Under Roger Goodell, the NFL is making headway worldwide. All in an effort to help grow the quintessential American sport across the globe. However, famed Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn't thrilled.
Jones is fine with playing games overseas from time to time; the Cowboys will play the Ravens in Rio this Sunday. The idea of expansion teams in Europe slightly turns him off, per 105.3 The Fan in Dallas/Awful Announcing.
Jones told hosts Shan Shariff and RJ Choppy to make his case to Goodell.
“I don’t know about an expansion. I see the games continuing like they are,” Jones admitted. “And I see the ethos, if you will, of the game, the story of the game really expanding all over the world. But fundamentally, to have an expansion team, probably is pretty far. If it’s here, it’s in the future.”
That said, Jones has no reservations about NFL teams establishing themselves in other countries.
“At some point, there will be NFL teams outside the USA…I have no doubt that this will happen one day.”
This year, the NFL is playing a record-breaking nine games overseas. In addition to Brazil, they have games in Australia, Mexico, Germany, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Goodell is looking to have 10 international games scheduled for the 2027 season. In 2022, the NFL established the Global Markets Program, which has since expanded into 22 international markets. All 32 teams also take an active part in the program.
The last time the Cowboys played overseas was on November 9, 2014, against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, winning 31-17.