Why NFL players are wearing flags on their helmets to promote 'International Diversity' during Week 7-8 games

Bryan Murphy

Why NFL players are wearing flags on their helmets to promote 'International Diversity' during Week 7-8 games image

The NFL has increased its effort to grow the game outside of North America, with a number of matchups being played overseas and a few programs put in place to recruit international players.

With the increase in diverse backgrounds among the players, the league is shining a light on the different nations that are represented on the gridiron, as the NFL Heritage program is back again this season.

Starting Week 7, fans will notice a plethora of players and coaches wearing flag decals either on their helmets or jackets. Participants can choose to wear the flag of an international country in which either they lived for more than two years or relatives have been born.

Last year, the NFL introduced the program with more than 200 players and coaches taking part. It was a hit in 2022, and it's back even bigger in 2023, as the league has stated the number is now beyond 330.

MORE: Why is the NFL wearing rainbow colors?

Here is more to know on the program and the flag decals:

Why are NFL players wearing flags on their helmets?

Per the NFL's release, the initiative seeks to "represent the ever-growing pool of various nationalities and cultures that make up the league."

Players can add flags to their helmets, while coaches can wear flag patches on jackets for the games.

"As we continue to prioritize the NFL's growth globally, we're proud to have our players and coaches honor their backgrounds through the NFL Heritage Program," said Peter O'Reilly, NFL executive vice president of club business, international and events. "This initiative allows us to celebrate the heritage, families and cultures that make up the fabric of the League, and truly showcases the growing global reach and impact of the sport of football and the NFL."

The league highlights Kyler Murray (South Korea), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Germany), Puka Nacua (Samoa), Fred Warner (Mexico) and Tua Tagovailoa (Samoa) as players who will participate.

A full list of players and coaches who will be wearing flag stickers and pins, respectively, is below.

NFL players wearing flags on helmets

The complete list of participating players and coaches, alongside countries or territories they are representing, can be found here:

