In recent weeks, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has commented on multiple occasions regarding “no doubtThe belief that the NFL will have many teams in other countries – with Europe is the most likely destination.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn’t see that happening through league expansion.
“I don’t know about an extension,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, via Brandon Contes Terrible announcement. “I see the games continuing as they are. And I see the ethos, if you will, of the game, the story of the game really expanding across the world. But basically, having an expansion team is probably a long way off. If it’s here, it’s in the future.”
It is unclear whether Jones was expressing pessimism about an international presence in general, or specifically through expansion. In the absence of new teams being added, the only way to place teams in Europe or elsewhere would be to relocate existing franchises. (Good luck identifying teams that would be potential candidates to move.)
Regardless, Goodell currently has more power than any owner. And if Goodell sees an international team coming, it makes sense to take it seriously.
For years, the NFL has played down the possibility of a team in London as part of an effort to drum up interest there. Lately, the talk feels like little more than pandering to Europe.
If it does, it probably won’t happen anytime soon. At some point, however, the only way to truly export the passion American fans feel for the sport will be to give fans in other countries a local team to rally around. London remains the most logical starting point, with one team playing their home games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the other playing at Wembley Stadium.
Since the merger in 1970, the NFL has not had a dramatic increase in teams at one time. Two were added in 1976 (Buccaneers and Seahawks). Two more were added in 1995 (Jaguars and Panthers). The Browns returned in 1999, after the Browns became the Ravens, and the Texans finished 32nd in the league in 2002.
Twenty-four years later, the NFL is on the longest stretch in league history without adding a new team. At some point, it will grow. When it does, two new teams in London make the most sense.
