Best International NFL Players of All Time

The NFL is the most American league with the lowest proportion of foreign born players on active rosters. Even so, foreigners have had a huge impact. So who are the 8 best international NFL players of all time?

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8. Jesse Sapolu


Jesse Sapolu is a reason why Samoans are built for sports. The four-time Super Bowl winner is one of the best international NFL players of all time. Born in Samoa, the offensive lineman played his entire 13-seasons career at the 49ers.

Sapolu was a key figure of the 49ers' dynasty during the 80s and 90s protecting both Hall of Fame quarterbacks Steve Young and Joe Montana. Sapolu played 23 postseason games which ranks him third all-time for an offensive lineman.

Jesse Sapolu and Micheal Jordan during Super Bowl practice week. 1995#SF49ers pic.twitter.com/4yy2qTHWb3

— San Francisco 49ers: Past And Present (@sf_touchdown) December 4, 2021

Source

7. Sebastian Vollmer


Germans love the NFL which is why they're among the favorites for an international NFL team. Sebastian Vollmer was the first German-born player to be drafted into the NFL after the New England Patriots selected him in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft.

The offensive tackle only started playing football at 14 years of age. A key part of the Patriots dynasty, he is one of the best international NFL players after picking up two Super Bowl rings in a six-year career, cut short because of persistent injuries.

#Patriots all decade team offense: QB Tom Brady RB James White FB James Develin WR Wes Welker WR Julian Edelman FLEX Danny Amendola TE Rob Gronkowski OT Nate Solder OT Sebastian Vollmer OG Joe Thuney OG Logan Mankins C David Andrews

— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) April 29, 2020

Source

6. Gary Anderson


South African Gary Andersen is one of the best international NFL players of all time and is the third highest point scorer in NFL history. Andersen is best remembered for his time in Pittsburgh.

Andersen was so good he made four Pro Bowls and the Steelers' All-Time Team following 13 seasons in Pittsburgh. In the 1998 season with the Vikings he became the first kicker to convert every point after touchdown and all field goals during a regular season.

GARY ANDERSON -2021 HoF nominee -Steelers all-time leading scorer -Most accurate kicker in NFL history during career -Surpassed Blanda for most career pts in NFL history (now 3rd) -NFL All-Decade Team 1980’s & 1990’s -Greatest FG in Steelers history ⬇️pic.twitter.com/WGoFlksDGn

— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) September 16, 2020

Source

5. Christian Okoye


Nigerian born Christian Okoye only arrived in the America at the age of 21 and he didn't play American football two years later. The Chiefs still picked him up with the 35th overall pick of the 1987 draft.

The "Nigerian Nightmare" had a ferocious combination of size and speed leading him to become one of the greatest international NFL players ever.

Ongoing knee injuries ended his career after only six seasons but he earned two Pro Bowl appearances and is in the Chiefs Hall of Fame.

Most career rushing yards in #Chiefs franchise history

Jamaal Charles - 7,260 Priest Holmes - 6,070 Larry Johnson - 6,015 Christian Okoye - 4,897 Ed Podolak - 4,451 — NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) June 13, 2022

Source

...I'll be back tomorrow with the final part of the series.


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Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.



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I think there is a lot of talent outside the US for sure. But this NFL system is only possible in the US, like the whole franchise idea would not work in other countries which is why NFL is probably the only way to be very succesful in this sport. I am very curious for the top 3 though :)

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a whole lot of Australians are making it through and a lot of its got to do with the rugby culture we have over here. Great for the game though it's amazing seeing fellow Aussies tearing it up over in the states!

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This is really interesting information to me and I didn't know about most of these guys being from other countries. It is tough to tell because so many people in the US have international heritage so if they don't highlight it on screen, we don't end up knowing these things. Thanks for that.

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That's true, many have Pacific Islander background which is very close to my heart. It's a sport that is gaining some international exposure which the NFL has to do if it wants to keep moving forward

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