Who doesn’t love bone-crunching hits, quarterbacks eating dirt, teams that love to win, and those twins? 

Jokes, but honestly why isn’t football adored throughout the planet? We can look at baseball as a growing game through the World Baseball Classic. The people loved it! Basketball has extended its reach and may have more international players than American born in about ten years. The international players are some of the best in the world (Giannis, Jokic, Embiid, etc.). For some reason, however, Football doesn’t seem to be able to produce the big stars from outside the country spare a few (Samoa, and maybe Australia?). So, when I heard of the new European Football League (two years later, sorry) I got excited. This is a real chance for the sport of football to expand. A sport I love can influence people in a different country. My two favorite players in baseball and basketball are from different countries (Embiid and Shohei), so why can’t my favorite football player too? 

So, I started researching this league and this is what I found:

⁃ There are 17 teams from all over Europe – 

⁃ Each team can only have 4 imported players (from America, Canada, Mexico or Japan — weird considering there are no Japanese NFL players) and only 2 of them can be playing for a team at any given time

⁃ The rosters are made up almost entirely of local talent (which I think is amazing – almost like a high school football team)

⁃ The goal of the league is to start developing NFL talent for football in Europe

⁃ Last years champ were the Vienna Vikings (love the name) and in the inaugural year the Frankfurt Galaxy (originally of NFL Europe) took the crown.

Now, when I first saw that these teams could only have four Americans on their roster, I was disappointed because it seems like the football skill would lack, but then I rethought it. The reason this league failed with NFL Europe is because it was full of Americans that no one In the stands has any ties to. This roster rule changes that. The teams become something people can really cheer for because they know the people on the field. They know they might see that guy in the pub after a game and that excites them and me. I just thought about it like if any player from Scranton (where I’m from) ever got into the NFL and played for the Eagles how excited I would be and it made sense. While it’s a long shot, these players are being scouted for a potential chance of a final roster spot in America. I can already see the 30 for 30. From European Football League to the NFL, what a ride. But that’s beyond the point, if this league grows enough and shows enough potential it can become the precursor to the NFL actually moving into Europe and starting a European division, which I think is simply amazing. I want to be at the forefront of this journey and that’s why I’m writing this blog. I know the game of football and I know it’s potential. I want to see it grow, I want go to other countries and see the Jalen Hurts jersey or the Fletcher Cox jersey (Birds guy over here). Most of all, I want to see the fans of these leagues and introduce them to why Americans love football so much. I want to tailgate, throw on face paint, yell at the opposing team, enjoy some cold ones, and take in the beauty of Europe. While I may live in America now, I want to be able to travel with the league and bring back word to my fellow countrymen over here in the states. This is my dream: travel the world spreading football love. Simple statement with a lot of hard work behind it. Are You Ready For Some Football!