For the past 5 years, we’ve been compiling a list of European NFL players through extensive research and with the assistance of The Growth of a Game community. One of our stated goals is to increase the public awareness of American football in Europe, and one of the ways in which we aim to do so is by acknowledging the prevalence of American football players who have come from Europe to play in the National Football League.
Players on this list have all met two important criteria for inclusion: 1) They were born in Europe and 2) They signed a contract with an NFL team.
These two criteria open the door for the inclusion of many names while conversely limiting inclusion of others, however there needed to be an objective line drawn to prevent an expansion on what it means to be an “NFL player from Europe”. We have not included players of European descent who were born in the United States (or elsewhere outside of Europe), however we have included Americans born in Europe as well as Europeans who immigrated to the United States at an early age. We do not aim to identify what it means to be a European – instead we chose to base this list purely on the location of birth. Doing otherwise would make this a subjective list rather than an objective one.
It deserves noting that the National Football League has been around in some form or another since 1920. Since its inception, the league has changed names twice, merged, expanded, and contracted. Teams have changed names and locations, and have occasionally folded. Many of the team names you’ll see under the list of former players may be unfamiliar, which means they are likely a team that has either folded or changed names. The Chicago Bears, for example, were once named the Decatur Staleys and the Chicago Staleys before settling into their current name and home.
Along with each name is the player’s position, team(s), and birth place. This list is also ever-expanding and evolving, with missing information to be provided by The Growth of a Game community and staff as time goes on. Additions, edits, and improvements are welcomed in the comments section below. This list will be updated regularly.
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 1st, 2019.
ACTIVE PLAYERS
ALBANIA
•Kristjan Sokoli
(OG, Free Agent, Pukë)
ENGLAND
•Jay Ajayi
(RB, Free Agent, London)
•Chigbo Anunoby
(NT, Free Agent, London)
•Jack Crawford
(DT, Falcons, London)
•Josh Mauro
(DE, Raiders, St. Albans)
•Lawrence Okoye
(DE, Free Agent, Croydon)
•Menelik Watson
(OT, Broncos, Manchester)
ESTONIA
•Margus Hunt
(DE, Colts, Karksi-Nuia)
FRANCE
•Anthony Dablé
(WR, Free Agent, Grenoble)
GERMANY
•Moritz Böhringer
(WR, Free Agent, Stuttgart)
•Kasim Edebali
(OLB, Broncos, Hamburg)
•Jerome Felton
(FB, Free Agent, Düren)
•Brandon Gibson
(WR, Patriots, ?)
•Ladarius Green
(TE, Steelers, Berlin)
•R.J. Harris
(WR, Saints, Wurzburg)
•Mike Jenkins
(CB, Cardinals, Neuenbürg)
•Jamaal Jones
(WR, Chargers, Heidelberg)
•Markus Kuhn
(DT, Patriots, Mannheim)
•Jeff Locke
(P, Vikings, Frankfurt)
•Mark Nzeocha
(LB, Cowboys, Ansbach)
•Tyrus Thompson
(OT, Saints, ?)
•Sebastian Vollmer
(OT, Patriots, Karst)
•Björn Werner
(OLB, Jaguars, Berlin)
•Andrew Williamson
(S, Colts, ?)
ITALY
•Giorgio Tavecchio
(K, Raiders, Milan)
•Mykkele Thompson
(S, Giants, Naples)
POLAND
•Sebastian Janikowski
(K, Raiders, Wałbrzych)
ROMANIA
•Zoltán Meskó
(P, Free Agent, Timișoara)
SCOTLAND
•Graham Gano
(K, Panthers, Arbroath)
SWEDEN
•David Hedelin
(OL, Free Agent, Stockholm)
•Sebastian Johannson
(OL, Free Agent, Karlstad)
TURKEY
•Chris Conley
(WR, Jaguars, Adana)
FORMER PLAYERS
AUSTRIA
Toni Fritsch (K, Cowboys/Chargers/Oilers/Saints, Vienna), Andy Gross (OG, Giants, Berkam), Milo Gwosden (E/HB, Buffalo Bisons, Agram), Toni Linhart (K, Saints/Colts/Jets, Donawitz), Steve Schimititisch (C/G, New York Yankees, Vienna), Ray Wersching (K, Chargers, 49ers, Mondsee).
