There have been countless legendary players in the NFL over the years, however, with so many legendary players, there have been plenty who were not American-born.
Sure, the NFL is the American league with the lowest number of players who are foreign-born, but, there have still been plenty who have risen to stardom!
Born in the US or not, these foreign-born NFL legends have done plenty to raise the NFL lines odds, and keep us more than entertained. But, which top the charts?
We have put together a comprehensive list of the international NFL players who top the all-time charts.
Want to see?
#1. Sebastian Janikowski
Janikowski is a 2 time All-American kicker. He was born in Poland and was a soccer sensation as a teen, as a member of the under-17’s team, and now he is one of the few kickers in the history of the NFL to have been drafted in the 1st round.
He was named as being the best kicker when he was playing college football in consecutive seasons, and he turned to being a pro early on. He did so with the goal of earning enough money to help his mother immigrate into the United States.
Back in 2011, he booted an impressive 63 yard goal, and it tied for the longest ever field goal. He also played a Raiders franchise-record of 268 games! Impressive!
#2. Hines Ward
Hines was a Super Bowl XL MVP, and he was born in South Korea. He is a minute group of receivers to finish his career with 1,000 receptions.
At the University of Georgia, he earned First-Team All-SEC honors, and was viewed as a gifted athlete who saw some quarterback action during his sophomore year.
He was then drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 1994 MLB draft, then he was a 3rd round draft pick for the Steelers, and he played a key role on the two championship teams.
He ended up selected for 4 Pro Bowl teams and has been noted as a member of the Steelers All-Time team.
It is no surprise really though, when you consider his dedication to sport!
#3. Christian Okoye
Okoye was nicknamed the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’, he was originally a track and field star at Azusa Pacific University before he decided to try out for football when he was 23 years old.
He was talented in speed, and gifted with size, and ended up being the Chief’s second round selection back in the 1987 NFL draft.
He was voted as being the AFC Offensive Player of the Year in 1989 when he won the rushing title at an impressive 1,480 yards.
Okoye was also selected for the Pro Bowl on 2 occasions in his brief 6-year career, and he was later inducted into the Chief’s Hall of Fame.
#4. Tamba Hali
Hali was an All-American linebacker at Penn State, but before then he was born in Liberia, he escaped the war-ridden nation at 10 years old and then later on was selected in the 2005 Big Ten Defensive Linemen of the Year.
He was also named as the 2006 Senior Bowl Defensive MVP… What a change of life!
He was nicknamed the ‘Tambahawk’, and was drafted by the Chiefs in the first round, ending up being a 5-time Pro Bowl selection.
He was named one of the NFL’s Top 100 Players of ‘16, and he played his whole 12-year long career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
He finished his days playing in the NFL with a total of 89.5 sacks and 32 forced fumbles!
#5. Morten Andersen
Andersen has to be one of the most decorated NFL players in the history of the league. He was nicknamed as the ‘Great Dane’ and was born in Denmark. When he retired he did so as the league’s all-time top scorer.
He was a left-footed kicker, and boy ‘o’ boy, did he have a powerful leg on him!
He also sits at number 1 for having played the most games/ longest career.
He was a 2017 inductee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and rightly so, after he was selected into 7 Pro Bowls and was voted as being in the 1980s All-Decade team, and in the 90s All-Decade team as well!
He is a member of the Saints Ring of Honor, and the Saints Hall of Fame as well!
#6. Osi Umenyiora
Umenyiora was the 56th pick in the 2003 draft. He was born in England, with Nigerian parents. And, he was a legendary dynamic pass rusher who was able to tally 15 sacks in the 2002 season for Troy State.
Hardly surprising after that, that he is a member of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame.
He collected 6 total sacks in ‘07 against the Eagles, and won 2 Super Bowl rings with the Giants.
When Umenyiora finally finished his career, he did so with 85 sacks, 4 touchdowns, and 35 forced fumbles. He played 12 seasons and the Giants inducted him into their Ring of Honor. No surprises there.
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