Players

Arizona Cardinals Bernhard Seikovits Austria
Arizona Cardinals Jesse Luketa Canada, Haiti
Arizona Cardinals Victor Dimukeje Nigeria
Arizona Cardinals Marco Wilson Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago
Arizona Cardinals Kyler Murray South Korea
Arizona Cardinals Elijah Wilkinson Puerto Rico
Arizona Cardinals Hjalte Froholdt Denmark
Arizona Cardinals Zach Pascal Grenada
Arizona Cardinals Dennis Daley Jamaica
Arizona Cardinals Keith Ismael American Samoa
Arizona Cardinals Will Hernandez Mexico
Arizona Cardinals Trystan Colon Puerto Rico
Arizona Cardinals Emari Demercado Jamaica
Arizona Cardinals Leki Fotu Tonga
Arizona Cardinals BJ Ojulari Nigeria
Arizona Cardinals Owen Pappoe Nigeria
Arizona Cardinals Bobby Price Puerto Rico
Arizona Cardinals Michael Wilson New Zealand, Jamaica
Atlanta Falcons Arnold Ebitketie Cameroon
Atlanta Falcons Avery Williams Mexico
Atlanta Falcons Ade Ogundeji Nigeria
Atlanta Falcons Tyler Allgeier Philippines
Atlanta Falcons Younghoe Koo South Korea
Atlanta Falcons Nate Landman Zimbabwe
Atlanta Falcons Jeff Okudah Nigeria
Atlanta Falcons Kaden Elliss Samoa
Atlanta Falcons Liam McCullough Greece
Atlanta Falcons Eli Ankou Canada
Atlanta Falcons Matthew Bergeron Canada
Baltimore Ravens Odafe Oweh Nigeria
Baltimore Ravens Kyle  Hamilton South Korea
Baltimore Ravens Nelson Agholor Nigeria
Baltimore Ravens Tavius Robinson Canada
Baltimore Ravens Brent Urban Canada
Baltimore Ravens David Ojabo Scotland, Nigeria
Baltimore Ravens Daniel Faalele Australia, Samoa
Baltimore Ravens Gus Edwards Liberia
Buffalo Bills Kingsley Johnathan Nigeria
Buffalo Bills Taylor Rapp China
Buffalo Bills Germain Ifedi Nigeria
Buffalo Bills Dalton Kincaid Canada
Carolina Panthers Frankie Luvu American Samoa
Carolina Panthers Chuba Hubbard Canada
Carolina Panthers Eddy Pinero Cuba, Nicaragua
Carolina Panthers Ikem Ekwonu Nigeria
Carolina Panthers Michael Strachan Bahamas
Chicago Bears DJ Moore Jamaica
Chicago Bears Cairo Santos Brazil
Chicago Bears Trenton Gill Canada, England
Chicago Bears Equanimeous St. Brown Germany
Chicago Bears Khalil Herbert Jamaica, British Virgin Islands
Chicago Bears Roy Mbaeteka Nigeria
Chicago Bears Yannick Ngakoue Martinique
Chicago Bears Deslin Alexandre Haiti
Chicago Bears Parker Romo Mexico
Chicago Bears Velus Jones Netherlands
Chicago Bears Nsimba Webster Democratic Republic of Congo
Cincinnati Bengals Chidobe Awuzie Nigeria
Cincinnati Bengals Joshua Tupou Tonga
Cincinnati Bengals Joseph Ossai Nigeria
Cincinnati Bengals Chase Brown Canada
Cleveland Browns Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah Ghana
Cleveland Browns David Njoku Nigeria
Cleveland Browns Ogbonnia Okoronkwo Nigeria
Cleveland Browns Corey Bojorquez Mexico
Dallas Cowboys Chuma Edoga Nigeria
Dallas Cowboys Mazi Smith Nigeria
Dallas Cowboys Neville Gallimore Canada, Jamaica
Dallas Cowboys Israel Mukuamu Democratic Republic of Congo
Dallas Cowboys Willington Previlon Haiti
Dallas Cowboys Noah Igbinoghene Nigeria
Dallas Cowboys Osawaru Odighizuwa Nigeria
Denver Broncos Greg Dulcich Croatia
Denver Broncos Jerry Jeudy Haiti
Denver Broncos K'Wuan  Williams Jamaica
Denver Broncos Mike Purcell Samoa
Denver Broncos Luke Wattenberg South Korea
Denver Broncos Alex Singleton Canada
Denver Broncos Alex Palczewski Poland
Denver Broncos Fabian Moreau Haiti
Denver Broncos Haggai Ndubuisi Nigeria
Denver Broncos Thomas Incoom Ghana
Detroit Lions Devine Ozigbo Nigeria
Detroit Lions Max Pircher Italy
Detroit Lions Penei Sewell American Samoa
Detroit Lions Darrin Paulo American Samoa
Detroit Lions Jason Cabinda Cameroon
Detroit Lions Amon-Ra St. Brown Germany
Detroit Lions Kerby Joseph Haiti
Detroit Lions Scott Daly Ireland
Detroit Lions Alex Anzalone Italy
Detroit Lions Malcolm Rodriguez Mexico
Detroit Lions Ifeatu  Melifonwu Nigeria
Detroit Lions Julian Okwara Nigeria
Detroit Lions Kayode Awosika Nigeria
Detroit Lions Halapoulivaati Vaitai Tonga
Detroit Lions Romeo Okwara Nigeria, UK
Detroit Lions Levi Onwuzurike Nigeria
Detroit Lions Mitchell Agude Nigeria
Detroit Lions Brandon Joseph Antigua, Italy
