The NFL’s aggressive worldwide development plan might embrace holding a Tremendous Bowl outdoors the USA for the primary time, commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned Saturday.
Goodell has shot down the thought previously, however he informed a fan discussion board in London that it’s a chance.
“We’ve all the time historically tried to play a Tremendous Bowl in an NFL metropolis – that was all the time type of a reward for the cities which have NFL franchises,” he mentioned in response to a query about shifting the neutral-site recreation internationally. “However issues change. It wouldn’t shock me in any respect if that occurs sooner or later.”
Goodell floated the thought as he outlined a plan that would embrace enjoying 16 worldwide video games yearly if the common season expands to 18 video games.
He added that he has “little doubt” that Eire will host a recreation quickly. He named Rio de Janeiro as a probable new host and mentioned the Jacksonville Jaguars are contemplating growing the variety of video games they play in London throughout their stadium renovations at residence.
This season’s Tremendous Bowl – the 59th version – will likely be performed in New Orleans. In 2026, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, will host, adopted by SoFi Stadium, in Inglewood, California, in 2027. Kansas Metropolis’s 25-22 time beyond regulation victory over San Francisco within the final Tremendous Bowl was the most-watched program in US tv historical past.
Group house owners have already got approved as much as eight worldwide video games, however Goodell mentioned they might double that quantity – making a state of affairs the place all 32 groups might play a global recreation every year.
The hot button is increasing the common season by one recreation and lowering the variety of preseason video games to 2.
“If we do develop our season – our common season – to an 18-and-two construction, I see us going to 16 of these video games being in worldwide markets,” Goodell mentioned.
He added that the plan might embrace a second bye week within the schedule.
“Quite a lot of that is determined by – can we proceed to make the sport safer, can we proceed to switch the best way we conduct the offseason in addition to the coaching camp and in addition to the season, in order that these guys really feel comfy having the ability to play that time period,” Goodell mentioned.
Beneath that state of affairs, he mentioned, the season would begin round Labor Day and conclude round Presidents Day – the third Monday of February.
Shifting to an 18th recreation is seen as inevitable. The gamers’ union has indicated it’s open to an settlement earlier than the present labor deal expires after the 2030 season.
There are 5 worldwide video games this season, and Goodell mentioned the league needs to extend to eight “rapidly”.
Dublin has been seen as the following possible host – after Madrid will get its first recreation in 2025.
“I’ve little doubt that we’re going to be enjoying in Eire. I don’t know if will probably be subsequent 12 months, nevertheless it’s coming quickly,” Goodell mentioned at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
He cited Rio de Janeiro because the attainable host of the following Brazil recreation – Sao Paulo staged one this season.
London, which might get an evening recreation sooner or later, has hosted regular-season video games since 2007 and Germany since 2022.
“We’re taking a look at different markets within the different route, towards Asia,” he mentioned. “There’s most likely extra curiosity than we will deal with.”
Goodell expects some offseason tweaks to the brand new kickoff guidelines however on the entire mentioned “it’s working”.
The brand new guidelines have made kickoffs related once more, he mentioned, and the early information on accidents is promising.
Simply over 30% of kickoffs have been returned this season in contrast with 20% final season, he mentioned.
“With that enhance in returns, it’s giving us extra information to find out whether or not we will do it extra safely. It truly is extremely promising. We’re seeing decrease impacts which have led to much less extreme accidents and fewer variety of accidents. So, I feel it’s working,” Goodell mentioned.
On common, kickoffs drives are beginning simply previous the 29-yard line, in contrast with simply previous the 24 beforehand, he mentioned.
“I feel what we’ll see finally is a change within the offseason,” Goodell mentioned. “As soon as we all know it’s a safer play, it should encourage extra kickoffs. That might occur in a few methods. You might transfer the kickoff line again, in order that they’ll’t kick it out as simply. You might additionally say the penalty for kicking it out goes to go to the 35 as an alternative of the place we’re at, the 30.”
He mentioned the “good thing” concerning the new system is “one little crease develops and that man is gone. That’s what I’m in search of is that lengthy kickoff return to return to the sport. I feel we had 4 or 5 final 12 months. We’re already at that quantity at Week 6. That’s fairly good.”
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