Ulster wing Aaron Sexton is set to become the latest Irish sports star to try pave a career in the NFL, after making the decision to leave the province and pursue a place in the NFL’s International Pathway Programme.
Sexton, who was also a promising underage sprinter and just missed out on winning a medal for Ireland in the European-U20 Championships in 2019, stepped away from Ulster in January to take part in a 10-week crash course on the fundamental skills required for a career in the NFL.
While he was a successful runner, his rugby career also got off to a flying start in 2018 with Ulster ‘A’, where Sexton claimed the 2019 ‘A’ Player of the Year award before joining the province’s academy.
While his senior debut came soon after in 2020, the underage sprinting champion has struggled for game time since, making just ten appearances for the club in four years.
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22 September 2023;Aaron Sexton of Ulster during the pre season friendly match between Leinster and Ulster at Navan RFC in Navan, Meath. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Aaron Sexton set to pursue NFL career
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Despite neither his rugby or athletics career going to plan, the BBC are reporting that the 24-year-old is set to try combine his athleticism and rugby ability to follow in the footsteps of Welsh wing Louis Rees-Zammit and seek a place in the NFL’s International Pathway Programme.
Having enjoyed a successful underage career in sprinting that saw the Ulster man win both the 2018 and 2019 All-Ireland Schools Championships in both the 100m and 200m, and break the All-Ireland schools record in both events, Sexton could be a perfect fit for what’s required Stateside.
1 June 2019; Aaron Sexton of Bangor Grammar School, Co. Down, on his way to winning the Senior Boys 200m event during the Irish Life Health All-Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore, Co Offaly. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Should Sexton be successful in his bid to join the NFL’s IPP, he’ll be hoping to follow in the path of former Welsh wing Louis Rees-Zammit, who earned a spot on the Kansas City Chief’s practice squad through the pathway, before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars where he awaits a competitive debut.
Sexton won’t be the first Ulster man to try his hand at American Football either, with both Monaghan’s Rory Beggan and Down’s Charlie Smith taking path in the NFL’s IPP last year.
While he didn’t come through the IPP, Derry man Jude McAtamney is also playing his trade with NFL side New York Giants, making his competitive debut just earlier this month when he kicked both a field goal and extra point for the side.
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