Green Bay Packers Aaron Jones Germany
Green Bay Packers Corey Ballentine Jamaica
Green Bay Packers Kingsley Enagbare Nigeria
Green Bay Packers Yosh Nijman Suriname
Green Bay Packers Samori Toure Senegal
Green Bay Packers Daniel Whelan Ireland
Green Bay Packers Kenneth Odumegwu Nigeria
Houston Texans Dieter Eiselen South Africa
Houston Texans Dare Ogunbowale Nigeria
Houston Texans Troy Hairston Panama
Houston Texans Adedayo Odeleye UK, Nigeria
Houston Texans Neville Hewitt Jamaica
Houston Texans Cameron Johnston Australia
Houston Texans Brevin Jordan South Korea
Houston Texans Michael Dwumfour Ghana
Houston Texans John Metchie Nigeria, Canada
Houston Texans Henry To'oto'o Tonga, Samoa
Indianapolis Colts Bernhard Raimann Austria
Indianapolis Colts Marcel Dabo Germany
Indianapolis Colts Segun Olubi Nigeria
Indianapolis Colts Adetomiwa Adebawore Nigeria
Indianapolis Colts Nnamaka Samson Ebukam Nigeria
Indianapolis Colts Nicolas Cross Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago
Indianapolis Colts Rigoberto Sanchez Mexico
Indianapolis Colts Kwity Paye Liberia
Indianapolis Colts DeForest Buckner American Samoa
Indianapolis Colts Dayo Odeyingbo Nigeria
Indianapolis Colts McTelvin Agim Nigeria
Indianapolis Colts Julian Blackmon Samoa
Indianapolis Colts Darrell Baker Panama
Indianapolis Colts Mo Alie-Cox Sierra Leone
Jacksonville Jaguars Michael Dogbe Nigeria
Jacksonville Jaguars Adam Gotsis Australia
Jacksonville Jaguars Foye Oluokun Nigeria
Jacksonville Jaguars Ayo Oyelola UK
Jacksonville Jaguars Amani Oruwariye Nigeria
Kansas City Chiefs George Karlaftis Greece
Kansas City Chiefs Isiah Pacheco Puerto Rico
Kansas City Chiefs Derrick Nnadi Nigeria
Kansas City Chiefs Prince Oghenetega  Wanogho Nigeria
Kansas City Chiefs Joshua Williams St. Kitts and Nevis
Kansas City Chiefs Charles Omenihu Nigeria
Kansas City Chiefs Tommy Townsend Italy
Kansas City Chiefs Daniel  Arias Dominican Republic
Kansas City Chiefs Felix  Anudike-Uzomah Nigeria
Kansas City Chiefs Lucas Niang Ivory Coast, France
Kansas City Chiefs Chukwuebuka Godrick Nigeria
Las Vegas Raiders Netane Muti Tonga
Las Vegas Raiders Jakob Johnson Germany
Las Vegas Raiders Curtis Bolton Italy
Las Vegas Raiders Jermaine Eluemunour Nigeria, UK
Las Vegas Raiders Josh Jacobs Philippines
Las Vegas Raiders Brian Hoyer Germany
Las Vegas Raiders Daniel Carlson Sweden
Las Vegas Raiders Nesta Silvera Jamaica, Panama
Las Vegas Raiders Jimmy Garoppolo Italy
Las Vegas Raiders Hroniss Grasu Romania
Las Vegas Raiders David Agoha Nigeria
Los Angeles Chargers Essang Bassey Nigeria
Los Angeles Chargers Christian Covington Canada
Los Angeles Chargers Deane Leonard Canada
Los Angeles Chargers Joshua Palmer Canada
Los Angeles Chargers Tre' McKitty Jamaica
Los Angeles Chargers Amen Ogbongbemiga Nigeria
Los Angeles Chargers Raheem Layne Jamaica
Los Angeles Chargers Basil Chijioke Okoye Nigeria
Los Angeles Rams Michael Ojemudia Nigeria
Los Angeles Rams Michael Hoecht Canada
Los Angeles Rams Alaric Jackson Canada
Los Angeles Rams Puka Nacua Samoa
Los Angeles Rams Nikola Kalinic Serbia, Canada
Los Angeles Rams Olakunle Fatukasi Nigeria
Miami Dolphins Chase Claypool Canada
Miami Dolphins Eli Apple Ghana
Miami Dolphins Jevon Holland Canada
Miami Dolphins Kader Kohou Ivory Coast
Miami Dolphins Emmanuel Ogbah Nigeria
Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa Samoa, American Samoa
Miami Dolphins Braxton Berrios Puerto Rico
Miami Dolphins Tyler Kroft Germany
Minnesota Vikings Khyiris Tonga Tonga
Minnesota Vikings N'Keal Harry St. Vincent
Minnesota Vikings William Kwenkeu Cameroon
Minnesota Vikings Luiji Vilain Canada
Minnesota Vikings Brian Asamoah Ghana
Minnesota Vikings Patrick Jones Japan
Minnesota Vikings Olisaemeka Udoh Nigeria
Minnesota Vikings Kene Nwangwu Nigeria
Minnesota Vikings Camryn Bynum Philippines
Minnesota Vikings Danielle  Hunter Jamaica
Minnesota Vikings Greg Joseph South Africa
Minnesota Vikings Junior Aho France
New England Patriots JuJu Smith-Schuster Samoa
New England Patriots Kendrick Bourne American Samoa
New England Patriots Daniel Ekuale American Samoa
