The Atlanta Falcons have added German-born Lenny Krieg to their practice squad, highlighting the National Football League’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program and its impact on roster management.
Under NFL guidelines, teams can expand their practice squads to 17 players if one spot is filled by an international player. The league defines an international player as someone whose citizenship and primary residence are outside the United States and Canada, with no more than two years of U.S. high school experience. These players must also meet all other NFL eligibility requirements and have been eligible for a previous NFL Draft.
“An International Player (‘IP’) is defined as a person whose citizenship and principal place of residence are outside the United States and Canada, and who has a maximum of two years of United States high school experience. In addition, an IP must: (i) satisfy all NFL player eligibility rules; and (ii) have been eligible for a prior NFL Draft,” according to the league.
International players like Krieg may join any position group, including special teams roles such as kicker. They can spend up to three seasons as international practice squad members. After this period, they may still be signed under regular practice squad rules based on their active game participation history.
As an international player on the Falcons’ practice squad, Krieg follows standard transaction policies. He can be elevated to the active roster for up to three regular season games or any number of postseason contests.
A recent change allows international players such as Krieg to be signed directly from one team’s practice squad to another team’s active roster at any time—a departure from earlier restrictions that limited such moves.
Krieg is part of the 2025 IPP class, which includes athletes from over twelve countries. Since its start in 2017, the program has helped more than 40 international athletes sign with NFL teams, according to NFL.com.
“The program was started in 2017 to create opportunities for international athletes to improve and develop their skills, with the goal of earning an NFL roster spot.”
