The NFL's search for international talent moves to Germany.
The league announced Tuesday it will conduct the NFL International Combine in Germany at a sports training facility outside of Cologne, on Oct. 19.
The workout mirrors the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Last season the International Combine took place in Australia.
"Following last year's inaugural International Combine in Australia, we are excited to explore the talent pool internationally," Damani Leech, NFL Chief Operating Officer of International, said in a statement. "Since 2017, the NFL's International Player Pathway program has provided international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level and develop their skills, and we hope to discover new talent through this event in Germany."
The International Combine will host up to 50 athletes selected to go through drills in front of NFL talent evaluators.
For those who shine, the next step is a potential spot in the NFL's International Player Pathway program, which aims to provide international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, hone their skills, and, hopefully, ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster. During the 2019 NFL season, eight teams will carry an additional overseas player on their practice squads as part of the program.
The International Combine allows the league to better scout and scour for international talent that might otherwise remain unearthed. Panthers defensive end Efe Obada and Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata are two players who have come to the NFL through the NFL's International Player Pathway program in recent years.
