Photo by Wikimedia Commons 2.0
The NFL continues to blaze a trail as one of the biggest sporting leagues on the planet and its reach and appeal is as strong as ever in the UK.
With annual fixtures taking place in the UK, as well as other major cities across Europe, American football has perhaps never enjoyed such a notable global platform.
Hailing from the UK and playing in the NFL has long been seen as a distant dream for many aspiring British youngsters but there have been some who have bridged the gap across the pond.
The talent pool in the UK is being tapped into by the NFL too, with a performance pathway now being opened up for players worldwide to crack the college system and make it to the NFL big leagues.
In addition, the advent in popularity of betting on NFL games in the UK has hit stratospheric levels over the past decade or so, with UK betting sites and punters fully leaning into the NFL betting options on offer.
From basic money line bets, through to accumulator and in-play betting options, the speed of American football certainly appeals to gamblers and NFL betting UK has boomed as a result.
While the future of the NFL continues to look bright, there have been a fair few Brits who have managed to forge careers in the competition and make household names for themselves in America.
Here is a look at some of the best British players in NFL history:
Osi Umenyiora – New York Giants & Atlanta Falcons
Perhaps the most successful British NFL player of all time is Osi Umenyiora, who hailed from humble beginnings in Golders Green, to become a genuine NFL superstar.
Umenyiora was born to Nigerian parents, who moved back to their homeland when he was seven years of age, but he has been vocally proud of his association with the UK.
A remarkable physical specimen, Umenyiora moved to Auburn, Alabama where he honed his American football prowess, before he went to study at Troy.
From there, he became one of the most notorious defensive ends in college football, which earned him a second round draft pick with the New York Giants.
With speed, power and incredible sacking ability, Umenyiora went on to be one of the shining slights in both of the Giants’ Superbowl wins in 2007 and 2011, etching his name into folklore at the franchise.
Injuries and father time played its part in Umenyiora’s career winding down, as he left the Giants in 2012 to play two more seasons with Atlanta Falcons but his case as the most successful Brit in NFL history stands up very well.
Jay Ajayi – Miami Dolphins & Philadelphia Eagles
Following on from Umenyiora’s significant footsteps, Jay Ajayi’s short but sweet stint as a NFL player could be seen as a bit of whirlwind but the man from London also made a serious splash during his NFL tenure.
The ‘J-train’ was born in London, again to Nigerian parents, who moved him to Maryland in his youth, where he became a force to be reckoned with in college football with Boise State.
He was drafted as cover in the running back positions by the Miami Dolphins in 2015 but in the 2016 season he made a significant impact in Florida, making over a thousand yards in the campaign.
These performances alerted the attention of the Philadelphia Eagles, who moved to snare Ajayi midway through the 2017 season and he became a Superbowl winner in the same season.
Injuries quickly caught up with Ajayi, who only made seven more appearances for the Eagles from that point on but his impact as a British player in the NFL was certainly a memorable one.
Jack Crawford – Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons & Tennessee Titans
The story of Jack Crawford in the NFL is perhaps one of the most remarkable in the competition’s rich and storied history.
Crawford was born in London in 1988 and moved to the US as a 17 year old, intending to pursue a college basketball career but due to some international transfer rule complications, he was unable to play for his high school team – St Augustine.
He decided to join the American football roster, with no prior experience of playing the game and it was a call that changed the course of his life.
Crawford’s significant frame saw him become one of the most sought after defensive ends in the college game and he was a pillar for Penn State between 2008 and 2011.
From there, it was the Oakland Raiders who took a punt on the raw Crawford in the NFL in 2012 and once again, he showed his durability in two solid seasons.
A move to the Dallas Cowboys came in 2014, where he recorded some excellent numbers, before he went on to play for the Atlanta Falcons and the Tennessee Titans.
He called time on his remarkable career in 2022, following ten full seasons as an NFL player.
Graham Gano – Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers & New York Giants
The story of Graham Gano is a hugely interesting one, who was born to American parents in a US military base in Arbroath, Scotland in 1987.
Hailing from a long family of military personnel in America, Gano moved back to America as a teenager and quickly immersed himself in the world of college football, becoming one of the most notorious field goal kickers around.
After picking up some practice squad roles for a few teams, it was the Washington Redskins who took a punt on Gano in 2009, and he proved to be deadly with the boot from the outset.
His 100% record in four games for the Redskins, was backed up impressively in 2010 and 2011, when he made his move to the Carolina Panthers. He enjoyed nine years in Carolina, before moving to the New York Giants, where he continues to operate as a placekicker – as of 2025.