BELGIUM
George Jakowenko (K, Raiders/Bills, Charleroi), Terry Ray (Safety, Patriots/Falcons, SHAPE).
BULGARIA
Boni Petcoff (OT, Columbus Tigers, ?).
CROATIA
Momčilo Gavrić (K, 49ers, Sinj), Visco Grgich (OG/OT, 49ers, Zlarin), George Perpich (OT, Colts/Brooklyn Dodgers, ?).
CYPRUS
Garo Yepremian (K, Lions/Dolphins/Saints/Buccaneers, Lamaca).
CZECH REPUBLIC
Al Hust (DE, Chicago Cardinals, Orlova), Jerry Krysl (OT, Cleveland Bulldogs, Bohemia), Mirro Roder (K/P, Bears/Bucs, Olomouc), Will Svitek (OT, Chiefs/Falcons/Patriots/Bengals/Titans, Prague), Bullets Walson (FB/HB/QB, Washington Senators/Buffalo Bisons, Dolní Žukov).
DENMARK
Morten Andersen (K, Saints/Falcons/Giants/Chiefs/Vikings, Copenhagen), Bud Jorgensen (OT, Packers/Eagles, ?), Wagner Jorgensen (C, Brooklyn Dodgers, ?), Hans Nielsen (K, Bears, Vejle).
ENGLAND
Vince Abbott (K, Chargers, London), Jermaine Allen (RB, Bears/Saints, London), Marvin Allen (WR, Steelers/Dolphins, London), John Caldwell (RB, St. Louis All-Stars, Blackpool), Ken Clark (P, Rams, Southampton), Harry Collins (OG, Buffalo Bisons, Leicester), Mike Dawson (DE/DT, Cardinals, Dorking), John Dibb (OT, Newark Tornadoes, Wilsden), Aden Durde (LB, Panthers/Chiefs, Middlesex), Victor Ebubedike (RB, Jets, London), Mike Estep (OG, Bills/Packers, Northampton), Domonique Foxworth (DB, Broncos/Falcons/Ravens, Oxford), Owen Gill (RB, Colts/Rams, London), Larry Green (DE, Canton Bulldogs, Yorkshire), Rob Hart (K, Buccaneers/Dolphins/Saints, Devizes), Bobby Howfield, (K, Broncos/Jets, Bushey), Ian Howfield (K, Oilers, Watford), Rhys Lloyd (K, Panthers/Ravens, Dover), Mick Luckhurst (K, Falcons, Redbourn), Scott McCready (WR, Patriots/Panthers,/Chiefs, London),Pat Morrison (S, Bears/Giants, London), Vince Newsome (DB, Rams/Browns, Braintree), John O’Callaghan (TE, Seahawks, London), Wayne Radloff (C/OG, Falcons, London), Maury Segal (DE/HB/QB, Cleveland Bulldogs, ?), Rick Sharp (DT/OT, Steelers/Broncos, London), Tim Shaw (LB, Panthers/Jaguars/Bears/Titans, Exeter), John Smith (K, Patriots, Leafield), Galand Thaxton (LB, Falcons/Chargers, Mildinhall), Ricky Thomas (S, Seahawks, London), Osi Umenyiora (DE/OLB, Giants/Falcons, London), Mike Walker (K, Patriots, Lancaster).
ESTONIA
Michael Roos (OT, Titans, Taebla).
FINLAND
Seppo Evwaraye (OL, Vikings, Vasaa), Michael Quarshie (DT, Raiders, Erlangen (GER)), Klaus Alinen (DE, Falcons, Pori), Iiro Luoto (TE, Jets, Espoo), Karri Kuuttila (OG, Rams, ?), Matti Lindholm (LB, Vikings, ?).
FRANCE
Jethro Franklin (DE, Seahawks, Saint-Nazaire), Philippe Gardent (LB, Redskins/Panthers, Grenoble), Charles Romes (CB/S, Bills/Chargers, Verdun), Pat Saindon (OG, Saints/Falcons, Nice), Sébastien Sejean (S, Rams, Paris), Marc-Angelo Soumah (WR, Browns, Mulhouse), Richard Tardits (LB, Cardinals/Patriots, Biarritz).
