Goodell Floats Permanent NFL Teams in London, European Division

The NFL’s visits to London have gone well enough for the league to toy with the idea of adding a permanent team — or two — there.

Prior to the New York Giants’ 27-20 win over the Green Bay Packers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that London could support full-time teams.

• “I think there’s no question that London could support not just one franchise, I think two franchises — I really believe that,” said Goodell.
• Goodell said that while logistics present an obvious challenge, the greater question may be if London-based teams could be competitive with the rest of the league.
• The Minnesota Vikings edged the New Orleans Saints 28-25 on Oct. 2 at Tottenham Hotspur, and the Denver Broncos will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 30 at Wembley Stadium.

Germany, Too?

The NFL will play regular-season games in Munich and Frankfurt over the next four years, starting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Seattle Seahawks at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on Nov. 13. 

Goodell appears open to adding several teams on the continent.

“We’re trying to see, could you have multiple locations in Europe where you could have an NFL franchise, because it would be easier as a division.”

The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals will play the season’s final International Series game in Mexico City on Nov. 21.