Tag: Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi

Efe Obada like a role model for Commanders newest signee

Ndubuisi hopes to follow Obada’s lead to a long NFL career.

Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi met with the press Thursday, his first time since being signed by the Washington Commanders Wednesday.

Ndubuisi comes to the Commanders as a result of being part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.

For those wondering, no, the signing of Ndubuisi does not unfairly eliminate a roster spot for another potential future player for the Commanders. This is because, beginning this season, each of the 32 NFL clubs is eligible to fill a 91st roster spot entering training camp and a 17th roster spot on its practice squad reserved for an international player.

The 23-year-old from Nigeria is a defensive lineman who stands 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 298 pounds. He spent last season with the Denver Broncos’ practice squad.

“I see this as an opportunity to keep living the dream, keep getting better and trying to achieve what the goal is, trying to be the best player. I feel like as each day passes I get to know, learn. It’s a learning process for me.”

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When asked what he is trying to achieve, Ndubuisi responded, “To be better than I was like previously. (I am) just trying to do the best, and just do my job. At the end of the day it’s all about doing my job.”

Ndubuisi volunteered that the coaches are very encouraging to him, he feels at home and welcomed.

Efe Obada was born in Nigeria and raised in the Netherlands and England. He was the first player to go straight from a European football league to the NFL and has had some success as a pass rusher for the Commanders.

“He’s like a role model for us because he happened to show us, prove to us that yes, it’s possible by putting more hard work and trying to (make an) impact in doing his job. I feel like if he could do it there’s nothing stopping us from doing the same.”

“I grew up playing soccer and basketball, but football for me was something I got introduced to later. I was putting hope in basketball and my first-ever video about football was greatest hits in football. I was amazed about it, and it was just so exciting.”

As a result, Ndubuisi began watching more football videos on Youtube, which furthered his interest in the sport and then led to him wanting to learn how to play it. He spoke of watching some videos and then going outside to practice what he had observed.

Ndubuisi gained his first experience in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. He was then trying to make the team as an offensive lineman, but after appearing in one preseason game, he was released.

Ex-Broncos DL Haggai Ndubuisi signs with Commanders

Former Broncos DL Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi has joined the Commanders. Denver still has an open spot on the roster for an international player.

The Washington Commanders have signed former Denver Broncos defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.

Ndubuisi (6-7, 323 pounds) is a Nigerian player who participated in Osi Umenyiora’s UpRise Academy program in Africa before being invited to an international NFL combine in London in 2021.

Ndubuisi joined the league’s IPP program in 2022 and he was allocated to the Arizona Cardinals. After spending preseason in Arizona that year, Ndubuisi was later allocated to the Broncos in 2023.

After practicing as an offensive lineman in Arizona, Ndubuisi switched to the defensive line in Denver. He spent all of the 2023 campaign on the Broncos’ practice squad, but Ndubuisi was not signed to a reserve/future contract at the end of the season.

Ndubuisi had a brief stint with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in February before joining the Commanders earlier this week. He will continue playing as a defensive lineman.

The NFL has given each team an extra spot on the offseason roster for international players and an extra spot on each practice squad for an international player this season. Denver worked out Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit last month, but he opted to join the Kansas City Chiefs instead.

With Ndubuisi moving on, the Broncos have an open spot for an international player in 2024.

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Commanders sign defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi

Ndubuisi is a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters remains busy. On Monday, Peters added running back Jeremy McNichols and quarterback Jeff Driskel to Washington’s offseason roster. On Tuesday, Peters added linebacker Mykal Walker.

On Wednesday, Peters did it again, signing defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi. If that name doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because Ndubuisi is from Nigeria and a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

The 23-year-old defensive lineman is 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 298 pounds. He spent last season with the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. In 2022, Ndubuisi was assigned to the Arizona Cardinals as an offensive lineman, appearing in one preseason game before he was released.

Ndubuisi has an incredible story. Growing up in Nigeria, he played soccer and basketball before seeing the NFL on YouTube and he was hooked. Unfortunately, Nigeria didn’t have many football teams, so he practiced alone, or would bring his friends to fields to re-enact what he would see in the videos.

In 2021, he received a break when joined the UpRise Academy, which helps identify and develop African talent and was co-founded by former Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

As a part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program, Ndubuisi will not count against Washington’s 90-man offseason roster.

The Commanders have seen players from the international program make the final roster. In recent years, David Bada and Sammis Reyes were on Washington’s roster.

Broncos host rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on free agent visit

The Broncos hosted Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on a free agent visit Monday.

The Denver Broncos hosted Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on a free agent visit Monday, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Rees-Zammit (6-3, 194 pounds) played for Gloucester Rugby, a club team in England, from 2018-2024, scoring 190 points in 69 games. He has also played for Wales’ national rugby team since 2020, scoring 70 points in 31 games.

After playing as a wing and fullback in rugby, the 23-year-old athlete now hopes to play in the NFL as a running back/wide receiver/returner.

Before his visit with the Broncos, Rees-Zammit had previous visits with the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. He’s also scheduled to visit the Kansas City Chiefs.

