Roje Stona and Jordan Petaia Eye NFL Careers

Roje Stona, the Olympic discus champion and Australian rugby union player Jordan Petaia are the latest athletes to join the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program. This initiative identifies global talent, offering athletes a chance to develop American football skills and potentially secure an NFL roster spot.

In January, 14 athletes will attend a 10-week training camp in Florida, featuring on-field drills and classroom sessions. The program concludes with a showcase for NFL scouts ahead of the 2025 draft. Previous participants such as rugby union players Louis Rees-Zammit and Travis Clayton and Gaelic footballer Charlie Smyth, have successfully transitioned to the NFL.

The 2025 cohort includes UK athletes Dante Barnett and Mapalo Mwansa, with Irish rugby union player Aaron Sexton also participating. Roje Stona, 25, trained with NFL teams last spring before earning Jamaica’s first Olympic gold in a throwing event at Paris 2024.

Petaia, 24, seeks to follow in the footsteps of fellow Australian Jordan Mailata, who transitioned from rugby league to become a vital member of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line and a Super Bowl contender in 2023. Since its inception in 2017, the IPP program has helped 41 international players join NFL teams with 23 currently affiliated and six on active rosters.

The NFL emphasizes the program’s role in global football development with executive Peter O’Reilly highlighting its transformative impact on athletes’ careers. The program symbolizes the NFL’s commitment to growing the sport internationally by fostering diverse talent and expanding its global appeal.

As the 2025 class prepares, the league looks forward to their progress and potential contributions to American football.