You heard that right!
The Philadelphia Eagles selected someone to join their roster after never playing in a football game, ever.
His name is Uar Bernard, and he was selected No. 251 in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft by Philadelphia. He is part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, a program that started back in 2017 to identify and develop talent internationally.
Photo courtesy of @nflafrica on Instagram
The Nigerian defensive tackle stood out in the combine due to his size, despite not playing football. The 6-foot-4, 306-pound athlete stood out even compared to the rest of the “big guys” in the combine.
Labeled an “athletic freak,” he maintains six percent body fat, along with a 39-inch vertical jump and 10-10 broad jump. It is no wonder scouts still had their eyes on him with the best measurements in each of these categories for players over 300 pounds.
He also added a 4.63 second 40-yard dash to his performance. With a time that fast, and bodyweight and size that large, those metrics are hard to come by. He has had a background in soccer and basketball, helping to explain some of his impressive stats with running and jumping, but his numbers still fly off the charts.
Only one other player in the draft, Seydoi Traore, was selected through the IPP program; however, Traore played collegiately at Arkansas State and Mississippi State. Bernard has never competed in any sort of organized football, making his journey much more interesting.
“We wanted to take the chance on the kid,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said, according to nfl.com.
Although he may have never played professionally or any level of football, his build and athleticism are rare to come by. His athleticism and strong figure can give the Eagles something no other team can have, and it could be a problem for opposing offenses.
Footwork and running are something the Eagles can work on with Bernard, but he already has one of the best physiques out of any defensive tackle in the league. This already gives Philadelphia an advantage with him being ahead of other players in his position.
The Eagles took a chance on Bernard, and they will now work hard in this postseason to adapt him to the NFL.
“It [means] a whole lot to me because I’m the first from my tribe to be at this level of NFL,” Bernard said regarding his pride in representing Nigeria, according to nfl.com.
This is not the first time the Eagles organization drafted someone through the IPP. In 2018, Philadelphia selected Jordan Mailata, an Australian rugby player. He was drafted 233rd overall. Mailata has excelled with the Eagles, helping them win Super Bowl LIX in 2025.
The Eagles are hoping for success with another international player trying to claim another Super Bowl under head coach, Nick Sirianni.
The team has found success in recent seasons with an addition like Bernard potentially boosting their defense.
Only time will tell how Bernard will adapt to the playstyle and pressure of the NFL. But, with his size and athleticism, anything is possible for this young star delivering the message that with opportunity and belief, anything is possible.