At the University of South Florida’s pro day last week, Rees-Zammit ran an unofficial 4.44-second 40-yard dash. He spent 10 weeks training at the IMG Academy in Florida leading up to USF’s pro day.

Rees-Zammit isn’t the first player to attempt switching from rugby to the NFL.

Hayden Smith spent time with the New York Jets from 2012-13. Daniel Adongo spent three years with the Indianapolis Colts from 2013-15.

“I think there are a lot of transferable skills,” Rees-Zammit said in an interview with the Associated Press‘ Rob Maaddi last week. “In rugby, you’re always trying to get your hands on the ball as much as often and you’re always trying to break defenses, look for spaces, be aware.

“Catching kickoffs, catch and kick receipts, punt receipts, there’s a lot of transferable skills, and I think running back shows up probably best, getting the ball in my hand early, being able to pick a gap, being able to be aware of the surroundings.”

Alex Gray spent time with the Atlanta Falcons from 2017-2019, but he never made their active roster. Christian Wade turned heads with the Buffalo Bills during preseason in 2019 and Christian Scotland-Williamson competed with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2018-20, but neither made an active roster.

Those were rugby union players. Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata was a rugby league player in Australia before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. He has started 57 games in Philly since 2020.

Although he played a different version of rugby, Mailata could give hope to Rees-Zammit that a transition to American football is feasible.

NFL teams will have a 17th spot on the practice squad this season specifically designated for an international player, and teams can carry an extra international player on the roster during training camp (91 total).

Last spring, the Broncos were allocated defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway. Ndubuisi spent last season on Denver’s practice squad, but he is no longer listed on the roster on the team’s official website.

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Haggai Ndubuisi will get his real chance with Broncos at training camp

Broncos International Player Pathway player Haggai Ndubuisi looked good at OTAs, but the real test will arrive when pads come on at camp.

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Earlier this offseason, the NFL allocated defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi to the Denver Broncos as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program.

As part of the program, the 22-year-old Nigerian lineman will not count against the 90-man offseason roster limit this summer.

Ndubuisi looked as good as a defensive lineman can in spring practices, but the real test will come when Denver puts on pads later this summer. Payton said after organized team activities wrapped up last week that Ndubuisi has looked good so far, but his real opportunity will come during training camp.

“He’s doing well,” Payton said on June 8. “The biggest challenge [is that] no one’s got shoulder pads on or anything yet. He looks good. He’s smart and I like him. I like that we have him. I think it’ll be easier for me to answer that question seven days into training camp because they’re the ones that are challenged with this type of practice.

“One guy is in charge of the ‘A’ gap on defense, and there’s an offensive lineman in charge of the ‘A’ gap. There has to be somebody acquiescing. That will sort out once we get the pads on.”

If he looks good in pads and ends up making the team, Ndubuisi will count against the 53-man roster this season. In the meantime, he won’t count against the offseason roster, giving him some security at least for the summer. Now it’s up to the young defensive lineman to take advance of his opportunity.

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Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi joins Broncos as part of NFL’s International Player Pathway

Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi is joining the Broncos as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. He does count against the roster.

The Denver Broncos are adding a new player to their defensive line depth chart, but he won’t count against the 90-man offseason roster.

The league has allocated defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi to the Broncos as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program.

Ndubuisi (6-7, 323 pounds) is a 22-year-old Nigerian lineman who played soccer and basketball growing up before joining Uprise Academy, a Nigerian football program founded by former NFL defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora.

After standing out at Uprise Academy, Ndubuisi attended an international combine in London and then went to training camp with the Arizona Cardinals last summer as part of the IPP program.

Ndubuisi was unable to make Arizona’s 53-man roster or practice squad last year, but he will now get another opportunity in Denver. He is one of 13 players participating in the 2023 IPP program. This year, there are six Nigerians, one Australian and one French player in the program.

Since the NFL launched the IPP program in 2017, 37 international players have signed with NFL teams. This marks the first time a player has joined the Broncos as part of the program.

Ndubuisi will not officially count against Denver’s roster total unless he makes the team later this summer.

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Cardinals sign Nigerian OL Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi

Ndubuisi came up through the International Pathway Program before signing with Arizona.

The Arizona Cardinals announced the signing of a new offensive lineman. They added Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi.

Ndubuisi, a native of Nigeria, is a 21-year-old who is 6-6 and 298 lbs. He was selected as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program in January. If you recall, the Cardinals added Austrian tight end Bernhardt Seikovits through the same program last season.

In 2017, playing in an all-star basketball game in Lagos, Nigeria, American coaches noticed him and that is when his football career began. He played both soccer and basketball while growing up before joining the Uprise Academy, which is a football program in Nigeria run by former NFL star Osi Umenyiora and former NBA player Ejike Ugboaja.

According to AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban, Ndubuisi was one of three potential African offensive linemen who trained in Arizona with LeCharles Bentley, a former NFL lineman who now trains pros and potential pros.

He will join the Cardinals for offseason workouts, which began Tuesday.

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