Football is one of America's favorite pastimes. Every Sunday during the fall and winter, millions of people in places such as Ohio, gather around TVs to watch their favorite teams compete. And while most of the NFL players are American, a handful of international stars have made their way onto rosters over the years.
Indeed, with the sport continuing to grow on a global scale, it is perhaps not a surprise that players from various countries all around the world have played in the NFL at some point in time. Denmark might not be considered a place where the NFL is popular given the culture of the country, however, it is one such nation that has seen players compete in the National Football League, with no fewer than five men have been able to put the pads on and play in one of the biggest sports in the world.
Today, we will look at the five individuals who hail from Denmark that have been able to play in the NFL.
Five Past & Present Stars From Denmark Include A Great
You might be wondering which Danish men have been able to live out the dream that so many people all over the planet have. They are:
- Morten Andersen
- Hjalte Froholdt
- Hans Nielsen
- Wagner Jorgensen
- Bud Jorgensen
While there will be some names that may be a little unfamiliar, a couple on the list will be familiar with fans, with individuals in locations such as Ohio and Louisiana perhaps more aware of two names mentioned above.
Indeed, Morten Andersen is one name that is known throughout the NFL as the Dane had a successful career which was recognized by his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2017, whereas Hjalte Froholdt is looking to try and carve his own successful career in the league as we speak. Let’s look at each of these five individuals in a little more detail and highlight what they have achieved as an American Football star.
Morten Andersen
As mentioned, Andersen is perhaps the most famous of the names on the list, as the placekicker had managed to have a highly successful time in the league. He played for five teams between 1982 and 2007, representing the New Orleans Saints (1982-1994), the Atlanta Falcons (1995-2000 and 2006-07), the New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002-2003), and the Minnesota Vikings (2004).
He holds numerous records including the most games played in the NFL (382), while he also holds the record for the most consecutive games in which he has scored. This stands at 360 which he obtained between 1983–2004 and then continued into 2006–2007.
Admittedly, things did not start perfectly for him, though, as Andersen twisted his ankle on his first NFL kick that forced him out for eight weeks!
Hjalte Froholdt
The Cleveland Browns currently have the only active player from Denmark to be playing in the NFL on their roster, with Hjalte Froholdt lining up for them as a guard. Born in Svendborg, Denmark, he only recently made his first start for the Browns when they played the Baltimore Ravens.
Fans in Ohio will not have seen too much of him, as he has only played in a handful of games, but they will have been hoping he can help the team improve, although many may not be considering him to make the difference now that they can bet on him.
Indeed, with bonuses from the Ohio Sportsbooks now available to utilize, there will be fans in the state of the team considering various markets. With Froholdt getting his opportunities recently, there may be some eyes on him.
However, with that said, many may be looking elsewhere on the team, as the guard has allowed his quarterback Jacoby Brissett to be sacked numerous times in the games that the former New England player has started in recent times.
Of course, things could get better for the Arkansas product, and hopefully, he will be able to have a successful career in the NFL in the future.
Danish Players of the Past
With Andersen and Froholdt perhaps the most recognizable names on this list of Danish players to have played in the NFL, fans in locations such as Ohio and across America would be forgiven if they were unaware of the three others that had featured in the NFL.
Hans Nielsen was a kicker for the Atlanta Falcons (1978), Philadelphia Eagles (1979), and the Chicago Bears (1981), however he played in just three games in the NFL. This was during his time with the Bears, where he was cut after missing a game-tying field goal in a defeat to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5 of the 1981 season.
Wagner Jorgensen played for the defunct Brooklyn Dodgers as a center between 1936 and 1937 after being drafted in the third round as the 22nd overall pick, while Carl Ankerovergaa Jorgensen (otherwise known as Bud) played as a tackle that had managed to play numerous games for the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles between 1934 and 1935.
With those two players playing in the 1930s, it is easy to see why many in Ohio would not know about either man, especially as they never played for a team located within the state.
Could we see more Danish players in the NFL?
It would not be a surprise if there were many Danes around the world who are wondering if the NFL could have more natives to play in the league. Indeed, it is a tough question to answer at the moment, however it is possible to suggest that the phrase “never say never” could be apt as an answer.
The NFL is becoming more and more accessible as its popularity continues to grow on a global size, and with more individuals continue to play the game in various Danish locations around the world, as well as by those who perhaps study across America in locations such as Ohio, then there is every chance that we could see others joining these five men as representatives of the Scandanavian country.
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