The Dallas Cowboys signed British warehouse worker Efe Obada to a three-year contract.
The Cowboys took a chance on Greg Hardy in March after he had charges of domestic violence against him dismissed, but the franchise has taken another risk in signing the inexperienced Obada.
Obada, who plays with the London Warriors in the British American Football Association National Leagues, has played just five games of organised football and lives outside of London in the town of Stevenage.
He works as a warehouse storeman for Grace Foods.
The 22-year-old played defensive end and tight end for the Warriors, and the Cowboys are planning to use his heavy frame - he comes in at six-foot-six-inches and weighs about 115 kilograms - exclusively on the defensive side of the ball.
"This is a dream," Obada told NFLUK.com.
"It's amazing and life-changing. It's a major turning point in my life and feels like a movie.
"This could be it - I can change my life. This is unreal - this doesn't happen to people like me. I've never even been outside of London since I arrived in the UK."
Warriors defensive co-ordinator Aden Durde, who spotted Obada, served as an intern coach with the Cowboys in 2014.
The Cowboys signed Obada to a deal at the league minimum salary.