GERMANY
Mark Adickes (OG, Chiefs/Saints, Stuttgart), John Alt (OT, Chiefs, Stuttgart), Zenon Andrusyshyn (P, Chiefs, Gunzburg), Frank Aschenbrenner (RB, Chicago Hornets, Heibuehl), Darnell Autry (RB, Bears/Eagles, Wiesbaden), Robert Awalt (TE, Cardinals/Cowboys/Bills, Landsthul), Daniel Benetka (DE, Falcons, Leipzig), Matt Berning (LB, Jets, Duisburg), Terry Billups (DB, Cowboys/Patriots, Wiesbaden), Willie Blade (DT, Cowboys/Jaguars, Landstuel), Dorian Boose (DE, Jets/Redskins, Frankfurt), Ken Brown (LB, Broncos, Wiesbaden), Brandon Burton (CB, Vikings/Bills/Bengals/Colts, ?), Bruce Collie (OG, 49ers/Eagles, Nuremberg), Dick Dobeliet (RB, Dayton Triangles, ?), John Engelberger (DE, 49ers/Broncos, Heidelberg), James Fitzpatrick (OT, Chargers/Raiders, Heidelberg), Ron George (LB, Falcons/Vikings/Chiefs, Heidelberg), Werner Hippler (TE, Chargers, Cologne), Domenik Hixon (WR/KR, Broncos/Giants/Panthers, Neunkirchen), John Jurkovic (DT, Packers/Jaguars/Browns, Friedrichshafen), Terry Kinard (S, Giants/Oilers, Bitburg), Jeff Knapple (QB, Broncos, Wurzburg), Markus Koch (DE, Redskins, Niedermarsberg), Chris Kolodziejski (TE, Steelers, Augsburg). Karl Kremser (K, Dolphins, Salzwedel), Mike Kullman (DB, Eagles, Frankfurt), Doug Legursky (OG/C, Steelers/Bills/Chargers, Frankfurt), D.D. Lewis (LB, Seahawks/Broncos, Bremermhaven), Nick Lowery (K, Patriots/Chiefs/Jets, Munich), Marvin Marshall (WR, Buccaneers, Aschaffenburg), Tony Mayberry (C, Buccaneers, Wurzburg), Anthony McDowell (RB, Buccaneers, Augsburg), Dan McMillen (DE, Raiders/Eagles, Wiesbaden), Gerald McNeil (WR, Browns, Oilers, Frankfurt), Ray Mickens (CB, Jets/Browns/Patriots, Frankfurt), Dwayne Missouri (DE, Cowboys, Frankfurt), Christian Mohr (DE, Seahawks/Eagles/Browns, Aachen), Ralf Mojsiejenko (P, Chargers/Redskins/49ers, Salzgitter Lebenstadt), Kyle Moore (DE, Buccaneers/Lions/Bills, Bears, ?), Horst Mühlmann (K, Bengals/Eagles, Dortmund), Jamar Nesbit (OG, Panthers/Jaguars/Saints, Heidelberg), John Nesser (OG, Columbus Panhandles, Trier), Phil Nesser (OG, Columbus Panhandles, Saarbrucken), Jeff Nixon (S, Bills, Furstenfeldbruck), Lawrence Okoye (DT, 49ers/Cardinals/Jets/Cowboys/Bears/Dolphins, Croydon), Bill Passuelo (OT, Columbus Tigers, Ludenscheid Stadt), Joel Patten (OT, Browns/Colts/Chargers/Raiders, Augsburg), Hank Piro (DE, Eagles, Northoltz), Kavika Pittman (DE, Cowboys/Broncos/Panthers, Frankfurt), Alan Reid (RB, Eagles, Wurzburg), Ed Reynolds (LB, Patriots/Giants, Stuttgart), Tony Richardson (FB, Chiefs/Vikings/Jets, Frankfurt), Constantin Ritzmann (DE, Falcons, Freiburg), Gerhard Schwedes (HB, New York Titans/Patriots, Freiburg), Mike Sellers (TE, Redskins/Browns, Frankfurt), Siddeeq Shabazz (DB, Raiders/Falcons/Saints, Frankfurt), Arnie Simkus (DE, Jets/Vikings, Schlava), William Sims (LB, Vikings, Frankfurt), Gary Smith (OG, Bengals, Bitburg), Ernie Stautner (DT, Steelers, Cham), Joel Steed (NT, Steelers, Frankfurt), Fred Steinfort (K, Raiders/Falcons/Broncos/Patriots/Bills, Wetter). Travis Stephens (RB, Buccaneers, Wiesbaden). Tony Stewart (TE, Eagles/Bengals/Raiders, Lohne). Joe Szczecko (DT, Falcons/Giants, Lahr), Jamaar Taylor (WR, Giants, Giessen), Patrick Venzke (OT, Jaguars/Colts/Eagles, Essen), Tony Vinson (RB, Ravens, Frankfurt), Uwe von Schamann (K, Dolphins, Berlin), Gary Walker (C, Cowboys, Hassfurt), David Whitehurst (QB, Packers, Baumhaulder), Reggie Williams (WR, Jaguars, Landstuhl), Keith Zinger (TE, Falcons, Heidelberg).
