The Philadelphia Eagles selected Uar Bernard, a defensive tackle from Nigeria who has never played American football, in the 2026 NFL Draft. Bernard impressed scouts with his athleticism and physical attributes despite his lack of game experience, and was discovered through the International Player Pathway program.
With the 251st overall pick, the Eagles selected Uar Bernard , who grew up in a small town in Nigeria. Bernard will join the Eagles as a defensive tackle, despite having never played a single down on the gridiron.
International Player Pathway athlete Uar Bernard celebrates after being chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 251st overall pick of the 2026 NFL football draft"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," Bernard said in aHe added, "I thank God for everything. I thank God for life.
I thank God for the opportunities given to me to be drafted by the Eagles.
" Bernard was first introduced to the game by former New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora and was invited to participate in theStanding at 6 feet, 4 inches tall and weighing 306 pounds with just 6% body fat, Bernard ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.63 seconds and hit a 39-inch vertical jump at the HBCU Showcase and International Player Pathway Pro Day in March, according to the"Good Morning America" co-anchor Michael Strahan said the Eagles' general manager Howie Roseman, "very rarely misses, if he misses at all" when it comes to selecting draft picks, calling Bernard "a smart pick. " "The numbers are, like, mind-blowing -- more upside than you could imagine with this pick," Strahan said. Copyright © 2026 ABC News Internet Ventures.
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