Kiwi NFL rookie Michael Wilson will showcase the New Zealand flag on his helmet in weeks 7 and 8 of the American football competition.
Wilson's inclusion of the New Zealand flag is part of the new NFL Heritage programme which is allowing hundreds of non-US players across the league to display the country of their heritage for two weeks.
The league said the initiative is about celebrating the growing diversity of players from around the world who play in the NFL and an idea that has been player-led to highlight the influence the globe is having on the American game.
Wilson’s mother Ngaire is a New Zealand-born and was raised in Wellington, while his aunt Maureen Jacobson is a former Football Fern who was the first to reach 50 appearances for the side.
When asked by 1News earlier this year about his Kiwi heritage, Wilson emphasised he is "definitely Kiwi" despite the thick American accent he has from growing up in the US.
"We are Kiwi proud. Every time I start an interview, people ask me for my background. The first thing I say is my mum is born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. I always start my story from my parents are from," Wilson said.
Wilson was selected 94th by the Arizona Cardinals in this year’s draft after an impressive college career with Stanford University and in his seven games so far has made an impressive start, with some fans and commentators even calling him the "steal of the draft".
After scoring his first touchdown this month against the San Francisco 49ers, the wide receiver has amassed 341 yards this season, averaging 16.3 yards a reception - the ninth-highest in the NFL so far this season and best in his team.
Although he’s made an eye-opening start to the season, the same can’t be said about his team with the Cardinals currently one win from eight games so far.
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