When conversation about English athletes having success in American sports comes up, most responses usually lead to football (soccer) players who have left their mark in the MLS or tennis stars, or PGA pros. But rarely do you hear about some of the impressive NFL talent that England has produced.
True, the journey from England to the NFL is not traditional. But over the years, a select number of individuals have made the trip across the pond to compete in the American football game. To give these individuals credit, they did not just come to make the roster; they came to compete and make an impact. With all respect to Scott McCready, who was the first Brit to earn a Super Bowl ring (he was a practice roster player only), here are the top five NFL players from England.
Osi Umenyiora – Defensive End
Arguably the best player to come from England, Osi Omenyiora is the British crown jewel of NFL football. Born in Golders Green, London, Umenyiora’s family relocated to Nigeria when he was seven, and by the time he was a teenager, he found himself moving to Alabama. After playing just two seasons of high school football, Umenyiora accepted a scholarship to Troy University.
Four years later, the defensive end found himself selected in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. One of the best defensive players of the early 2000s, Umenyiora was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Giants (XLII and XLVI), earning two Pro Bowl selections and being named to the All-Pro team twice during his twelve-year career. For British NFL fans, especially those who enjoy using betting apps, Umenyiora made Sunday football games that much more exciting with one of their own to cheer for.
Jay Ajayi – Running Back
Born in London, England, Jay Ajayi and his family moved to Maryland when he was a youth before settling down in Texas, where he became one of the best high school running backs in the country. Accepting a scholarship to join the Boise State Broncos, Ajayi became a two-time First-Team All-Mountain West Conference recipient during his sophomore and junior seasons. Bypassing his final college season, Ajayi was selected 149th in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
In just his second season, Ajayi became the first player in NFL history to rush for 200+ yards in three games in a single season. Halfway through his third season, Ajayi, who had become one of the most exciting running backs in the league, found himself traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he helped defeat the New England Patriots to capture the Eagles’ first Super Bowl championship.
Jack Crawford – Defensive End
Others may have won a Super Bowl ring, but their contributions to the title run were minimal, whereas Jack Crawford played 109 games over his nine NFL seasons. Born in Kilburn, London, Crawford moved to New Jersey at the age of 16, attending St. Augustine Preparatory and taking up football for the first time, joining the Hermits football team as a sophomore. A four-year stint with the Penn State Nittany Lions turned into being a fifth-round selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Although he never earned a spot on a Pro Bowl roster or advanced past the first round of the playoffs, Crawford became a dependable member of four NFL franchises as a rotational
Member of the defensive line.
Jermaine Eluemunor – Offensive Lineman
Currently starting for the New York Giants at right tackle, Jermaine Eluemunor, like many other offensive linemen, struggles to make the headlines, regardless of the work that he puts in. Born in Chalk Farm, London, Eluemunor was inspired to take up the NFL game after watching the Giants battle the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium in 2007.
A year later, Eluemunor and his family moved to New Jersey, where he starred in both football and wrestling at Morris Knolls High School. Unable to attract interest from any major college program, Eluemunor took the junior college route out of high school before eventually earning interest from numerous NCAA programs, including Texas A&M. Selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2017 Draft, Eluemunor has bounced around the league playing for six different teams.
Efe Obada – Defensive End
Efe Obada’s addition to this list may come with an asterisk, as he was officially born in Lagos, Nigeria. However, at the age of 10, while living in the Netherlands, Obada’s mother paid a woman to take him and his sister to the UK in search of a better life. Sadly, that woman then left the two youths homeless on the streets of East London. Bouncing around from foster home to foster home.
It wouldn’t be until the age of 22 that Obada found comfort and a release in the game of American football, playing for the London Warriors in the BAFA National League. Possessing raw athletic talent and size, as a tight end / defensive end, Obada played just a handful of games with the Warriors before drawing the attention of the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Atlanta Falcons. It wouldn’t be until the Carolina Panthers signed Obada as part of the NFL International Player Pathway Program that he found a secure roster spot, playing his first official game three years after his first NFL tryout.
Written by Chloe Watkins