New England Patriots Matt Judon Burundi
New England Patriots Michael Onwenu Nigeria
New England Patriots Jahlani Tavai Samoa, American Samoa
New England Patriots Atonio Mafi Tonga
New England Patriots Joe Cardona Mexico
New England Patriots Christian Gonzalez Colombia
New England Patriots Marté Mapu American Samoa
New England Patriots Andrew Stueber Germany
New England Patriots Josh Uche Nigeria
New Orleans Saints Max Garcia Mexico
New Orleans Saints Isaac Yiadom Ghana
New Orleans Saints Chris Olave Cuba
New Orleans Saints Cesar Ruiz Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico
New Orleans Saints Tanoh Kpassagnon Ivory Coast, Uganda
New Orleans Saints Ugo Amadi Nigeria
New Orleans Saints Lou Hedley Australia
New York Giants Bobby Okereke Nigeria
New York Giants Matthew Peart Jamaica
New York Giants Joshua Ezeudu Nigeria
New York Giants Graham Gano Scotland
New York Giants Rakeem Nunez-Roches Belize
New York Giants Azeez Ojulari Nigeria
New York Jets Ifeadi Odenigbo Nigeria
New York Jets Sam Eguavoen Nigeria
New York Jets Kenny Yeboah Liberia, Ghana
New York Jets Alijah Vera-Tucker Mexico
New York Jets Bradlee Anae Samoa, The Cook Islands
New York Jets Laken Tomlinson Jamaica
Philadelphia Eagles Albert Okwuegbunam Nigeria
Philadelphia Eagles Sydney Brown Canada
Philadelphia Eagles Marcus Mariota American Samoa
Philadelphia Eagles Olamide Zaccheaus Nigeria
Philadelphia Eagles Iosua Opeta American Samoa
Philadelphia Eagles Jordan Mailata Australia, Samoa
Philadelphia Eagles Britain Covey Chile
Philadelphia Eagles Marlon Tuipulotu Tonga
Philadelphia Eagles Moro Ojomo Nigeria
Philadelphia Eagles Christian Elliss Samoa
Philadelphia Eagles Tanner McKee Brazil
Pittsburgh Steelers Obinna  Eze Nigeria
Pittsburgh Steelers Larry Ogunjobi Nigeria
Pittsburgh Steelers Chukwuma Okorafor Nigeria
San Francisco 49ers Alfredo Gutierrez Mexico
San Francisco 49ers Fred Warner Mexico
San Francisco 49ers Talanoa Hufanga Tonga
San Francisco 49ers Javon Kinlaw Trinidad & Tobago
San Francisco 49ers Jonathan Feliciano Puerto Rico
San Francisco 49ers Brandon Aiyuk Cameroon
San Francisco 49ers Mitch Wishnowsky Australia
Seattle Seahawks Michael Dickson Australia
Seattle Seahawks Boye Mafe Nigeria
Seattle Seahawks Uchenna Nwosu Nigeria
Seattle Seahawks Jaxon Smith-Njigba Sierra Leone
Seattle Seahawks Julian Love Mexico, Cuba
Seattle Seahawks Olusegun Oluwatimi Nigeria
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vita Vea Tonga
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ko Kieft Netherlands
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tanner Taula Samoa
Tampa Bay Buccaneers YaYa Diaby Guinea
Tennessee Titans Nick Folk Germany
Tennessee Titans Nicholas Petit-Frere Haiti
Tennessee Titans Thomas Odukoya Netherlands
Tennessee Titans Chigoziem Okonkwo Nigeria
Tennessee Titans Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Nigeria
Washington Commanders Benjamin St-Juste Canada
Washington Commanders David Bada Germany
Washington Commanders Tyler Larsen Norway
Washington Commanders Sam Cosmi Romania
Washington Commanders Sam Howell South Korea
Washington Commanders Efe Obada UK, Nigeria
Washington Commanders Jabril Cox American Samoa
Washington Commanders Alex Armah Jr Ghana
Washington Commanders Christian Holmes Djibouti
Washington Commanders Chris Paul Nigeria
Washington Commanders Abdullah Anderson Jr England
Washington Commanders Tariq Castro-Fields Philippines
Washington Commanders Brycen Tremayne Japan, China
Washington Commanders Joshua Kalu Nigeria
Free Agent Kemoko Turay Ivory Coast
Free Agent JJ Arcega-Whiteside Spain
Free Agent Dezmon Patmon Norway
Free Agent David Anenih Nigeria
Free Agent Tanner Vallejo Ecuador
Free Agent Corliss Waitman Suriname, Netherlands
Free Agent Terrell Lewis Guyana
Free Agent Aaron Monteiro Cape Verde
Free Agent Jarrett Guarantano Dominican Republic
Free Agent Devery Hamilton Germany
Free Agent Arryn Siposs Australia
Free Agent Rachad Wildgoose Bahamas
Free Agent Robert Quinn Puerto Rico
Free Agent Harvey Langi Tonga
Free Agent Ola Adeniyi Nigeria
Free Agent Dakoda Shepley Canada

