The Philadelphia Eagles have selected Nigerian prospect Uar Bernard in the 2026 NFL Draft, marking a historic milestone for African representation in American football.
Bernard, who hails from Abuja, was picked 251st overall in the seventh round during the draft held at the Draft Theatre on Saturday night.
The 21-year-old was present at the venue to witness the life-changing moment firsthand.
The defensive tackle becomes the first Nigerian ever drafted into the NFL, and notably the first African to reach the league via the NFL International Player Pathway Program, a scheme designed to identify and develop talent from outside the United States.
Bernard’s journey into American football is particularly remarkable.
Originally a basketball player, he had no prior experience in the sport before entering the NFL development pipeline. His transition began after attending the 2024 NFL Nigeria camp organised by Osi Umenyiora, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants and former player for the Atlanta Falcons.
His progress continued at the 2025 NFL Africa camp in Cairo, Egypt, where his performances earned him a place in the International Player Pathway Class of 2026.
From there, Bernard underwent an intensive 10-week training programme in Florida, sharpening his raw athletic ability and learning the fundamentals of the game ahead of the draft.
Reacting to his draft selection, Bernard thanked God for a dream come true. He also disclosed that he holds the belief that he is going to get better with the drills.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman acknowledged the potential Bernard possesses, while stressing the patience required in developing a player still new to the sport.
“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. You know, just for us, it was a passion project,” Roseman said.
“Obviously, he’s got a lot of tools in his body. [We] understand it’s going to take time. It’s going to take a lot of time here.”
Standing at 6ft 4in and weighing 306 pounds, Bernard brings impressive physical attributes to the Eagles’ defensive line.
However, like many International Player Pathway prospects, he is expected to undergo a period of adaptation as he transitions fully into the demands of professional American football.
He is set to begin his NFL journey with rookie and training camps starting in May, followed by preseason fixtures in August, as he looks to earn his place ahead of the regular season kickoff in September.
