A Nigerian defensive tackle who had never played organized football before entering the NFL's International Player Pathway program, Uar Bernard was drafted purely on raw athletic upside.
Uar Bernard is one of the rawest projects on the Eagles' roster, a native of Abuja, Nigeria, who discovered football only after being scouted through the NFL's International Player Pathway. Philadelphia used a seventh-round pick on him based almost entirely on his rare combination of size and explosiveness, and general manager Howie Roseman has been candid that his development will take time.
Path to the league
Bernard grew up in Abuja without organized athletics until he picked up basketball at 16. He was invited to the 2024 NFL Nigeria camp and the 2025 NFL Africa camp in Cairo, which led to his entry into the International Player Pathway program in 2025. At the IPP Pro Day, he ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash and posted a 39-inch vertical at 6-foot-4 5/8 and 306 pounds with just six percent body fat, numbers that helped him earn a perfect Relative Athletic Score.
Career highlights
Because Bernard has no organized football background, his highlight reel is essentially his athletic testing. The Eagles selected him in the seventh round, 251st overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft, making him one of the highest-profile IPP prospects the franchise has taken a chance on.
2025 season recap
Bernard had no football season to speak of in 2025 in the traditional sense; his year consisted of pathway camps and pro day workouts rather than game action. As a rookie with the Eagles, he has been working on the third team at defensive tackle, still learning how to use his frame and leverage against offensive linemen who have played the position their entire lives.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Uar Bernard
- Philadelphia Eagles: Eagles draft Uar Bernard No. 251 overall
- ESPN: Uar Bernard
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- -
- Hometown
- Abuja, Nigeria
- Age
- 21
- Status
- active
