The Philadelphia Eagles selected defensive tackle Uar Bernard with the 251st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, continuing their investment in the league’s International Player Pathway program despite Bernard having never played organized football.
Bernard, a 6-foot-4, 306-pound athlete originally noticed playing basketball as a teenager in Nigeria, was invited to the 2024 NFL Nigeria camp by former defensive end Osi Umenyiora. Over the next three years, he attended multiple football camps across Africa before earning a spot in the NFL’s International Player Pathway program class of 2026 — the same developmental pipeline that produced Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata.
At the HBCU Showcase and International Player Pathway Pro Day in March, Bernard ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds and recorded a 39-inch vertical jump, measurable athletic traits that intrigued Philadelphia’s scouting and coaching staff. His physical profile, combined with his perform ethic in non-football drills, convinced the Eagles to take a late-round flier on a player with zero snaps in organized football.
“It’s a dream come true for me because I’ve worked hard for this,” Bernard said after being selected. “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. 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.”
General Manager Howie Roseman confirmed the pick was a deliberate extension of the Eagles’ strategy: “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. Coach [Clint] Hurtt went down there and spent the day with him, worked him out. You know, just for us, it was a passion project.” He added that while Bernard possesses “a lot of tools in his body,” the team understands development will require significant time and patience.
The Eagles’ approach mirrors their 2018 selection of Jordan Mailata, an Australian rugby player with no football background, who was taken in the seventh round and has since started 85 regular-season games, earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2024, and contributed to a Super Bowl victory. Mailata’s trajectory serves as the benchmark for what the Eagles hope to replicate with Bernard.
As the NFL intensifies its global scouting efforts, teams are increasingly targeting athletes from non-traditional football backgrounds, betting that elite athleticism and coachability can offset a lack of sport-specific experience. The Eagles’ repeat investment in the International Player Pathway program signals a institutional commitment to this model, even as most teams remain hesitant to draft players without any football pedigree.
For Bernard, the challenge ahead is steep: mastering playbook complexity, technique, and the physical demands of NFL defensive line play — all while adapting to a sport he has never played in a competitive setting. The Eagles are banking on his raw tools and mental resilience to close that gap over multiple seasons.
What position will Uar Bernard play for the Eagles?
Bernard was selected as a defensive tackle and is expected to develop along the interior defensive line, though his exact role will depend on his progress in learning football fundamentals during offseason workouts and training camp.
How does Bernard’s background compare to Jordan Mailata’s when they were drafted?
Like Mailata — an Australian rugby player with no football experience — Bernard has never played organized football; both were identified through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program and selected by the Eagles based on athletic potential and work ethic rather than football pedigree.