GREECE
Chris Farasopoulas (S, Jets/Saints, Piraeus), Angelo Loukas (G, Bills/Patriots, Corinth), John Maskas (OG/OT, Bills, Chios), Gust Zarnas (OG/OT, Bears/Brooklyn Dodgers/Packers, Ikaris).
HUNGARY
Charlie Gogolak (K, Redskins/Patriots, Rabahicleug), Pete Gogolak (K/P, Bills/Giants, Budapest), Steve Mike-Mayer (K, 49ers/Lions/Saints/Colts, Budapest).
IRELAND
Francis Fitzgerald (QB, Toledo Maroons, County Kerry), Tomm Graham (OG, Eagles, Omagh), Bertie Maher (DE, Detroit Heralds, County Mayo), Brian McGrath (OG, Louisville Brecks, ?), Tom McGlaughlin (FB, Tonawanda Kardex, ?), Bob Nash (DE/OT, Akron Pros/Bufallo All-Americans/Rochester Jeffersons/Giants, County Meathe), Con O’Brien (OT, Giants/Boston Bulldogs, ?), Neil O’Donoghue (K/P, Bills/Buccaneers/Cardinals, Dublin), John Sinnott (OT, Colts, Wexford), Adrian Young (LB, Eagles/Lions/Bears, Dublin).
ITALY
Bruno Banducci (OG/OT, Eagles/49ers, Tasignano), Ping Bodie (FB, Hartford Blues, Corleto Perticara), Jack Bonadies (OG/OT, Hartford Blues, Corleto Perticara), Dom Cara (E, Pittsburgh Pirates, Reggio di Calabria), Enio Conti (OG, Eagles, Naples), Frank Gaziano (OG, Boston Yanks, Realemonte), Pete Gorgone (QB, Giants, Bruca), David Knight (WR, Jets, Trieste), Massimo Manca (K, Bengals, Sassari), Nick Mike-Mayer (K, Falcons/Eagles/Bills, Bologna), Leo Nomellini (DT/OT, 49ers, Lucca), Kerry Porter (RB, Bills/Raiders/Broncos, Vicenza), Joe Santone (OG, Hartford Blues, Campobasso), Joe Savoldi (FB, Bears, Milan), Ralph Sazio (OT, Brooklyn Dodgers, Avellino), Rocky Segretta (DE, Hartford Blues, Monreale), Ralph Vince (OG/OT/DE, Cleveland Indians/Cleveland Bulldogs/Cleveland Panthers, Vinci), Sandro Vitiello (K, Bengals, Broccastella), Elnardo Webster (LB, Steelers, Gortiza), Will Yeatman (OT, Patriots/Dolphins/Texans, Naples).
LATVIA
Vilnis Ezerins (RB, Rams, ?).
LITHUANIA
Tautvydas Kieras (LB, Chiefs, Vilnius), Bill Lajousky (OG, Pittsburgh Pirates, Vilnius), Arunas Vasys (LB, Eagles, ?).
MONTENEGRO
Novo Bojovic (K, Cardinals, Podgorica).
