German football pro David Bada wants to make a fresh start with the Detroit Lions. But an injury brutally slows down the tackle – once again.
“Bada will be out for the year.” These were five words that sealed the bitter career setback for German football professional David Bada. The head coach of the Detroit Lions, Dan Campbell, confirmed the worst fears without giving a precise diagnosis.
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The 29-year-old had been injured a few days earlier in the preseason game against the New York Giants without any external influence. Shortly after the game, Campbell announced that Bada had an injury to his Achilles tendon; US media spoke of a torn Achilles tendon.
It goes without saying that a serious injury is a setback of extreme proportions for a professional athlete. For David Bada, however, the setback is fundamental. For the second time in a year, the defensive tackle has had a significant opportunity ruined. An opportunity that doesn’t come around all that often.
NFL: Bada wanted to make his breakthrough at Commanders
Bada began his career in his hometown with the Munich Cowboys, later moving on to the Ingolstadt Dukes and the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, where he became champion and runner-up.
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In 2020, he made the leap to the NFL. Through the International Player Pathway Program, he was able to prove himself at the combine for foreign players and was eventually brought into the practice squad by today’s Washington Commanders (then still Redskins, editor’s note).
Bada first really came onto the scene at the end of the 2022 season, when he first appeared on the active roster and played his only two regular season games so far. The following season should therefore also be a breakthrough for the pass rusher.
Praise for German tackle
“One of the advantages of having someone like David, who is still in the process of learning, is that he’s here, on the practice squad, and as a bonus player,” said then-Washington head coach Ron Rivera, explaining the advantages of the international players who do not count against the expanded 90-man roster.
“So you have time to see him develop and grow. In my opinion, the process always takes about two to two and a half years until you see if he has a chance and David is getting pretty close to that point,” praised Rivera.
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The two to two and a half years mentioned by the coaching legend had pretty much been completed by this point. But Bada could not follow up on the coach’s encouraging words with actions. During preseason, the tackle tore his triceps tendon and the 2023 season was over before it had even begun.
Serious injury for the Lions
After four years in Washington, the end came in spring 2024, but Bada was still set to play in the NFL. The Detroit Lions, including German star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, offered the tackle a contract, taking advantage of an exception from the International Player Pathway Program.
But once again, bad luck with injuries has dashed all hopes.
“He worked his butt off and gave us everything he had, he’s going to be out for a long time,” said head coach Campbell. “We hate to lose him, but we’re thankful for everything he gave.”
