Five Specialists Join the NFL International Player Pathway Program Class of 2025

The NFL has announced that five specialists will join the International Player Pathway (IPP) program Class of 2025.

Bastian Roppelt (Germany), Lenny Krieg (Germany), Mark McNamee (Ireland), Ross Bolger (Ireland) and Jonata Loria (Italy) will participate in the program, alongside the Class of 2025’s 13 athletes representing 12 nations around the world.

Established in 2017, the IPP program aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills and ultimately work to earn a spot on an NFL roster. The program expanded to include specialists for the first time in 2024, with Ireland’s Charlie Smyth successfully securing a place on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.

These five specialists joined the Class of 2025 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, training with IPP coaching staff before travelling to Indianapolis, Indiana, to showcase their abilities in front of NFL scouts at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.

The term ‘specialist’ refers to a position in American football responsible for kicking or punting the ball, or the related mechanics of these plays. This includes but is not limited to, field goal kickers, punters, long snappers, holders and kickoff return specialists. 

Specialists can be signed as a free agent or, if eligible, selected during the 2025 NFL Draft.

IPP Program Class of 2025 Specialists:

PLAYER

COUNTRY

AGE

POSITION

Bastian Roppelt

Germany

24

Punter

Lenny Krieg

Germany

22

Kicker

Mark McNamee

Ireland

25

Kicker

Ross Bolger

Ireland

23

Kicker

Jonata Loria

Italy

24

Kicker

For more information on the International Player Pathway program, visit: www.nfl.com/international/player-pathway.

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About the NFL International Player Pathway Program:

The IPP program is part of a long-term commitment by the NFL and its 32 clubs to accelerate global football development efforts and establish a pathway for international talent to play the game at the highest level.

Since its inception, 41 international players have signed with NFL teams (allocated, drafted or signed as a free agent), with 23 IPP athletes currently on NFL rosters. Six of these players — Jordan Mailata (Australia), Jakob Johnson (Germany), Efe Obada (United Kingdom), Sammis Reyes (Chile), Thomas Odukoya (Netherlands) and David Bada (Germany) — have seen active rosters since 2017.

Relevant IPP Program Rules:

Each of the 32 NFL clubs can fill a 17th roster spot on the practice squad with a qualifying international player. A player may be an International Practice Player for a maximum of three (3) seasons, with a season defined as being on the Practice Squad or Active/Inactive List for at least six games (a bye week counts as a game). After an IP’s third season as an International Practice Player, the player remains eligible to be signed to a club’s Active/Inactive List or Practice Squad subject to standard roster rules (i.e., Standard, Exception, Veteran player).