Possible NFL European Division in Discussion

The possibility of the NFL creating a four-team division in Europe is being actively discussed. According to a source familiar with the situation, Lloyd Howell, the executive director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), is weighing the pros and cons of placing multiple teams on the European continent. This discussion touches on significant issues related to player relocations, job security, and the logistics of managing a European division.

One of the major concerns is whether players would even want to move abroad. Relocating to cities like London, Germany, or Spain presents challenges such as different governmental and taxation systems, high costs of living, and potential language barriers. A notable point of complexity is the NFL Draft, where telling a young player he is moving from Pittsburgh to Seattle is much different than informing a player he is heading to Frankfurt.

The NFL currently does not have concrete plans to establish teams in Europe anytime soon. Their immediate aim is to boost the number of international games each season from ten to sixteen. An initial move toward this goal is evident, with the Vikings scheduled for back-to-back “road” games in Dublin and London. This approach will help the league understand how a multi-week trip may impact an American football team.

If the NFL were to proceed with adding four teams in Europe, the question of where these teams would originate from arises. Expansion presents one possibility, especially considering the high fees new owners would need to pay, estimated at around $10 billion per team. This monetary incentive could justify an expansion, resulting in $40 billion for existing owners.

Determining the structure of a European division also poses its issues. Currently, the league is divided into four eight-team divisions. Adding four teams would alter divisions to five-team groups, complicating travel arrangements for teams within the same conference. The burden of long distances for playoff games could pose challenges regardless of how the division is structured.

Any discussions of a European division are not merely about generating media attention during annual international games. As Commissioner Roger Goodell pointed out in 2022, the vision of a four-team division could serve as a stepping stone towards achieving an increase in international games.

As the league continues to explore these potentials, the coming years may bring exciting developments for NFL fans both in the States and abroad.