International Practice Squad Program
Encyclopedia
The International Practice Squad Program is an initiative run by the National Football League
(NFL) in which selected players from outside the United States or Canada are assigned to the practice squads of NFL teams. The program began operation in 2004. In 2005, Rolando Cantu
of Mexico was promoted to the Arizona Cardinals
' active roster after spending the previous season on the practice squad as a member of the program. Players from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Japan, and Russia have also participated. In 2008, the program sponsored sixteen players, the largest amount to date. The program was not used in 2009.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) in which selected players from outside the United States or Canada are assigned to the practice squads of NFL teams. The program began operation in 2004. In 2005, Rolando Cantu
Rolando Cantu
Rolando Cantu is a Mexican football player who used to play for the Arizona Cardinals in the USA. Cantu began playing for the Cardinals as a member of the International Practice Squad Program. He is the first Mexican to play in the National Football League going through the Mexican college system...
of Mexico was promoted to the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
' active roster after spending the previous season on the practice squad as a member of the program. Players from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Japan, and Russia have also participated. In 2008, the program sponsored sixteen players, the largest amount to date. The program was not used in 2009.