New Zealander Paul Lasike has made the Chicago Bears 53-man squad for the upcoming NFL American Football season.
Lasike, a fullback, was a member of the Bears practice squad last season.
New Zealand born NFL player Paul Lasike. Photo: Chicago Bears
He played his college football at Brigham Young University and was signed by the Arizona Cardinals in 2015 as a undrafted free agent.
However he was waived just a few months later.
Lasike was born in Auckland and went to Westlake Boys High School and then Church College in Hamilton.
Lasike is reported to have impressed the Bears coaches during the pre-season.
If he plays in the regular season he will become just the third New Zealander to play in he NFL after Riki Ellison and David Dixon.
Ellison's American-born son Rhett currently plays for Minnesota.
The Bears play the Texans in the first round next weekend.
