The Philadelphia Eagles closed out their 2026 draft with a historic move, selecting Nigerian defensive tackle Uar Bernard at pick number 251 in the seventh round.
The 21-year-old from Abuja became the first Nigerian ever drafted into the NFL, marking a landmark moment for the league’s expansion into African talent pipelines.
Bernard, who was present at the Draft Theatre in Pittsburgh on Saturday night when his name was called, joined the Eagles through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Programme and stands as the first African athlete to reach the pros via this route. A former basketball player, he had never played a single game of American football before being selected.
His path to the draft began with an invitation to the 2024 NFL Nigeria camp run by Osi Umenyiora, the former New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons star of Nigerian heritage. He later stood out at the 2025 NFL Africa camp in Cairo, Egypt, earning a place in the International Player Pathway Class of 2026 and completing a 10-week training stint in Florida.
Reacting to the historic selection, Bernard said, “It’s a dream come true for me because I’ve worked hard for this. I’ve not played football, but I’ve gone through some drills that made me believe that I’m going to get better every day. I thank God for everything.”
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman described the pick as a calculated investment in raw potential, noting that the 6-foot-4, 306-pound prospect “has the tools” the team values, but development will take time.
“We wanted to take the chance on the kid. Obviously, we’ve had great success with that program. We spent a lot of time with him. It’s going to take a lot of time here,” Roseman said.
Bernard will get his first taste of NFL life at various training camps beginning in May, ahead of preseason action in August.
