Roje Stona, the reigning Olympic men's discus champion, is making a bold transition to American football by trying out for the NFL through the International Player Pathway program. At 25, he aims to follow in the footsteps of Jordan Mailata, who successfully navigated the same path to join the Philadelphia Eagles.

Stona, who recently won Olympic gold in Paris, was approached by the IPP shortly after his victory. He has a background in football, having participated in a pro day at the University of Arkansas and attending minicamps with the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers.

With the IPP program having successfully signed numerous international players, Stona is determined to make a mark. His immediate focus is on the upcoming 10-week camp in Florida, while keeping the option of returning to discus in mind.