Raiders Sign Undrafted Kicker Matsuzawa: First Japanese Player in NFL Contract Talks

LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to terms with Japanese kicker Matsuzawa on a three-year contract as an undrafted free agent, the team announced through Hawaii’s athletic department on April 25, 2026. The agreement comes after Matsuzawa went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft, marking a significant step toward potentially becoming the first Japanese-born player to appear in an NFL regular-season game.

Matsuzawa, a 27-year-old native of Chiba Prefecture, Japan, expressed both joy and determination upon securing the deal. Speaking from Pittsburgh following the draft’s conclusion, he told reporters, “I was happy, but at the same time I really felt focused. I finally sense like I’m at the starting line.” His words reflected the culmination of a unique journey that began with soccer in Japan and transitioned to American football after watching an NFL game in the United States.

The Raiders confirmed Matsuzawa’s signing via their official channels, noting he will participate in rookie minicamp and offseason activities as he competes for a spot on the 53-man roster. His path to Las Vegas represents a milestone for Japanese athletes aspiring to play in the NFL, a league that has never featured a Japanese player in regular-season action despite previous international representation from countries like Canada, Germany, and Jamaica.

Matsuzawa’s football background is unconventional. He played soccer as a forward at Makuhari Sogo High School in Chiba, helping his team reach the prefectural quarterfinals. After failing to gain university admission twice in Japan, he moved to the United States, where exposure to NFL games sparked his interest in becoming a kicker. He began playing American football at age 20 through self-directed learning, eventually walking on at the University of Hawaii.

At Hawaii, Matsuzawa developed into a reliable placekicker, earning attention for his accuracy and consistency. His performance drew interest from multiple NFL teams during the pre-draft process, though he was not invited to the NFL Combine as a draftable prospect. Teams reportedly monitored his progress through pro days and film study, with the Raiders ultimately emerging as the organization willing to offer him a contract.

The Raiders’ interest in Matsuzawa aligns with their recent history of evaluating international talent. Las Vegas has participated in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and has previously worked with kickers from diverse backgrounds. The franchise, which relocated from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020 and now plays at Allegiant Stadium, brings historical significance to Matsuzawa’s opportunity — the Raiders won three Super Bowls during their tenure in Oakland and Los Angeles before moving to Nevada.

Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders’ home since 2020, seats 65,000 fans and has become a prominent venue in the AFC West. The team, which last made the playoffs in the 2021 season, finished the 2025 campaign with a 3-14 record. Matsuzawa’s arrival coincides with Las Vegas’ efforts to rebuild its special teams unit, which ranked near the bottom of the league in field goal percentage and punt return average last year.

Should Matsuzawa make the final roster, he would join a small but growing group of Asian players in the NFL. While individuals of Japanese descent born abroad have played in the league — most notably Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love, whose mother is Japanese — no player born and raised in Japan has yet appeared in a regular-season game. Matsuzawa’s contract represents the closest any Japanese athlete has come to achieving this milestone.

The kicker’s immediate focus will be on adapting to the speed and physicality of NFL training camp. Raiders special teams coordinator Tom McMahon, who oversaw one of the league’s top punt coverage units in 2024, will work closely with Matsuzawa on technique, consistency, and mental preparation. Success in minicamp and preseason games will determine whether he earns a roster spot when the team cuts to 53 players in late August.

For now, Matsuzawa remains grounded in his goal. “The team that I first watched when I started liking American football was the Raiders,” he said, smiling during his Pittsburgh interview. “It makes me really happy.” His journey from Chiba’s soccer fields to the NFL’s threshold underscores the increasingly global nature of American football, where determination and opportunity can intersect across continents and sports.

The Raiders will begin organized team activities in mid-May, followed by mandatory minicamp in June. Matsuzawa’s progress will be closely monitored by both the coaching staff and Japanese media, which has followed his story since his early days in Hawaii. A successful training camp performance could see him earn a preseason roster spot, with the team’s first exhibition game scheduled for early August against the Arizona Cardinals.

As the NFL continues to expand its international footprint through games in Mexico, Germany, and Brazil, stories like Matsuzawa’s highlight the league’s evolving talent pool. Whether he ultimately makes the opening kickoff for Las Vegas in September remains uncertain, but his contract ensures that, for the first time, a Japanese-born player will have a genuine chance to realize an NFL dream.

Fans and analysts can track Matsuzawa’s development through the Raiders’ official website and social media channels, where updates on rookie camp performances and preseason play will be posted regularly. His next public appearance is expected at the team’s rookie minicamp opening practice, scheduled for May 12, 2026, at the Raiders’ interim training facility in Henderson, Nevada.