NFL utilizes Super Bowl platform to inspire international talent around the globe
Yesterday, the NFL debuted its new campaign for Super Bowl LVIII, "Born To Play," a powerful ode to the diverse and inclusive spirit of the international game of football. In an unprecedented two-minute commercial immediately following the Apple Music Halftime Show, the spot celebrates the growth of football around the globe and promotes increased opportunity to the sport for anyone who dreams of playing.
The spot opens in a traditional Ghanaian home with a young football fanatic itching to get outdoors to play the game, imagining himself in an intense football game through the city on his way to school – alongside NFL's prominent players including Saquon Barkley (New York Giants), Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), Cameron Jordan (New Orleans Saints) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Cleveland Browns). The journey leads the young fan to an NFL camp, where he witnesses others training to one day play at the highest levels of the game.
"The momentum around the global expansion of American football is real and exciting. Our intent is to embrace and celebrate this movement through powerful communication on our biggest stage, focusing on the growth of both flag and tackle football," said NFL Chief Marketing Officer, Tim Ellis. "This is an inspiring and warm-hearted story about a boy from Ghana who fantasizes and dreams of playing football, and it celebrates the fact that anyone, from any background, can turn that dream into reality."
Inspired by a speech given to NFL hopefuls at a football camp hosted by British-Nigerian former NFL player-pioneer and two-time Super Bowl champion Osi Umenyiora, the story mirrors the NFL and Osi's collective mission to encourage and offer youth around the world the life-changing experience and opportunity to play at the highest levels of the game.
"Talent is global but opportunity is not. Opening doors for international athletes is not only a passion of mine, but it's a way to give back to future generations of athletes" said Osi Umenyiora. "The NFL is life changing, and the pathway to play the sport is now a truly global one. The league's international football development programs are helping to change young people's lives and grow the game around the world. This campaign shows young people globally that it doesn't matter where you were born, but you were born to play."
The commercial was created by 72andSunny and directed by Andrew Dosunmu, a renowned photographer-turned-director and native of Lagos, Nigeria who is celebrated for his powerful film collaborations with Travis Scott. All film production took place in Ghana, with more than 90 local Ghanian crew members and a cast of 400 local Ghanaian actors incorporated into the spot.
Growing the game of football globally and increasing the number of international athletes playing in the NFL are priorities for the league. Five regular season games will be played as part of the 2024 NFL International Games, including an historic first-ever regular season game in São Paulo, Brazil – the first in South America.
Seeing explosive growth around the world at both the grassroots and elite levels, flag football is the most accessible format of the game. The International Federation of American Football (IFAF), supported by the NFL, led efforts for flag football's successful inclusion in the Olympics Games Los Angeles 2028.
In addition to flag, there are a number of exciting international football development programs, including the International Player Pathway (IPP) Program, which sees the NFL work to engage and enable participation for all ages and all stages to play American football (tackle and flag formats) around the world. Established in 2017, the IPP program provides opportunities for elite international athletes to compete for a potential spot on an NFL roster. To learn more about the IPP Program and other football developments programs including the NFL Academy and NFL Flag, please visit https://www.nfl.com/international/.
View photos of every NFL player selected with the sixth overall pick since the first draft in 1936.
OT Paris Johnson - Arizona Cardinals (2023)
OT Ikem Ekwonu - Carolina Panthers (2022)
WR Jaylen Waddle - Miami Dolphins (2021)
QB Justin Herbert - Los Angeles Chargers (2020)
QB Daniel Jones - New York Giants (2019)
G Quenton Nelson - Indianapolis Colts (2018)
S Jamal Adams - New York Jets (2017)
OT Ronnie Stanley - Baltimore Ravens (2016)
DE Leonard Williams - New York Jets (2015)
OT Jake Matthews - Atlanta Falcons (2014)
DE Barkevious Mingo - Cleveland Browns (2013)
CB Morris Claiborne - Dallas Cowboys (2012)
WR Julio Jones - Atlanta Falcons (2011)
OT Russell Okung - Seattle Seahawks (2010)
OT Andre Smith - Cincinnati Bengals (2009)
LB Vernon Gholston - New York Jets (2008)
S LaRon Landry - Washington Redskins (2007)
TE Vernon Davis - San Francisco 49ers (2006)
CB Adam "Pacman" Jones - Tennessee Titans (2005)
TE Kellen Winslow - Cleveland Browns (2004)
DT Johnathan Sullivan - New Orleans Saints (2003)
DT Ryan Sims - Kansas City Chiefs (2002)
DE Richard Seymour - New England Patriots (2001)
DT Corey Simon - Philadelphia Eagles (2000)
WR Torry Holt - St. Louis Rams (1999)
DE Grant Wistrom – St. Louis Rams (1998)
OT Walter Jones – Seattle Seahawks (1997)
RB Lawrence Phillips – St. Louis Rams (1996)
DE Kevin Carter – St. Louis Rams (1995)
QB Trent Dilfer – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1994)
DE Eric Curry – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993)
