By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions have made an intriguing addition to their roster, picking up 21-year-old Australian rugby standout Laki Tasi through the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program. The news was first shared by Tasi himself on Instagram.
In an interview with ESPN, Tasi explained that he stumbled upon the NFL almost by accident — while grabbing a meal at a local burger joint. The restaurant’s owner suggested he check out the IPP program, the same path that helped Philadelphia Eagles’ star offensive lineman Jordan Mailata carve out a successful NFL career, earning a Super Bowl ring and second-team All-Pro honors.
“I didn’t know who … Jordan Mailata (was) and what the NFL is. As soon as I search up the YouTube about Jordan Mailata and the NFL IPP, I realized how big it is,” Tasi shared with ESPN.
Launched in 2016, the IPP program was designed to create opportunities for athletes outside the United States and Canada to find their way into the NFL. While the Lions have previously had IPP players like defensive tackle David Bada and offensive lineman Max Pircher — who joined Detroit after starting with other teams — Tasi is breaking new ground as the first to begin his NFL journey directly with the Lions.
One big advantage for the team is that Tasi won’t count against their roster limit, giving him time to develop without pressure. He’s expected to take part in the Lions’ rookie minicamp next month.
Tasi recently showcased his talents at the IPP pro day, impressing scouts with his size and athleticism. As NFL Network’s Scott Pioli described, Tasi “has played at the highest levels of rugby in Australia,” and at 6-foot-6, 348 pounds with 34-inch arms, he brings “very good size and the tools to be a big interior defensive lineman.” Pioli also praised his “toughness and makeup to play in the trenches.”