Above: Pierre Desir
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Haiti native Pierre Desir was selected by the Cleveland Browns in last week’s National Football League player draft.
Desir, who was born in Port-au-Prince, most recently attended Lindenwood University.
A 6’1” cornerback, he was chosen by the Browns in the fourth round as the 127th overall pick in the draft.
Desir is the latest in a growing trend of Haitian-born and Haitian-American players in the NFL.
In a statement on social media, Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe congratulated Desir on his selection.
“On behalf of the Haitian people, I would like to congratulate [Desir] on his selection by the Cleveland Browns at the NFL draft,” Lamothe wrote.
While Desir was born in Haiti, he moved with his family to the Missouri when he was four, eventually attending Francis Howell Central High School.
He initially played during his collegiate career at Washburn University before transferring.