• Bluewing@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    8
    ·
    1 day ago

    American football is gaining popularity in Europe and South America at a pretty healthy clip. Enough so that the NFL is now sending teams to play games in those places. They are even starting to consider expanding a couple of teams to Europe in the future. And there are more and more international players starting to get a foothold in the NFL as players.

    You might have won a battle, but you could lose still lose the war…

    • zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      18 hours ago

      I’d fully respect the NFL if they started calling it “handegg” instead of football.

      jk, I’d still not respect them, but they should totally do it.

    • TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      18 hours ago

      There is a lot of interest among Europeans to watch American football, but there isn’t really anyone playing it here. I think it’s because American football has more complicated rules than rugby 😂

      • Bluewing@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 hour ago

        There have been a few European players in the NFL. The team I follow, the Minnesota Vikings, have had a number of international players at least tryout for the team. We’ve had a German wide receiver on the roster for 2 years, a player from Africa, (I can’t remember the country right now), and a couple Aussie and New Zealand kickers. In fact, we will have a punter from Australia this year trying to make the team. And there have been a few Polynesians in the NFL over the years also.

        So, American football does have enough worldwide players to draw at least few players. Though almost all attend collage in the US to gain better skills and attention. I wonder if the reason more Europeans don’t gain much attention from the NFL is because you generally aren’t big enough, (don’t feel bad 90% of the world isn’t). There is almost a genetic lottery you need to win at birth to even have a start at being good enough.