QB David Klingler – Cincinnati Bengals (1992)
DT Eric Swann – Phoenix Cardinals (1991)
S Mark Carrier – Chicago Bears (1990)
LB Broderick Thomas – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1989)
WR Tim Brown – Los Angeles Raiders (1988)
QB Kelly Stouffer – St. Louis Cardinals (1987)
G Jim Dombrowski – New Orleans Saints (1986)
OT Lomas Brown – Detroit Lions (1985)
DB Mossy Cade – San Diego Chargers (1984)
OT Jim Covert – Chicago Bears (1983)
DE Jeff Bryant – Seattle Seahawks (1982)
QB Rich Campbell – Green Bay Packers (1981)
DE Curtis Greer – St. Louis Cardinals (1980)
LB Barry Krauss – Baltimore Colts (1979)
WR James Lofton – Green Bay Packers (1978)
OT Warren Bryant – Atlanta Falcons (1977)
QB Richard Todd – New York Jets (1976)
LB Robert Brazile – Houston Oilers (1975)
DT Carl Barzilauskas – New York Jets (1974)
TE Charle Young – Philadelphia Eagles (1973)
OT Greg Sampson – Houston Oilers (1972)
RB John Riggins – New York Jets (1971)
LB Steve Zabel – Philadelphia Eagles (1970)
WR Ron Sellers – Boston Patriots (1969)
DE Dennis Byrd – Boston Patriots (1968)
RB Floyd Little – Denver Broncos (1967)
K Charlie Gogolak – Washington Redskins (1966)
DT Steve DeLong – Chicago Bears/San Diego Chargers (1965)
DE Carl Eller – Minnesota Vikings (1964)
LB Lee Roy Jordan – Dallas Cowboys (1963)
T Fate Echols – St. Louis Cardinals (1962)
DB Jimmy Johnson – San Francisco 49ers (1961)
RB Jack Spikes – Pittsburgh Steelers (1960)
RB Nick Pietrosante – Detroit Lions (1959)
RB Walt Kowalczyk – Philadelphia Eagles (1958)
RB Jim Brown – Cleveland Browns (1957)
RB Joe Marconi – Los Angeles Rams (1956)
T Frank Varrichione – Pittsburgh Steelers (1955)
DB Stan Wallace – Chicago Bears (1954)
RB Billy Anderson – Chicago Bears (1953)
FB Ed Modzelewski – Pittsburgh Steelers (1952)
C Jerry Groom – Chicago Cardinals (1951)
HB/DB George Thomas – Washington Redskins (1950)
RB Bob Gage – Pittsburgh Steelers (1949)
QB Y.A. Tittle – Detroit Lions (1948)
QB Ernie Case – Green Bay Packers (1947)
RB Johnny Strzykalski – Green Bay Packers (1946)
C Frank Szymanski – Detroit Lions (1945)
HB Billy Hillenbrand – New York Giants (1944)
B Steve Filipowicz – New York Giants (1943)
B Spec Sanders – Washington Redskins (1942)
B George Franck – New York Giants (1941)
QB Doyle Nave – Detroit Lions (1940)
B Bill Osmanski – Chicago Bears (1939)
C Alex Wojciechowicz – Detroit Lions (1938)
QB Sammy Baugh – Washington Redskins (1937)
T Joe Stydahar – Chicago Bears (1936)
Around the NFL
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his updated ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.
No. 47 Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
No. 49 Marshawn Kneeland, Edge, Western Michigan
No. 40 Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
No. 41 Payton Wilson, LB, N.C. State
No. 46 Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
No. 38 Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
No. 45 Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
No. 44 Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
No. 34 Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
No. 35 Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
No. 36 Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
No. 49 Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
No. 33 Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
No. 42 Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
No. 43 Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
No. 36 Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
No. 24 Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
No. 27 Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
No. 37 Zach Frazier, IOL, West Virginia
No. 25 Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
No. 38 Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri
No. 30 Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
No. 32 Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
No. 20 J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
No. 29 Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
No. 31 Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
No. 21 Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
No. 28 Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
No. 19 Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
No. 26 Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
No. 16 Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
No. 22 Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
No. 23 Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
No. 11 Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
No. 17 Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
No. 13 Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
No. 14 Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
No. 18 JC Latham, OT, Alabama
No. 15 Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
No. 12 Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
No. 10 Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
No. 8 Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
No. 9 Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
No. 7 Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
No. 6 Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
No. 5 Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
No. 4 Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
No. 3 Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
No. 2 Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
No. 1 Caleb Williams, QB, USC
