Samson Ebukam helps launch new NFL Academy in London

The NFL has made a concerted effort to grow the game of football on an international football in several ways. A handful of games are played in London each year and the International Series has been expanded to Mexico City and potentially one day China, too.

The United Kingdom has been the primary focus of the league and this week, the NFL took the next step to expanding the reach of football across the pond. Samson Ebukam helped launch the NFL Academy, which will give young student-athletes from the ages of 16-18 the opportunity to train with full-time coaches.

It will also “provide students with pathways into employment, further education and even the potential opportunity to play NCAA college football in the United States,” per the official release from the NFL.

Ebukam was in London at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday for the academy’s kickoff, participating in the showcase and helping young athletes through the drills.

“I started when I was in, what, eighth grade. I started at the same time that all of these kids are about to start, so it’s definitely awesome just to see all this in the UK. Because usually you see it in America, you don’t see it in the UK. This is the first time ever,” he said.

Ebukam, who’s from Nigeria, didn’t start playing football at a very young age as many other athletes do. He had an uphill climb to the NFL, working his way to Eastern Washington before being a fourth-round pick in 2017.

“Just work. Hard work and opportunity,” Ebukam said. “And this is an opportunity for the rest of them because like I said, the NFL Academy is just the way for them to practice with NFL athletes and at the same time get an education. So they just have to keep working and building blocks because I know a lot more attention is going to come to the UK, especially with all this going on. And whenever football is involved, everybody is going to watch.”

While in London, Ebukam was the coach of a flag football team from Wales. His team defeated a squad from Leeds, though the experience was more important than the win or loss.