Ulster Rugby’s Aaron Sexton has departed the province and turned his back on the sport in order to enter the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP), the League confirmed on Monday afternoon.
Reports emerged a couple of weeks ago that the 24-year-old was pursuing a move into American football and his place on the exclusive IPP will give him a strong chance of making that dream a reality.
It is understood that Sexton will be focusing on playing as a wide receiver or kick returner, following in the footsteps of former Wales rugby international Louis Rees-Zammit.
As part of his integration into the IPP, Sexton will move to Florida in 2025 and train for 10 weeks before getting his chance to impress in front of scouts from all 32 teams at the NFL’s Combine in February and then at a Pro Day in March.
While Ulster will have wished he stayed, particularly given they are down to the bare bones in their back-three at present, Sexton’s departure isn’t the biggest blow they could have received given he made just 10 appearances since making his debut in 2020, scoring just one try.
A former schoolboy track sprint star, the former Ireland Sevens standout won the All-Ireland Championships at 100m and 200m level in both 2018 and 2019 before opting to go full-time in rugby by joining Ulster’s Academy set-up in 2019.
However, after struggling for game time at Ravenhill and not featuring at all in the 2024/25 season, he has now decided to try and become the latest Northern Irish star to crack the NFL through the IPP after the success of kicker Charlie Smyth.
The former Down Gaelic footballer is currently on the books of the New Orleans Saints after impressing during pre-season, however he has yet to see action in a regular season game and is currently on their practice roster.
Ex-Derry Under-20s star Jude McAtamney has seen some action in the 2024 season having been called up to the New York Giants after going through the college system with Rutgers, playing one game against the Washington Commanders.
Rees-Zammit, meanwhile, has struggled to break into the NFL, the 23-year-old initially signed to the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad before moving on to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he is yet to play a game.
Every team is allowed one additional spot on their 53-man roster for an international player, giving Sexton a good chance of at least being given a practice squad contract for the 2025 season provided he shows he is capable in those workout days.