Football—of the variety requiring players to wear pads and helmets—is thought of as a quintessentially American sport. And though distinctly foreign to much of the world, immigrants from around the globe have included American football as a part of their U.S. identity—as seen both on the field and in the front office.
The history of football’s biggest game—the NFL Super Bowl Championship—includes two foreign-born nationals who were named most valuable player (MVP). Mark Rypien, born in Canada, was quarterback for the Washington Redskins’ Super Bowl XXVI win. Hines Ward, natively from South Korea, was voted MVP when he helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl XL with his role of wide receiver.
Eight foreign-born former players have been inducted into the NFL’s Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio:
1. Bronko Nagurski
Home Country: Canada
Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Fullback
2. Steve Van Buren
Home Country: Honduras
Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Position: running back
3. Arnie Weinmeister
Home Country: Canada
Team: New York Giants
Position: Defensive tackle
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4. Tom Fears
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Home Country: Mexico
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Team: Los Angeles Rams
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Position: Receiver
5. Ernie Stautner
Home Country: Germany
Team: Pittsburg Stealers
Position: Defensive Lineman
6. Leo Nomellini
Home Country: Italy
Team: San Francisco 49ers
Position: Defensive and offensive tackle
7. Jan Stenerud
Home Country: Norway
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Placekicker
8. Ted Hendricks
Home Country: Guatemala
Team: Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders
Position: Defensive end
Besides players on the field, however, immigrants also make up part of the NFL ownership profile. In 2005, German-born Zygi Wilf, the son of Holocaust survivors, became owner of the Minnesota Vikings through a partnership purchase. The reported price of the franchise was $600 million.
A few years later, another immigrant owner entered on the NFL scene through Shahid Kahn. Kahn bought the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011 and hails from Lahore, Pakistan. Now in his middle 60s, Kahn immigrated to the U.S. when he was only 16 years old, saying he was seeking an “education, fame and fortune.” Considering Kahn attended the University of Illinois, that he’s well-loved football fans in the Jaguar home state of Florida, and that he paid $760 to become the Jaguar owner, it seems safe to say, “Mission accomplished!”
The Americanism of football is absolutely a fact. And that immigrants know how to play that game is winner for the sport.
