Defensive end/linebacker Kasim Edebali from Germany is continuing his NFL career after signing a one year contract with the Denver Broncos.
Edebali, a native of Hamburg, Germany, played the previous three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, appearing in each of 48 possible games and starting twice. He tallied 54 tackles, eight sacks, three passes defensed and one forced fumble with the Saints.
The 6-foot-2, 253 pound former Boston College Eagle made his way to the NFL as a college free agent in 2014 after a stellar collegiate career that featured 40 starts in 49 game appearances. Edebali’s final season featured multiple accolades, including second-team All-ACC honors as awarded by conference coaches, a share of the program’s Paul Cavanaugh Award and served as team co-captain.
A decade ago, Edebali was a teenage quarterback with the Hamburg Huskies in northern Germany. He hoped he might become good enough to one day play for the hometown Sea Devils in NFL Europe. After NFL Europe folded in 2007, he found his way to Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire as an international exchange student for his junior and senior years of high school after laboriously sending out game film to schools across the United States.
After being converted to linebacker/defensive end, he performed well enough to earn a scholarship from Boston College and his football career took off.
Edebali will join another international player, Adam Gotsis, on Denver’s front seven.