A former Kenyan international rugby player who never suited up for organized football until joining the NFL's International Player Pathway, Joshua Weru signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent.
Joshua Weru's route to the Eagles runs through professional rugby, not high school or college football. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, he spent his teenage years in the Northampton Saints academy and earned caps for the Kenyan national rugby team before pivoting to American football through the NFL's International Player Pathway program, becoming the first Kenyan player to sign with an NFL team.
Path to the league
Weru joined the Northampton Saints Academy in England at age 14 and signed a professional rugby contract with the club in 2022 after graduating from their Under-18 program, with coaches praising his ball-carrying ability. He lost that contract later that year to prioritize his eligibility for Kenya's national rugby team, for which he earned three caps and scored a try on his debut against the United States in the 2022 Rugby World Cup Repechage.
Career highlights
As a rugby player, Weru was called up to Kenya's Under-20 team at just 16 and went on to represent the senior national team as a backrow forward known for explosive ball-carrying and physical tackling. He was named to the NFL's International Player Pathway program in December 2025, becoming the first Kenyan and East African athlete selected for the program.
2025 season recap
Weru had no organized football season in 2025, since his background is entirely in rugby; his year was spent transitioning into the sport through the International Player Pathway. He signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in April 2026, receiving $272,500 in total guarantees, and enters training camp as a raw but athletic developmental linebacker.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Josh Weru
- ESPN: Joshua Weru
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- -
- Hometown
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
