NFL Europe was supposed to be the start of global domination for American football but it sadly didn’t turn out that way.
The NFL initially set up the World League of American Football in 1991 which was rebranded to the World League in 1995 before it took its final form in 1998 as ‘NFL Europe League’. The aim was to expand the popularity across Europe as well helping the most popular sports league in the United States develop players and coaches.
It’s role of a developmental league was supposed to be a win-win for the NFL and fans in Europe who had an appetite for American football. While it ultimately failed – due to losing around $400million (£330million) – it had some successes. The league introduced NFL franchises to Super-Bowl winning quarterback and MVP Kurt Warner who played for the Amsterdam Admirals in 1998.
READ MORE: Taylor Swift reaction to Travis Kelce hit has fans imagining her dating Reece James
READ MORE: Ex-NFL star branded ‘worst-ever’ Wheel of Fortune contestant after shocking answer
While he didn’t put great numbers in his time in Europe, he was granted an opportunity with the St. Louis Rams who he later led to a Super Bowl title in 2000 as he became the only undrafted player in NFL history to be named a Super Bowl and NFL MVP.
The Hall of Famer spoke of his time abroad as he said: “I just loved my experience in Europe. I think it was so vital to my career.” Four-time Super Bowl winner, Adam Vinatieri, began his professional career with the Admirals in 1996 before he was signed by the New England Patriots that same year. He won three rings alongside Tom Brady before enjoying 13 years with the Indianapolis Colts as he eventually retired in 2019 as the NFL’s leading scorer at 46 years old.
Could we see a UK-based NFL team in the future? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below
However, their success stories were not enough to keep the league afloat as they didn’t have the talent to be a consistently entertaining league. In 1996, the London Monarchs signed Super-Bowl winning defensive tackle, William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry but the former Chicago Bears player was past his prime by the time he got to London.
While the league was a decent alternative, NFL fans eventually flocked back to American teams where the best players performed which could sadly not be said for NFL Europe. After consistent monetary losses, the league folded in 2007.
Over a decade on, the NFL is once making a splash in Europe with four NFL fixtures having taken place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season with more to come. Whether a new NFL Europe will be formed is another question but the appetite for American football is alive and well across the pond.