CHARLOTTE — Mapalo “Maz” Mwansa, originally from Peterborough, England, has signed with the Carolina Panthers through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Mwansa, previously an accountant, discovered his passion for American football after a standout performance at a sports day event led to attention from the sports community.
“I would never have thought I would be doing this four or five years ago,” he shared with The Associated Press. “Even two years ago, football was not in the picture for me. The journey’s been a complete whistle-stop tour, and I’m trying to soak in as much as I can and just enjoy every bit of the process.”
Mwansa’s athletic journey began with rugby, soccer, basketball, track and field, and cricket. After watching Netflix’s “Last Chance U” and “Quarterback,” he decided to pursue American football, initially joining the Nottingham Caesars, followed by a stint with the Great Britain National Team for the 2024 European Championship.
His performance caught the eye of Cole Spencer, the Director of Player Personnel for the Panthers, during a joint Pro Day with the IPP and the University of South Florida. Regarding Mwansa’s performance, Spencer stated, “He definitely didn’t look out of place. In fact, he had better numbers than a lot of the guys at that Pro Day. He just stood out from a measurable standpoint.”
Spencer noted Mwansa’s athletic abilities: “By his times, the vertical jump, and then the way he moved, you could tell he was trained well at the IPP program. He was athletic, he looked the part, he looked explosive and has a pretty good change of direction. Anytime you get a raw ball of clay like that, and the league affords a roster spot, it’s pretty cool.”
Mwansa is set to integrate into a team that has recently added Patrick Jones II and new outside linebackers coach, AC Carter.
