The program was formed as part of the NFL's strategy to grow globally as it provides athletes with the opportunity to play in the league.
Following a short hiatus of seven years there was a single incarnation of NFL Undiscovered in 2016 and building immediately on the success of that trial the IPPP was instituted in 2017.
At the time, the program was not yet officially named the International Player Pathway, but it was fully sanctioned and supported by the NFL.
Additionally, the League had commissioned a mini-series documentary to be made, called NFL Undiscovered, that followed the participants of the program.
In 2017, the IPP was implemented with systems for choosing which division sponsors the program annually, as well as special regulations applying to the teams being assigned the players.