As London and Munich are set to host NFL games in Weeks 5, 6, 7 and 10 of the upcoming NFL Season 2024-25, the future of the NFL in Europe looks flourishing.
It is being said that the NFL is making bold moves to expand its horizons to Europe. For now, it’s just an ambition, but we could soon see it becoming a reality.
The head coach of the NFL Academy, Steve Haven is delighted to welcome the sport to the continent and hopes to have teams from some of the biggest European cities.
He says, “I think the NFL is working for that international presence. I don’t know if it would just be a team or maybe a division in Europe, where that division plays itself into that play-off situation.”
Haven is a former assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets and he hopes that European teams get the direct route to the Super Bowl this time.
The NFL Academy
The NFL Academy is an in London that seeks student-athletes interested in developing their potential in American Football.
It was launched in London in 2019 at Loughborough University and picks the best talent from across Europe and Africa.
Youngsters between the ages of 16 and 19 get training at the Academy along with a full-time NFL education. Steve Haven is now using his vast experience to guide the young talent as the head coach.
The main aim of this training is to secure these players a spot in Division One or Division Two college teams in the US.
Their ultimate goal is to reach the NFL draft. The NFL Academy will feature 72 top players from 19 different regions and countries this year.
The Future of the NFL Internationally
The NFL has the ambition to capture the international markets as is evident from its International Series of games.
It all started with a single game per season in London and now has increased to multiple games being played in London and Germany.
Not only these games have garnered significant attendance, but are also rivalling the regular NFL games in the US. Since 2007, the league has organized at least one game outside the US every year.
You can say that NFL is staging these games in England, Germany and Mexico rather than St. Louis or San Antonio for a reason. However, some questions may pop into your head.
Is it going to be just important NFL games or they are also planning to get one or more teams from Europe? Is the NFL really popular outside of America?
The NBA and MLB are quite popular worldwide. But what about football? Does this classic American sport translate well with European sensibilities or not?
The Future of NFL’s European Ambitions
As the NFL continues to expand its reach, the possibility of a European division becomes more visible now. The NFL’s European ambitions are driven by the potential for a global footprint and profitable international markets.
While there are certain challenges, the NFL is still determined to bring American football to Europe. So, we can see teams from London, Berlin, and other cities in Europe compete for a place in the Super Bowl.
