LONDON — The NFL’s aggressive international growth plan could include holding a Super Bowl outside the United States for the first time, league commissioner Roger Goodell said Saturday.
Goodell has shot down the idea in the past, but he told a fan forum in London that it’s a possibility.
“We’ve always traditionally tried to play a Super Bowl in an NFL city; that was always sort of a reward for the cities that have NFL franchises,” he said in response to a question about moving the neutral-site game internationally. “But things change. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that happens one day.”
Goodell floated the idea as he outlined a plan that could include playing 16 international games every year if the regular season expands to 18 games.
He added that he has “no doubt” that Ireland will host a game soon. He named Rio de Janeiro as a likely new host and said the Jacksonville Jaguars are considering increasing the number of games they play in London during their stadium renovations at home.