NFL Academy Europe-Africa
NFL Academy Europe-Africa caters to students aged 16 to 19, and was established in 2019 at Barnet and Southgate College in Southgate, London. The initial intake was 90 students, with over 1500 applying. The academy's development was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it played its first match, against Düsseldorf Panther, in spring 2022. In summer 2022, the academy moved to Loughborough following a tender process, using Loughborough University's sports facilities. Loughborough College provides A-level instruction, accommodation, and pastoral support. In 2023, Steve Hagen was appointed head coach, having previously coached at the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets.
The academy's team plays against both European teams and American high schools. As of October 2024, they were unbeaten against European opponents. Ten matches were scheduled for the 2025–26 season, including four against US high schools. Since 2023, the team has played at least one game per year against a US high school at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in the build-up to the NFL London Games. The 2025–26 team roster included 68 players from 20 countries. Athletes are recruited through multiple pathways: some apply directly, some are scouted, and some are selected for their performance at recruitment camps. Since its establishment, the academy has grown increasingly competitive, with 3500 applicants for 30 places in 2025.
Training is intensive, with students working 12-hour days and attending nine practices per week.
In the 2025–26 season, there were 40 NFL Academy graduates in US college football, with 27 in Division I. Tight end Seydou Traore was the first NFL Academy graduate to be drafted, being selected by the Miami Dolphins as the 180th pick of the 2026 NFL draft. Buffalo Bills lineman Travis Clayton tried out for the academy in 2019, but chose not to continue with the program.