NFL selects Brazilian Durval Neto to match foreigners in March

Insertion program for foreign players can put Brazilians in the NFL

The Brazilian Durval Neto, better known as Duzão, may be one of the pioneers of the American professional league for players born here in Brazil. After the success of Cairo Santos, the defensive end was selected this Thursday (20) to participate in a kind of match that will only feature foreign players, as part of an NFL program called “Undiscovered”, for insertion of born players outside the US.

The program, created in 2017, aims to select top athletes who want to participate in training at the NFL level, improving their skills and, in the end, trying to contract with a franchise. For the first time in history, there will be representatives from Brazil and Mexico, with Australia, United Kingdom and Germany already appearing from the beginning.

One of the eight divisions of the league, chosen by drawing lots, will receive players for training camp. In the end, these are eligible for the international program, with teams having the opportunity to sign contracts with them for the practice squad. Successful examples include Efe Ibada (DE, Panthers) from the UK, Jordan Mailata (OT, Eagles) from Australia and Moritz Böhringer (TE/WR, Bengals) from Germany.

O programa, criado em 2017, objetiva a seleção de atletas de excelência que queiram participar de treinamentos no nível da NFL, melhorando suas habilidades e, no fim, tentando um contrato com alguma franquia. Pela primeira vez na história, haverá representante de Brasil e México, tendo Austrália, Reino Unido e Alemanha já aparecendo desde o início.