Jordan Petaia, former Australian National Rugby star to join NFL’s International Player Pathway Program
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA — Dec. 2, 2024 — The National Football League has announced its first International Player Pathway (IPP) program Class of 2025 athlete: former Australian rugby union star Jordan Petaia.
Petaia, 24 years old, earned 31 caps for Australia as a Wallaby — the youngest player to represent the team in two Rugby World Cups (Japan, 2019; France, 2023).
Born in Australia to an Australian mother and Samoan father, Petaia played his club rugby for the Queensland Reds, making his debut as their youngest ever player back in 2018.
Established in 2017, the IPP program identifies elite global talent with the aim of providing selected athletes the opportunity to improve and develop their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster.
“The decision to step away from rugby hasn’t been easy and one that took a great deal of consideration. I’d like to thank the staff, coaches and players at the Queensland Reds and the Wallabies for the last seven years. I will be forever grateful for the experiences, skills and good mates that these teams have blessed me with,” said Petaia. “It feels like the right time with my age and stage in life to pursue this dream I’ve had for a long time. Thank you to everyone involved in the NFL IPP program for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity. I am very grateful and excited for the experience that lies ahead. Wishing everyone in Rugby Australia the best for 2025 — I hope it’s a great year and I will be supporting closely from afar.”
Starting in January 2025, athletes on the program are invited to train in American football — both on the field and in the classroom — for 10 weeks at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, before showcasing their skills in front of NFL club scouts as part of the University of South Florida’s Pro Day in March.
Players can be signed as a free agent or, if eligible, selected during the 2025 NFL Draft. Each NFL club is permitted one roster exemption for a qualifying international player from the start of the club’s offseason program through the roster reduction to 53 players. At that time, qualifying international players are eligible to be signed to a 17th practice squad roster spot reserved for international athletes across any of the 32 teams.
The program has historically welcomed athletes from diverse sporting backgrounds, including rugby, basketball, Gaelic football, track & field and more, and is supported by an elite football coaching staff.
The full IPP Class of 2025 will be announced in the coming days.
The IPP program is part of a long-term commitment by the NFL and its 32 clubs to accelerate global football development efforts and establish a pathway for international talent to play the game at the highest level.
Since its inception, 41 international players have signed with NFL teams (allocated, drafted or signed as a free agent), with 23 IPP athletes currently on NFL rosters. Six of these players — Jordan Mailata (Australia), Jakob Johnson (Germany), Efe Obada (United Kingdom), Sammis Reyes (Chile), Thomas Odukoya (Netherlands) and David Bada (Germany) — have seen active rosters since 2017.
Petaia will train at the NFL Academy campus on Australia’s Gold Coast to prepare for the IPP camp before flying to the U.S.
The league opened an NFL Academy in Australia in September 2024 to serve the Asia-Pacific region. The NFL Academy is a major global initiative offering talented student-athletes the opportunity to combine full-time education alongside intensive training in American football — under the guidance of a world-class coaching staff. The Australia program opened in partnership with A.B. Paterson College, supported by the City of Gold Coast and the Queensland State Government. For more information on the NFL Academy, visit www.nflacademy.com.
For more information on the International Player Pathway program, visit www.nfl.com/international/player-pathway.
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International Player Definition: A qualifying International Player (IP) is defined as a player whose citizenship and principal place of residence are outside the United States and Canada, and who has a maximum of two years of United States high school experience. In addition, an IP must: (i) satisfy all NFL player eligibility rules; and (ii) have been eligible for a prior NFL Draft. An IP can also play any position, including kicker or punter.
Relevant IPP Program Rules: Each of the 32 NFL clubs can fill a 17th roster spot on the practice squad with a qualifying international player. A player may be an International Practice Player for a maximum of three (3) seasons, with a season defined as being on the Practice Squad or Active/Inactive List for at least six games (a bye week counts as a game). After an IP’s third season as an International Practice Player, the player remains eligible to be signed to a club’s Active/Inactive List or Practice Squad subject to standard roster rules (i.e., Standard, Exception, Veteran player).
