Nate Ebner and Jahvid Best to feature at Rio 2016 Olympics

The path from Olympics to the NFL is well trodden but moving in the other direction has been a different story with one current and one former player set to feature at Rio 2016. We take a look at their stories and those from the NFL who missed out at the Games this year.

Nate Ebner (Rugby sevens) and Jahvid Best (100m) are the two names that will follow Herschel Walker in making the transition from NFL to Olympics - but they will become the first to do so at the summer Games.

Former Heismann Trophy winner Walker represented Team USA in the two-man bobsleigh at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, finishing seventh in the event.

Ebner, who has been given time off by the New England Patriots, will become the first current NFL player to feature at a Games when he represents USA in the Rugby seven's event while former running-back Best will look to challenge Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin among others when he represents St Lucia in the 100m.

Former Detroit Lion Best, whose father owns dual citizenship in St Lucia and the United States, will represent the tiny Caribbean island with a population of just over 160,000.

The fastest running back at the scouting combine in 2010, Best was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round. His career in the NFL looked bright after scoring a touchdown in the season opener, but after several concussions in the following years, Best struggled to make the team and retired in 2013.

The 27-year-old, who has participated in track and field events as a junior and senior, qualified for a place at Rio with a 100m time of 10.16 seconds registered in April during a meet in San Diego. 

There have been a selection of athletes who made the transition from athletics to the NFL, including former British discus thrower Lawrence Okoye, who represented Team GB at the London Olympics. After posting impressive numbers in sprinting and jump tests, Okoye got his chance with the San Francisco 49ers. Having spent time with the Cardinals and Jets, Okoye is now competing for a roster spot with the Dallas Cowboys.

However, the only player to represent their country at the Olympics after a career in the NFL is Walker, who competed in the bobsleigh team at the 1992 Winter Olympics in France. 

Rugby returns

Already an international rugby union player, Ebner was successful in a 'walk on' trial for Ohio State's football programme at the start of his junior year.

As a special teams weapon, Ebner excelled at college level and was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2012. His transition to the NFL was complete in 2015 when Ebner won a Super Bowl ring as the Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks.

With rugby sevens making its return to the Olympic stage, Ebner is part of the US squad for the Games. He has represented his country a few times since the end of the NFL season, and will be part of the American team who will contest for gold in an event that will grab the headlines.

Another NFL player converting to their original sport is former San Francisco 49er Jarryd Hayne. Having competed at the top level of Australia's rugby league programme, Hayne made the decision to follow a dream of playing in the NFL. At the start of the 2015 season, Hayne signed for 49ers as a running back but, despite looking impressive in pre-season, struggled to hold down a roster spot.

Following a disappointing season, Hayne retired and set his sights on making the Fijian Olympic rugby sevens team. Having missed out despite making the 23-man squad he is now returning to rugby league after signing a two-year deal with the Gold Coast Titans.

Missing out

This summer, Marquise Goodwin planned to swap the gridiron for the sandpit, representing the US in the long jump.

A former Olympian, Goodwin represented the US in London but finished a disappointing tenth. Following the culmination of his season with Buffalo Bills, Goodwin began training for Rio.

However, it was not to be for the former junior world champion who finished ninth at the US trials, meaning he will miss out on a return to the Olympics.

It may prove to be a good thing. Despite receiving permission from the Buffalo Bills to compete for the US, Goodwin will be a free agent next summer. After a 2015 season hampered by injury, skipping training camp in pursuit of an Olympic dream is a risky move.

Another running back to miss out is Jeff Demps. Prior to his NFL career, Demps won a silver medal in the London 2012 4x100m relay, despite not competing in the final.

Although he skipped the Combine to focus on sprinting, Demps was highly sought after, and the New England Patriots signed him to a three year deal.

Injuries prevented Demps' career from ever taking off and, after time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, Demps was attempting to convert back to the track. However he came up 0.04s short, and will not be part of Team USA.