 Coaches

Atlanta Falcons Arthur Smith Scotland
Atlanta Falcons Dave Ragone Italy
Baltimore Ravens Sam Rosengarten Australia
Buffalo Bills Spencer Haws Italy
Dallas Cowboys Aden Durde UK
Detroit Lions Jessica Gray Jamaica
Green Bay Packers Luke Butkus Lithuania
Green Bay Packers Darryl Franklin Canada
Kansas City Chiefs Tom Melvin Jr. Ireland, Belgium
Kansas City Chiefs Alex Whittingham New Zealand
Minnesota Vikings Brian Flores Honduras
Minnesota Vikings Imarjaye Albury Bahamas
Minnesota Vikings Dalmin Gibson Belize
New England Patriots Bill Belichick Croatia
New England Patriots Cam Achord France
New England Patriots Brian Belichick Croatia
New England Patriots Joe Houston Cuba, Spain
New England Patriots Joe Kim Korea
New England Patriots Mike Pellegrino Italy
New England Patriots Vinnie Sunseri Italy
New England Patriots Joe Judge Ireland
New England Patriots Adrian Klemm Belize
New England Patriots Steve Belichick Croatia
New England Patriots Berj Najarian Armenia
New York Giants Brian Daboll Canada
New York Giants Mike Kafka Puerto Rico
New York Giants Cade Knox Denmark, China
New York Jets David Szott Poland, Ireland
New York Jets Armando Taddei Italy
Philadelphia Eagles Matt Patricia Italy
Philadelphia Eagles Sean Desai India
Philadelphia Eagles Michael Clay Mexico
Philadelphia Eagles Jemal Singleton England
Philadelphia Eagles Kevin Patullo Italy
Philadelphia Eagles Matt Leo Australia
San Francisco 49ers Miguel Reveles Mexico
Seattle Seahawks Sanjay Lal India
Seattle Seahawks Karl Scott Liberia
Seattle Seahawks Patrick McPherson Italy, Ireland
Washington Commanders Vincent Rivera Korea
Washington Commanders Juan Castillo Mexico
Washington Commanders Cristian Garcia Cuba
Washington Commanders Ron Rivera Puerto Rico, Mexico
Washington Commanders Masahiro Takahagi Japan
Washington Commanders Mark McCracken Korea
Washington Commanders Lindsay Gately Haiti
Washington Commanders Doug Quon China

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.