American Football Today – An NFL professional for the Minden Wolves

An NFL professional for the Minden Wolves

Jalen Dalton is an absolute stroke of luck during his visit to Germany as a player for the newly crowned champions:

He actually just wanted to fly across the pond and visit his cousin. But it quickly became more than that. Jalen Dalton currently wears the jersey of the Minden Wolves. A real sensation, because the 27-year-old from Clemmons in North Carolina is not a normal import from the motherland of American football. He is someone who knows the professional business of the NFL inside out. And so it is extremely surprising that the German tourist has become a reinforcement for the newly promoted regional league team.

“When he expressed his willingness to play for us during his visit to his cousin Kenneth Patten Jr., we were all absolutely thrilled. An NFL player at the Wolves! It’s like a Bundesliga player coming to a local club in football.”

In no time at all, the ITC, the international clearance, was applied for at the national association in Frankfurt, and then all the formalities for obtaining the player’s pass were submitted to the regional association. The flight and pickup in Bremen were also organized. And just in time for the all-important summit meeting of the Oberliga, the news arrived that Dalton could play. The day before the duel against Kachtenhausen, the two-meter-tall man also completed a youth camp with the Wolves’ youth team. An honor for the youngsters.

“To have an NFL player as a guest or for an autograph session would have been a dream,” said Krusche. “But to then have one as a coach for a youth camp and also as a player is something that cannot be described in words. An absolute stroke of luck for us, but it also shows what the ‘Minden Wolves’ project is all about.”

During his high school years, Jalen Dalton received offers from over 30 of the biggest college football programs. Rivals.com ranks him as the fourth best defensive end recruit in the nation and the best player in the state!
In 2015, he decided to continue his studies and career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated with a degree in sociology.

Signed with the Chicago Bears in 2019. After going undrafted in the NFL Draft, the Bears signed him as an undrafted free agent following a successful rookie minicamp.

This was followed by two seasons with the New Orleans Saints and one with the Atlanta Falcons. After two injuries that ended his four-year NFL career, he stayed true to football and signed with the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL in 2024.
Jalen Dalton founded the Jalen Dalton Foundation as an active NFL player. “I want to give back and support underserved communities with scholarships, hunger relief and various grant programs.” With his mix of passion and philanthropic commitment, he also wants to create unique collaboration opportunities. “My goal is to really explore how I can work with brands, artists and organizations to develop meaningful and impactful projects.”

But what happens after his trip to Germany? “I’ve already taken Minden to my heart in the short time I’ve been here. The free kick alone was a special experience for me.” He is not ruling out a return next year. Dalton: “But that depends crucially on whether there is another chance in the NFL or whether I have a commitment in the UFL.”

Minden Wolves – 31.08.2024

From a German tourist to an absolute stroke of luck: Jalen Dalton plays for the Minden Wolves.