By Peter
King
November 14, 2022
Germany has produced some big linemen,
including former Patriots tackle Sebastian
Vollmer and ex-Giants defensive tackle Markus
Kuhn. Both work as ambassadors for the league here, and
as TV commentators on the game. Their origin stories are long shots, which is
why the NFL wants to see more club football and flag football programs—both of
which are growing here.
Kuhn, by age 14, hadn’t found a sport to his liking until he was
prompted to try out for a club football team near his home in Weinheim. As a
linebacker and defensive tackle on his club team, he was an all-league player.
But then what?
“I wanted to try to play
college football,” Kuhn said Saturday. “I thought I might be good
enough, but I didn’t know. So my dad and I flew to Washington D.C., rented a
car. We didn’t know how the recruiting process worked. I had a recruiting tape,
and for two months we just drove down the coast—Liberty, Richmond, William
& Mary, North Carolina State. Just showed up at the front door of the schools and said, ‘I’m Markus,
I’m from Germany, I play football.’ They looked at me like I was crazy. But I
got offered some scholarships. (He took one from N.C. State and played there.)
“Four-and-a-half years
later, I’m the first German ever invited to the Scouting Combine. I got drafted
by the Giants and played in the league for four years. I accomplished way more
in football than I ever thought I would. Now, seeing the growth of the game
back home, so many kids playing flag football and loving the game, seeing the
growth of the game on TV … Now
the NFL sending its biggest star to play a game here.
“Goosebumps,” Kuhn said.
“I’ve got goosebumps thinking about it.”