The NFL adventure continues for Junior Aho. The French defensive lineman has just signed with the Falcons to join their reserve team via the International Pathway Program. As a reminder, this program reserves an additional place in the practice squad NFL teams to a non-American player.
The Falcons officially announced the transaction on their website. Defensive lineman Kenny Oginni, who occupied this international seat, was cut to make room for the Frenchman.
By the end of August, Junior Aho had been cut by the Carolina Panthers at the end of training camp. The 25-year-old had nevertheless played during the pre-season. He had made 4 tackles and half a sack.
Junior Aho, second Frenchman at the Falcons
After stints at the Vikings and Panthers, this will be Junior Aho's third NFL franchise. An Atlanta franchise that already knows a bit of the French accent.
Aho will be the second Frenchman to join the ranks of Atlanta, after Anthony Dablé in 2017. Unfortunately, the receiver was cut just before the season.
Trained in American universities, Aho was not drafted when he left college in 2023. Since then, he joined the Vikings last year, then the Panthers before this season. With this arrival at the Falcons, he continues to try to be the first Frenchman to play in an NFL regular season game since Richard Tardits with the Patriots between 1990 and 1992.
Since then, Marc-Angelo Soumah (WR), Philippe Gardent (LB), Sebastian Sejean (S), Anthony Dablé (WR) or Anthony Mahoungou (WR) have all participated in training camps or preseason meetings, but without succeed in entering the final group and the regular season.