Munich to the NFL: Nadine Nurasyid Experiences Her First Weeks with the Indianapolis Colts

From Munich to Detroit to Indianapolis

Nadine Nurasyid’s journey to this new chapter in the NFL first took her from Munich to Detroit and then to Indianapolis. Once there, the Munich native signed her contract with the Indianapolis Colts and officially began the Harriet P. Irsay Fellowship for Women in Football Program.

As part of the program, Nurasyid is a member of the coaching staff and works with the Colts’ defensive backs. For the former player and head coach of the Munich Cowboys, this marks the next important step in a career that has been closely tied to American football in Munich for many years.

Following her previous experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nurasyid is now spending her first full NFL season with a single franchise.

Training Camp: Right into the Daily Routine of the NFL

There wasn’t much time to settle in. At the end of July, the Indianapolis Colts kicked off their training camp, marking the start of intensive preparations for the 2026 NFL season.

The schedule included regular training sessions, meetings, walkthroughs, and joint practices with other NFL teams. Among other things, the Colts held a joint practice with the New England Patriots as well as two joint training sessions with the Atlanta Falcons.

This phase in particular is crucial for NFL teams. Offensive and defensive schemes are further refined, position groups need to gel, and numerous players are competing for a spot on the final roster.

For Nurasyid, the daily rhythm of an NFL organization began immediately upon her arrival.

Preseason Opener Against the New England Patriots

The first real test of the preseason came against the New England Patriots.

The game ended in a 13–13 tie. As is typical for preseason games, the focus was not solely on the result but primarily on evaluating the roster and the development of individual players.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. was one of the Colts’ standout players. He completed 11 of his 14 passes for 145 yards, rushed for an additional 53 yards, and scored a touchdown.

For Indianapolis, the game also provided the first opportunity to test numerous plays from training camp under competitive conditions.

Colts Fall to Atlanta After Joint Practices

In their second preseason game, the Colts hosted the Atlanta Falcons at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Prior to that, both teams had already completed two joint practices. During these joint practices, the Colts were able to test their offense and defense against an outside opponent before facing off in the official preseason matchup at the stadium a few days later.

The game itself was significantly less successful from Indianapolis’s perspective. The Colts suffered a 6–34 defeat.

The team’s only points were scored by kicker Spencer Shrader with two field goals. At the same time, numerous players from the depth chart once again had the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of a spot on the roster.

Defensive Highlights in the Season-Closing Game Against Detroit

The Colts lost the game 16–25, but were able to make some positive impressions, particularly on defense.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner provided one of the game’s highlights with an interception. In addition, several young defenders drew attention to themselves. In total, five Colts rookies recorded a takeaway or forced turnover.

Indianapolis thus ended its preseason with one tie and two losses.

Nadine Nurasyid Kicks Off Her First Full NFL Season

With the end of the preseason, the next phase of Nurasyid’s time in Indianapolis begins.

Training camp, joint practices, and preseason games are behind her—now the regular NFL routine begins. For the Touchdown Munich ambassador, this marks her first full season as part of the coaching staff of an NFL franchise.

Her new role in Indianapolis coincides with an extraordinary phase for American football in Germany. The NFL continues to expand its presence here, and Munich remains one of the country’s most important football hubs.

Indianapolis and Munich share more than just the color blue

The connection between the Indianapolis Colts and Germany has grown significantly in recent years. In 2025, the franchise took part in the first regular-season NFL game in Berlin and has continued to expand its activities in the German market ever since.

Now, Nadine Nurasyid, a native of Munich, is working directly on the Colts’ coaching staff.

At the same time, her hometown is once again taking center stage in the NFL world: On November 15, the NFL Munich Game 2026—the next regular-season game—will take place in Munich.

While NFL football will once again be played there in front of tens of thousands of fans, Nurasyid is experiencing the league several thousand kilometers away from a completely different perspective—directly from the day-to-day operations of an NFL franchise.

Her season thus connects two worlds of football that are growing ever closer: Munich Football and the NFL in Indianapolis.