The NFL is taking its search for young talent to the other side of the world with the planned opening of an academy in Australia later this year and the construction of a high-performance facility set to open in 2026, the leagueThursday, part of a larger effort to expand interest in American football overseas and reach a lofty revenue goal set for 2027.
Student athletes between the ages of 12 and 18 will be eligible to apply for an NFL development program in partnership with the A.B. Paterson College in south-east Queensland, which will provide educational resources for potential players during training. Those players could then be recruited to play college football in the United States or participate in the NFL's International Player Pathway program, through which extra roster spots are made available to overseas players who are scouted and recruited by individual teams.
In addition to the academy for young players, the NFL’s Australian expansion will include a high-performance facility set to open in 2026 on the grounds of the college that will be available for community use.Australian Jordan Mailata, an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, was scouted by the league through the International Player Pathway program in 2017 and went on to play in Super Bowl LVII in 2023.