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Rojé Stona, who won Jamaica’s only gold medal at Paris 2024, has set his sights on a career in the NFL.
Often when an athlete reaches the pinnacle of their sport, the world assumes they have no other aspirations beyond their primary discipline.
However, for Rojé Stona, the 25-year-old Jamaican discus thrower who made history by winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, there is more to his future than just the throwing ring.
Despite his landmark achievement in athletics, Stona has his sights set on something entirely different—joining the National Football League (NFL).
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Stona stunned the world during the summer games in Paris with a remarkable throw of 70.00 meters, setting a new Olympic record and securing the gold medal.
Not only did he become the first Jamaican and Caribbean athlete to win the Olympic men’s discus throw title, but he also broke a 20-year-old record previously held by Lithuania’s Virgilijus Alekna.
Additionally, Stona became the first non-European champion in the event since 1976 and the first Black athlete to claim the title.
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However, despite the magnitude of his achievement in the discus throw, Stona remains deeply interested in American football.
He revealed his desire to pursue a career in the NFL, explaining that his passion for the sport is still alive.
“I wasn’t at any training camps because of the Olympics, so that opportunity passed for this season. If I’m given the opportunity to represent one of those franchises, I’ll definitely take it on or consider it at least, but I’m definitely curious to see how that would play out if I do it, so we’ll see,” he said as per Jamaica Observer.
Stona’s pathway to the NFL is not a traditional one as he has never played competitive football but is determined to give it a shot.
His journey begins with his selection for the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) programme, where he will undergo a 10-week training camp at the IMG Academy in Florida next month.
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Following this, he will showcase his skills at the University of South Florida’s Pro Day in March, where NFL scouts will evaluate his potential.
Earlier this year, Stona had tryouts with two of the NFL’s top teams—the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers—where he impressed coaches as a defensive end.
However, a contract did not materialize. Despite this, he is not dissuaded and remains committed to his NFL dream.
“It would mean a lot, it would just be a new part of my story, part of my journey. I don’t know if anyone has done that before, especially in Jamaica, and I’d just create a new path for different athletes,” Stona said.
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Should Stona not secure a place in the NFL, he is prepared to return to athletics. The discus throw is still his passion and he plans to continue competing at a high level.
“There’s a target on my back, so there’s never a reason to be comfortable, never a reason to feel like the position is there for me. A lot of people didn’t expect that I’d win [at the Olympics], so the fact that it happened, they’re looking forward [to beating me], because I’ve definitely set a standard for myself and I’m trying to make sure I maintain that standard,” Stona reflected.
Stona is also aware of the growing strength of Jamaica’s discus throw community.
In Paris, his fellow countrymen, Ralford Mullings and Traves Smikle, also made the final but finished in ninth and tenth place, respectively.
With top athlete Fedrick Dacres aiming for a spot at the World Athletic Championships next year, Stona is optimistic about the future of the sport in Jamaica.
“I think we’re doing exceptionally well. I’m very pleased to be honest, because I remember during the junior years I saw the potential and how highly competitive we are as throwers,” he concluded.
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