Nathaniel Salmon
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | 12 February 2004 |
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Mana College (Porirua, New Zealand) |
| Position: | Tight end |
| Other | |
| Basketball career | |
| Career information | |
| Playing career | 2022–present |
| Position | Forward |
| Career history | |
| 2022 | Manawatu Jets |
| 2023 | Wellington Saints |
| 2024 | North Gold Coast Seahawks |
Nathaniel Salmon (born 12 February 2004) is a New Zealand American football tight end and basketball player. He played in the National Basketball League (NBL) for the Manawatu Jets and Wellington Saints. He is a participant in the National Football League's International Player Pathway (IPP) program.
Early life and basketball career
[edit]Salmon was born on 12 February 2004.[1] He grew up in Takapūwāhia, Porirua, New Zealand.[2] Each of his four siblings played basketball, and Salmon is also related to National Basketball League (NBL) players Jordan Ngatai, Francis Mulvihill, and Randall Bishop.[2][3] As a youth, he played for the junior national team, the Tall Blacks.[2] He attended Mana College in Porirua.[4]
After Salmon graduated from high school, he decided to turn professional at the age of 17, signing with the NBL's Manawatu Jets in February 2022.[3][4] He appeared in 15 games during the 2021–22 season and averaged 5.3 points and 1.9 rebounds.[5] Towards the end of the year, he played for a 3×3 team affiliated with the Wellington Saints, and in March 2023 he signed with the Saints.[6] He appeared in two games during the 2022–23 season.[5] In 2024, he moved to Australia and began playing for the second-tier North Gold Coast Seahawks, where he averaged 15.7 points and 5.1 rebounds while appearing in 15 games.[7]
Football career
[edit]Salmon had little interest in American football growing up, occasionally watching portions of the Super Bowl in some years.[7] By mid-2024, he had never touched a football.[3] However, that year, he was noticed and invited to the National Football League (NFL) academy in Gold Coast, where he impressed.[7] Later in December, he was selected as one of 14 players for the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program.[7][8] He began training at the position of tight end and was invited to train in the U.S. at IMG Academy for 10 weeks in early 2025.[9][10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Nathaniel Salmon". Australiabasket.com.
- ^ a b c Heagney, George (10 June 2022). "Salmon family connection continues on court for Manawatū Jets". Stuff.
- ^ a b c Hillier, Bianca (21 January 2025). "International athletes pivot to American football for a chance at joining the NFL". TheWorld.org.
- ^ a b "Standout Wellington schoolboy to fly with Manawatū Jets". Stuff. 8 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Nathaniel Salmon". Proballers.com.
- ^ "Nathaniel returns home for 2023". Wellington Saints. 20 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d Hinton, Marc (13 December 2024). "Meet Nathaniel Salmon, the Kiwi basketballer taking his shot on the pathway to the NFL". The Post.
- ^ Chapman, Grant (10 December 2024). "Kiwi Nathaniel Salmon enters NFL international player pathway". 1news.co.nz.
- ^ Hinton, Marc (15 March 2025). "'I know I can do it': Kiwi NFL hopeful Nathaniel Salmon ready for his shot at the big league". The Post.
- ^ Pioli, Scott (17 March 2025). "Four NFL prospects to watch at 2025 International Player Pathway program pro day". National Football League.
- 2004 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Porirua
- Forwards (basketball)
- Manawatu Jets players
- Wellington Saints players
- American football tight ends
- International Player Pathway Program participants
- People educated at Mana College
- New Zealand players of American football
- New Zealand men's basketball players