Steelers finalize their roster by taking advantage of one of the NFL's smartest rules

Football may be a sport but the NFL is a business.

And like any business, the idea is to grow, expand and evolve.

The NFL has done that with its global expansion efforts, playing their first game in Brazil this Friday, when the Green Bay Packers take on the Philadelphia Eagles.

Another way to grow the game internationally is to invite foreign players into the league through special avenues.

That would be the IPP program and the Pittsburgh Steelers just used it to complete their practice squad:

Pittsburgh Signs Ayo Oyelola Via IPP

The Steelers signed defensive back Ayo Oyelola to the practice squad as an international player.

Oyelola, who is from England, was signed as part of the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPP). The program was established in 2017 to help elite athletes from around the world earn a spot on an NFL roster. Teams are now permitted to have 17 players on the practice squad if that includes an IPP player.

Oyelola originally signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 as a part of the IPP and spent time on the practice squad over the last two seasons. Oyelola also played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League.

- Steelers

Not only is the rule brilliant because of the global exposure, but from a pure football standpoint, the more available bodies you have, the better you will be in the NFL.

Allowing players to chase and fulfill their dreams from around the world never hurts either.

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