Former Gold Coast Suns player Patrick Murtagh has signed with the Detroit Lions in the NFL, following the same route as Aussie NFL star Jordan Mailata.
Murtagh, who stands at 196cm and weighs 98kg frame, was one of 12 players selected via the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP) program, despite the Brisbane native never playing a senior game for the Suns during three years on their senior list.
Murtagh joins Mailata and Adam Gotsis as Aussies that don’t play as punters in the NFL, with the former AFL player taking the field as a tight end. Michael Dickson, Mitch Wishnowsky and Arryn Siposs are current Aussie NFL players who occupy the punter role at Seattle, San Francisco and Philadelphia respectively.
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Murtgah, along with other Aussies, spent 10 weeks honing his skills at the IMG Academy in Florida. The Lions were one of eight teams who signed a player through the program, having previously met the 23-year-old.
“Detroit Lions bound,” Murtagh wrote on Instagram.
“Beyond grateful for everyone that’s been apart of this journey. To my team around me, friends, family and everyone else out there Thank you! Here is to us! We are going to Detroit.”
According to the rules, Murtagh will train with the Lions through the preseason but if he does not make the 53-man roster, Detroit can still keep him as an extra developmental player on their practice squad through the regular season.
Murtagh is viewed as project player similar to how the Eagles saw Jordan Mailata and is one of 37 NFL graduates of the international pathway program.
“Pat did a great job of competing every day and showed continuous improvement throughout the IPP process,” NFL head of international football development Will Bryce said.
“He is a natural athlete and projects well as a tight end. He performed extremely well in front of NFL scouts during the pro day.”
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