Cam Jordan Helps Bring Spotlight to NFL's "Born to Play" Campaign
Saints defensive end Cam Jordan was one of several prominent NFL players to recently headline the "Born to Play" campaign that aired after the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show. The commercial, set in a traditional Ghanaian home, also featured Saquon Barkley (Giants), Justin Jefferson (Vikings) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Browns), and was capped off by a speech from two-time Super Bowl champion Osi Umenyiora.
The league's campaign is an ode to the diverse and inclusive spirit of the international game of football. The spot celebrates the growth of football around the globe and promotes increased opportunity for the sport for anyone who dreams of playing.
Jordan enters the commercial around the one-minute mark saying, "Bring it little man!" He begins chasing the young boy played by Eldad Osime through the street, who escapes Jordan's pursuit through a vehicle that gets flipped over by him. Jordan then says, "I'll see you tomorrow Kwesi!"
Jordan said in a behind the scenes feature, "Why wouldn't I agree to be in this commercial to travel to a place like Ghana?" He later said, "Think about how much more potential there is to tap into," when talking about the international growth.
Saints legend Morten Andersen (Denmark) is one of nine players born out of the United States that have been inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. According to the league, 37 international players have signed with teams since the start of the program. NFL rosters feature players hailing from more than 25 foreign countries, including players from Canada, Australia, Nigeria, Germany, Jamaica, Austria, England, Scotland, Mexico, and Tonga.
If you recall, New Orleans was part of the league's inaugural launch for the International Player Pathway Program back in 2017 when they took on defensive end Alex Jenkins, a defensive end from the United Kingdom. At the time, the Saints were one of four teams to be granted an extra practice squad player who did not count against the roster and could not activated during the season. The purpose was to develop their skills in hopes to position them for a spot on an NFL roster.
The NFL is set to have five regular season games played internationally in 2024, which will debut the first regular season game in São Paulo, Brazil. 2025 will include Madrid, Spain.
