JJ Watt highlights ‘major hurdle’ in having a permanent NFL team overseas
With the NFL’s expansion internationally over the last few games, there’s a major question that’s been looming. “Will we have a team overseas in the future?” It’s an interesting question, but it’s also a large logistical challenge for the NFL. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ injury situation highlights this hurdle for the league, and JJ Watt was quick to […] The post JJ Watt highlights ‘major hurdle’…
JJ Watt, a prominent NFL player, has identified a "major hurdle" in the league's potential expansion of a permanent overseas team. The topic of having an NFL franchise abroad has been on the minds of many due to the sport's growing international presence. However, the logistical challenges associated with such an endeavor are significant. This was underscored by Watt in his commentary on X, highlighting the difficulties in roster management for an overseas team.
The Jacksonville Jaguars currently serve as the league's de facto representative in London, hosting games in the city. Some speculate that the NFL might relocate the team from Jacksonville to the UK to cater to international fans. Nevertheless, Watt's comments emphasize that this is a complex proposition. The Jaguars recently dealt with a roster issue that exemplifies the challenges the league could face.
When their starting long snapper, Ross Matiscik, was injured during a Week 5 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, they had to bring in temporary replacement Jacob Bobenmoyer. However, with the Jaguars scheduled to play another game in London in Week 6, Bobenmoyer had to travel to London to join the team.
These logistical hurdles are indicative of the broader challenges that would need to be overcome before the NFL could consider establishing a permanent overseas team.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
