 NFL players are of African descent, either born in Africa or as first-generation Americans, underscoring the growing connection between the league and the continent.

The NFL International Combine

The NFL’s International Combine allows clubs to identify candidates for the IPP program. The invitational scouting showcase, mirrored after the annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, is designed to discover and evaluate potential NFL talent from around the globe for a potential spot in the IPP.

Players who meet specific performance standards and display the potential to play in the NFL will be invited to train in the U.S. for three months as part of the IPP program. The number of participants will be reduced following training camp and a select number will be allocated to designated NFL clubs for the upcoming season.

The International Combine is also a testing ground for new drills that can be used to evaluate player performance. The 2021 International Combine featured several new drills that may more effectively align with player movement on the field. The “hoop drill” that debuted at the 2019 International Combine is now used to evaluate defensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine.