The Detroit Lions have built one of the best rosters in the NFL over the past several years via a variety of pathways, and the organization continued branching out in that regard on Sunday, April 27.
Samoan-born Australian rugby player Laki Tasi is the newest member of the Lions organization, coming to the team by way of the league's International Player Pathway program. It is the same program that landed the Philadelphia Eagles starting left tackle Jordan Mailata, a second-team All-Pro and Super Bowl champion in 2024 who recently inked a three-year deal worth $66 million total.
Tasi recently shared his story with ESPN Australia & NZ, admitting that he was unaware of American professional football until a family friend/owner of a burger joint he frequents near his home suggested he pursue a career in it.
"One of the guys that owns a burger joint back home, he was telling me about this NFL IPP that Jordan Mailata joined in," Tasi said. "[It] was kind of surprising because I didn't know who was Jordan Mailata and what the NFL is. As soon as I searched up the YouTube about Jordan Mailata and the NFL IPP, I realized how big it is."
Tasi is 21 years old and will enter the Lions organization as a defensive lineman. He stands at 6-feet, 6-inches tall and weighs 348 pounds.
"Tasi has very good size and the tools to be a big interior defensive lineman, along with the toughness and makeup to play in the trenches," Scott Pioli of NFL.com wrote in March. "He possesses a strong and intriguing combination of developmental tools, stature and mindset."
Detroit didn't use a draft pick to acquire Tasi, but rather signed him as an undrafted free agent. Former Pro Football Focus analyst and NFL podcaster Sam Monson reacted to the news on Sunday via his X account.
"Some people just have freaky genes. The Lions are bringing in this guy from the IPP," Monson wrote. "A few months ago, he didn't know what the NFL was. Now he's playing in it!"
