NFL: Foreign Players in History

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images).

When we think of football, many of us might think of soccer. However, I'm writing about American football.

We know that football, or should I say American football, has been growing for years. It's just that the mainstream media does not cover American style football as much as, say, the NCAA or NFL.

And since Americans don't really realize the game is being played in other countries, my thoughts revolved around one question: "What foreigners have played American football professionally?"

Well, here's what I've come up with.

Denmark

Morten Andersen (born in Copenhagen, Denmark) is the all-time leading scorer in the NFL with two different teams (New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons).

In college, Anderson played for the Michigan State Spartans. He set several kicking records, including a Big 10 Conference record: a 63-yard field goal against Ohio State. In 1981, Anderson was named an All-American.

Italy

Lino Dante "Alan" Ameche (born in Italy), nicknamed "The Horse," played for the Baltimore Colts after winning the Heisman Trophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1954, and was named an All-American.

In 1955, Ameche was awarded Rookie of the Year. Ameche gained fame for scoring the winning touchdown in the 1958 NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants, labeled "The Greatest Game Ever Played."

Ameche emigrated to the US with his family in the 1930s.

Leo Joseph Nomellini (born in Lucca, Italy) was a two-time All-American at the University of Minnesota. Nomellini was the San Francisco 49ers first-ever NFL draft selection in 1950. In the offseason, he was a professional wrestler called Leo “The Lion” Nomellini.

Ireland

Cornelis Joseph Dennis "Neil" O'Donoghue (born in Dublin, Ireland) first came to the US to play soccer with Saint Bernard College. But when that college closed its soccer program, he went to play football at Auburn University.

He was the first Irish-born player in NFL history. O’Donoghue is most noted for missing three field goal attempts against the New York Giants as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1983 season, resulting in a 20-20 tie.

Spain

Raymond Henry Rowe (born in Rota, Spain) was a tight end with the Washington Redskins. He played college football at San Diego State University and was drafted in the sixth round for the 1992 NFL draft.

Norway

Halvor Reini Hagen (born in Oslo, Norway) played college football at Weber State University and was drafted in the third round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He then played for the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills.

Leif Love Dolonen Larsen (born in Oslo, Norway) played college football for the UTEP Miners and was drafted in the 2000 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills.

Knute Kenneth Rockne (born in Voss, Norway) was a college football player. He later took on the role of coach.

As head coach of the University of Notre Dame from 1918 to 1930, he set the greatest all-time winning percentage in college football history. Rockne introduced the “shift,” moving the backfield into a T formation. Rockne is also credited for introducing the forward pass.

Jan Stenerud (born in Fetsun, Norway) was a college football player for Montana State University. In 1965, he kicked a 59-yard field goal against archrival Montana University (at that point, the longest field goal on record). Stenerud was one of the first professional football players used as a dedicated kicker. He was also the first to use "soccer-style" for his kicks.

Stenerud was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1967. During his three years with Kansas City, Stenerud hit 70 percent of his field goals. He helped win Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings 23-7.

Stenerud kicked three field goals, scoring the first nine points of the game. His first kick, a 48-yarder, would remain the longest field goal in a Super Bowl until January 1994. Stenerud's name is in the Chiefs' ring of honor at Arrowhead Stadium.

In 1991, Stenerud was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Sweden

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