NETHERLANDS
Jim Asmus (K, 49ers, Meppal), Romeo Bandison (DT, Redskins, The Hague), Geraldo Boldewijn (WR, Falcons, Amsterdam), Case DeBruijn (P, Chiefs, The Hague), Harald Hasselbach (DE/DT, Broncos, Amsterdam), Pascal Matla (C, Saints, Leidschendam), Ricky Tjong-a-tjoe (DT, Chargers, Amsterdam).
NORWAY
Halvor Hagen (DE/OG/OT, Cowboys/Patriots/Bills, Oslo), Bill Irgens (FB, Minneapolis Marines, Stavanger), Leif Larsen (DT, Bills, Oslo), Mike Mock (LB, Jets, Trondheim), Jan Stenerud (K, Chiefs/Packers/Vikings, Fetsund).
POLAND
Babatunde Aiyegbusi (OT, Vikings Oleśnica), Dutch Connor (RB, Providence Steam Roller, ?), Alex Gorgal (FB, Rock Island Independents, ?), Jack Grossman (FB, Brooklyn Dodgers, ?), Jason Maniecki (DT, Buccaneers, Rabka), Chester Marcol (K, Packers/Oilers, Opole), Rich Szaro (K, Saints/Jets, Rzeszów).
ROMANIA
Bernie Feibish (C, Eagles, ?), George Gross (DT, Chargers, Weilau), Red Seidelson (OG/OT, Frankford Yellow Jackets/Akron Indians, ?).
RUSSIA
John Barsha (FB, Rochester Jeffersons, ?), Morris Glassman (DE, Columbus Panhandles, ?), Al Greene (RB, Milwaukee Badgers, ?), Ace Gutowsky (FB/HB/QB, Portsmouth Spartans/Lions/Brooklyn Dodgers, Komolty), Max Padlow (DE, Eagles, ?), Harry Shaub (OG, Eagles, ?).
SCOTLAND
Tom Birney (K, Packers, Bellshill), Scott Couper (WR, Bears, Glasgow), Art Matsu (HB/QB, Dayton Triangles, Glasgow), Andrew Peterson (OG, Panthers, Greenock), James Robertson (RB, Akron Pros, Aberdeen), Ian Sunter (K, Lions/Bengals, Dundee), Lawrence Tynes (K, Chiefs/Giants/Buccaneers, Greenock), Alex Waits (P, Seahawks, Glasgow).
SERBIA
Filip Filipović (P, Cowboys, Belgrade).
SLOVENIA
Joe Cerne (C, 49ers/Falcons, Črnomelj), Joe Kodba (C, Colts, ?).
SPAIN
Jess Rodriguez (RB/OT, Buffalo Bisons, Aviles), Kelly Rodriguez (FB/HB/QB, Frankford Yellow Jackets/Minneapolis Red Jackets, Aviles), Ray Rowe (TE, Redskins, Rota).
SWEDEN
Carl-Johan Björk (LB, Cowboys/Packers/Bengals, Stockholm), Chris Gartner (K, Browns, Gothenburg), Stone Hallquist (RB/QB, Milwaukee Badgers, Sodholm), Ove Johansson (K, Eagles, Gothenburg), Karl Hilmers Johnson (OG/OT, Akron Pros, Javia), Ola Kimrin (K, Redskins, Malmo), John Kvist (OT, Rochester Jeffersons, ?), Göran Lingmerth (K, Browns, Nassjo), Björn Nittmo (K, Giants/Chiefs, Lomma), Curly Oden (FB/RB/QB, Providence Steam Roller/Boston Braves, Stockholm).
TURKEY
Tunch Ilkin (C/OT/DT, Steelers/Packers, Istanbul).
UKRAINE
Art Dorfman (C/DE/OG, Buffalo Bisons, Odessa), Charles Goldenberg (FB/OG/RB/QB, Packers, Odessa), Igor Olshansky (DE, Chargers/Cowboys/Dolphins, Dnepropetrovsk).
WALES
Jon Norris (DE, Bears, ?), Terry Price (K, Bills, Hendy), Allan Watson (K, Steelers, Blackwood).
Have we left anyone out? Please let us know (along with reference links) in the comments section below.
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