By Zaid Siddiqui @newsbyzaid
To grow the NFL for fans around the globe an International Series will kick off in the upcoming season where five games will be played in London, Munich, and Mexico in October and November.
NFL Executive Vice President Club Business and League Events Peter O’Reilly said in a statement: “Our fans in Germany, Mexico and the UK can look forward to seeing some of the most iconic names and biggest stars in the League and enjoying an incredible series of events.”
The game kicking off the series will be played on October 2 between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London.
Both teams have new coaches, with the Vikings naming Kelvin O’Connell head coach after stint as an assistant coach for several clubs.
Coach Dennis Allen; who previously served as an assistant defensive line coach, senior defensive assistant, and defensive coordinator for New Orleans; is the Saints head coach in 2022.
Minnesota finished second last season in the NFC North while the New Orleans also finished the season in second in the NFC South.
Game number two will be played between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers on October 9 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Thirty-eight-year-old Aaron Rodgers will be making his London debut. According to the NFL UK Twitter account Rodgers will be the first-ever reigning MVP QB to play a game in London. The Packers finished last season with 13 wins and 4 losses and first on the NFC North table.
The NY Giants have new coach in Brian Daboll, who was the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator last season and has experience in numerous other franchises. The Giants had a disastrous season finishing with only four wins and 13 losses and last in the NFC East.
The next game will be played between the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars in London; however, this game will take place at Wembley.
Former Packers offensive co-ordinator Nathaniel Hackett will be the head coach of the Broncos for the upcoming season.
The Broncos had a disappointing season as they finished last in the AFC West but will be hoping to have a stronger season after trading for former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
For Jacksonville, this will be the ninth time the Jaguars have appeared in a match in London since the NFL began hosting games overseas. The team has sole marketing rights in Britain.
The Jaguars have then re-signed 31-year-old Tyler Shatley in a two-year deal which is worth up to $6.8 million. Shatley plays as a guard.
Both teams will be hoping to bounce back in the upcoming season and finish strongly.
The fourth game of the series will be played between the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Munich, Germany, at Allianz Stadium on November 13.
NFL star player Tom Brady will be on the roster for the Buccs for the upcoming season after he previously announced his retirement from the game.
Tampa Bay have a new head coach, Todd Bowles, who previously served as defensive coordinator for the Buccaneers. Bowles is a 1987 Super Bowl champion.
A reloading Seahawks team will be without star QB Russell Wilson for the first time in 10 years as he got traded to the Broncos. Despite the impact Wilson’s trade has had on the Seahawks, they traded a fourth-round pick and in exchange received two first round picks, and two second round picks plus a fifth-round pick.
The Hawks for the upcoming season now have former Broncos Drew Lock as QB, Shelby Harris as defensive end and Noah Fant at tight end.
Seahawk coach Pete Carol will be hoping for a cracking season with fresh players joining the team.
The final game of the series will be between the Arizona Cadinals and the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City at the Estadio Azteca on November 21.
The 49ers have signed experienced defensive lineman Maurice Hurst and tight end Ross Dwelly to one-year deals among many other signings
Cardinals Linebacker Dennis Gardeck is back from his ACL injury and signed a three-year contract extension.
The Cardinals finished last season in second in the NFC West with the 49ers finishing third in the same conference before going on to make the NFC Championship game.
The two teams have a rivalry and will be fighting for a playoff spot out of the NFC West conference.
Featured image: Wembley smoke. Photo: neonbubble/CC/flickr
