Since the NFL hosted their first match in London back in 2007, when the New York Giants narrowly beat the Miami Dolphins 13-10 at Wembley Stadium, the game has grown massively in the United Kingdom, and with more and more games being held on British soil, and new venues, like the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, being purpose built to hold American Football matches, there’s no real ceiling for the heights the game could reach in the UK.
Of course, with the game growing at such a fast pace, it’s no real surprise that young people in the UK have been inspired to take up the sport, and with Brits like Jay Ajayi, Osi Umenyiora and Scott McCready having all won Super Bowl rings, inspiring the next generation of British talent, it won’t be long until more and more are helping bolster their franchise’s chances in the NFL odds in the future— with many even suggesting a London-based franchise.
There are currently a few Brits currently plying their trade in NFL. So, without further ado, read on as we take a quick look at those presently representing their homeland out in the states…
Jack Crawford – Arizona Cardinals – Defensive Line
He may not boast a Super Bowl ring like the aforementioned Brits. However, Jack Crawford is still one of the UK’s most successful NFL players. The Londoner made a name for himself at Penn State and was later drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2012. He has since played for the Dallas Cowboys, the Atlanta Falcons and the Tennessee Titans, making over 165 tackles. Now in his tenth year, Crawford has joined the Arizona Cardinals, a franchise many are backing to reach the play-offs in the American Football betting tips, the 32-year-old has already cemented a name for himself in NFL folklore.
Jamie Gillan – Cleveland Browns – Punter
Originally tipped to make it big in the world of rugby, Scot Jamie Gillan moved to Maryland from Inverness, and he started playing American Football for Leonardtown High School before moving on to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. It wasn’t the easiest route into the NFL for Gillan, as he went on undrafted in 2019. However, after eventually joining the Cleveland Browns, the now 24-year-old proved his worth in pre-season, displaying his mammoth kicking before being named the Browns’ starting punter. His kicking has been fantastic over the course of the last two seasons, and if he can keep it up this year, the Browns could go all the way to the Super Bowl.
Christian Wade – Buffalo Bills – Running Back
Another Brit to swap rugby for American Football, Christian Wade had a lengthy rugby union career with the Wasps, even earning a cap for England, before packing his bags and heading stateside to join the Buffalo Bills in 2019. The 30-year-old has only been a practice squad member for the last two seasons, but after gaining some much-needed experience, Wade will be hoping that he can break into the Bills’ roster this season and have a proper crack at the NFL— as long as a recent injury doesn’t put paid to his dreams!
