"Every four years the Winter Olympics hit and I get the same feeling, that reminder that sports at their best are bigger than borders. Flags line up side by side, anthems play, athletes walk in wearing their country proudly on their chest and for a couple of weeks the entire world feels connected through competition. But when I sit down and watch the opening ceremonies this year I will be thinking about football."
"The Olympics aren't just about medals, it's about stories, a kid from a small country, an athlete that wasn't supposed to make it. That's what the NFL's international wave feels like now. You can watch guys like Jordan Mailata and Michael Dickson from Australia. Men who did not grow up dreaming about the Super Bowl. They didn't even grow up with football, and now they're in the league. That's Olympic energy in my opinion. Different background, same stage, pressure, and dream."
The Winter Olympics evoke unity and show that sports transcend borders. The NFL is becoming increasingly international, with more players from countries without traditional football cultures joining rosters each season. Examples include Australians Jordan Mailata and Michael Dickson, who did not grow up with American football yet reached the league. The Dallas Cowboys included international players in 2025 such as Corey Ballentine (born in Jamaica) and Adedayo Odeleye (born in Nigeria, raised in the UK). Those journeys demonstrate that talent emerges globally and that athletes from diverse backgrounds now share the same stage and pressures.
Read at Inside The Star
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