NFL could soon have Europe division says academy boss

Baltimore Ravens faced Tennessee Titans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last October

A European division of the NFL featuring franchises in some of the continent's biggest cities could soon become a reality, according to the head coach of the league's England-based academy.

London and Munich will again host games at the likes of Wembley, Allianz Arena and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season.

Sao Paulo will be the stage for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers on the opening weekend, and Madrid is due to host its own fixture next year as the league continues to expand its reach outside of the United States through its international series.

The exploratory minor league NFL Europe - which included the London Monarchs and Scottish Claymores - ceased to exist in 2007.

But Steve Hagen, the former Cleveland Browns and New York Jets assistant coach, said it will not be long before franchises are set up this side of the Atlantic - and this time with a direct route to the Super Bowl.

"I think the NFL is working for that international presence. I don't know if it would just be a team or maybe a division in Europe, where that division plays itself into that play-off situation," he told BBC Sport, speaking at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"That's at a level way higher than me but I don't think it's too far away because of the facilities here – it's the best.

"This matches America. So, they could do that possibly. It's just a matter of how much they want to invest in all this."

Hagen worked at the Browns from 2001 to 2004 and 2009 to 2012, helping the franchise reach the play-offs in 2002, and spent 2013 to 2015 at the Jets.

'Not everyone will become a footballer - but they will be professional'

NFL Academy head coach Steve Hagen previously worked at the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets

Now he is applying his experience to teach the next generation as head coach of the NFL Academy, which aims to unearth the best talent from across Europe and Africa.

The academy launched in 2019 in London, and is now based at Loughborough University, where players between the ages of 16 and 19 train five days a week alongside full-time education.

This is with a view to equipping them with the skills and qualifications to seal a place at a Division One or Division Two college team in the US - and ultimately a place in the NFL draft.

This year, there will be 72 players from 19 different countries and territories involved, with 34 newcomers from more than 2,500 applicants.

There are currently 19 academy alumni playing in Division One and English former rugby player Travis Clayton was drafted by Buffalo Bills in April, having spent time in the academy and later joining the international player pathway.

A second academy is due to open in Gold Coast, Australia, in September, opening up the pathway to young people in other parts of the world.

"We do what American footballers do, they play their sport and they go to school," Hagen said.

"Ultimately, we'd like for these guys to have an extended football career. We've taught them enough so that they can go to continue to play in America, that to me is success."

He added: "And that they capture the standard of this programme for their life and eliminate average in their own life. They become a professional, one way or another.

"Not everyone's going to become a professional football player but they can become a professional doctor, lawyer, plumber - it doesn't matter what they do, and then they can become a father and a husband and be a really good, sound person."

Frankfurt's Waldstadion hosted two NFL matches last season, including Super Bowl winners Kansas City Chiefs victory over Miami Dolphins

London has hosted NFL matches since 2007 when the new Wembley Stadium was opened, with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium becoming a second host venue when it opened in 2019.

Twickenham also hosted three matches from 2016 to 2017.

Four games took place at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium between 2016 and 2022, with Germany hosting its first match in 2022.

The NFL returns to the Allianz Arena in Munich this year after staging two fixtures at Frankfurt's Waldstadion in 2023.

Sao Paulo will kick off the 2024 season with the Eagles against the Packers on Friday, 6 September.

Spain will host its first match at a date yet to be confirmed in 2025 at Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium.

NFL international fixtures 2024

Sao Paulo, Brazil:

6 September: Green Bay Packers v Philadelphia Eagles - Arena Corinthians

London:

6 October: New York Jets v Minnesota Vikings - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

13 October: Jacksonville Jaguars v Chicago Bears - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

20 October: New England Patriots v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium

Munich, Germany:

10 November: New York Giants v Carolina Panthers - Allianz Arena