The NFL returns to London this Sunday for a scintillating Week 5 matchup between the undefeated Minnesota Vikings and the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets on NFL Network and NFL+.
It kicks off a four-game slate that will take place in Europe in 2024. The league's 2024 International Games began in Week 1 with the first-ever regular-season game in South America, when the Philadelphia Eagles topped the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, Brazil in a high-scoring thriller.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell joined the Good Morning Football crew on set on Tuesday to discuss the 17th season in which the league plays internationally, and how much growth he's seen since the idea of going abroad was first discussed.
"My perspective goes back to the '90s," Goodell said. "We went to Japan, we went to Berlin -- what you saw were fans that didn't really understand the game. Now, you go over to London and you have a hard time telling whether you're in London or whether you're in the Meadowlands. The fans there are sophisticated; they understand the game, they appreciate the game. And for me, that's what I think gives us so much confidence that our game can be a global game."
The NFL has come a long from showcasing exhibition games as early as 1986. Since beginning the International Games in 2007, the NFL has reached four different countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico and Brazil. Following his trip to São Paulo in September, Goodell is confident that not only will the NFL return to Brazil but foresees the number of international games expanding greatly in the coming years.
"When we were down in Brazil a few weeks ago, it was the same thing," he said. "A lot of enthusiasm, excitement over the game, and I believe great potential. So, we'll be back there, I'm sure. We're going to continue to grow. I think we'll und up going to 16 (international) games at some point in time. The owners have already authorized us in going to eight, but I'm confident, particularly if we can do the restructuring of the season, that we would get to 16 at some point."
Earlier this year the league announced it will be heading to Madrid, Spain during the 2025 season. Goodell also expects to bring more countries into the fold, but not without ensuring NFL teams are comfortable with the endeavor.
"Yes. We're already looking at several markets," Goodell said. "We do have a lot of markets that are interested in the game, but we have to go do the work because one of the things that we do, particularly with Brazil -- it was a key factor for us -- you want the teams to feel like it was not disruptive to the season. That they went and loved the trip. I went to Jordan Mailata because, to me, that was the best one: How was the trip? How was the plane? Everything was great. And the coaches were good, the players were great; everybody felt like this was a great trip. It was not disruptive, they were able to prepare properly. When they got back, I went back and checked afterwards, everybody recovered really well and that's an 11-hour trip for these guys. So, when you see that, we learn something from everyone of the games and say, 'OK, what can we do next, ultimately, and how do we continue to expand this?' I do think we can do this. I think the scheduling, you know, we may have to make changes to that in some ways, probably roster sizes, do some other things. But I do think its something we will do more of."
The NFL will remain in London for the next three weeks, starting with Jets-Vikings this Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Week 6 will begin the Jacksonville Jaguars' two-game stay, beginning with an Oct. 13 game against the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before going to Wembley Stadium to face the New England Patriots on Oct. 20.
This season's International Games wrap up at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, for the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers matchup on Nov. 10 (Week 10).