May 4, 2022 • 32 mins
The latest edition of the NFL Inside Report dives into the release of the NFL International schedule. Today, Rhett Lewis is joined by NFL UK general manager Henry Hodgson to look at the rise in popularity of NFL International games. Henry explains why it was a natural progression to have games in Germany with over 500,000 people interested in attending and then he shares how they figure out which teams will play internationally. Later, Henry provides insight into players interest in playing internationally and then Rhett tests Henry's international knowledge with NFL trivia, which includes an amazing Adrian Peterson story.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
NFL Inside Report is the production of the NFL in
partnership with I Heart Radio. I'm Rett Lewis and this
is NFL Inside Report. Huge episode here post draft as
(00:27):
the NFL today announces the slate of international games for
the NFL season. You heard it live on Good Morning
Football Wednesday morning, and the five games are now officially set, teams, locations, times,
in days TV deals. The whole thing is all set
and we're gonna get into that in a big way.
We'll also talk a little bit about the international Pathway
(00:48):
program in the NFL, which is also a little bit
in interconnected. And here to help us with all of
it is the new general manager of the NFL UK,
Henry Hodson. Of course, has been with us here for
twelve years in Los Angeles before spending time in London
with the NFL UK office there. And if you are
a follower of the NFL podcast network, you are no
(01:09):
stranger to Hank Handsome. Hank is back here. Whether this
looks up, Henry, welcome, Thank you for having me right,
sorry to be here. I'm glad to have you make
your debut on this podcast, um and excited to chat
here because this is so exciting, Like the the International
series keeps growing and you know, despite the you know
the issues we had that you know, put a pause
(01:31):
on it with the COVID season, it's great to kind
of see it really flourishing once again. And in a
brand new country. We're going to Germany. So let me
just say, as a like literal German in my heritage,
both of my mom and dad's side, how do I
essentially become bureau chieffl Germany? Can we arrange that? I
think it just happened. I think I think just by
(01:53):
volunteering this would be great. Um yeah, it's it's it's really.
Germany is a market that we've been really focused on
over the last five six years and it's grown so much.
The fan base there is incredibly passionate. The sport has
played a lot there as well. Um, so it was
a natural progression to to have a game in Germany.
And and the really cool thing is we went through
(02:14):
this bid process last year to try to find, you know,
which city should be played in and and three cities
kind of emerged as as the ones that wanted to
bid for a Munich Frankfort and dustledorff Um and in
the end, we really couldn't you know what. The bids
were so good that we couldn't separate Munich and Frankfurt.
So we're we're going to be playing games over the
next four years in both cities, which is it's amazing.
(02:38):
And of course this year it will be the Seattle
Seahawks in Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing at the FC Baron
Munich Stadium and that will be November Eastern time, and
you see it right here on NFL network. How much
better to get exactly. Um No, it's really cool. You
mentioned you've been working for the last five or six
years on the Germany project. How did the interest I think,
(03:00):
how did you learn of the interest? Like, where did
it come from? How did you see it? Because I
will tell you my wife and I about a year
after we got married, UM went to Germany as part
of a larger europe trip. And you know, obviously the
UM this soccer influence is massive right almost anywhere in Europe,
but certainly in Germany. And we were there during the
World Cup, which was insane. So we were in Munich
(03:21):
and in Berlin and just seeing just the I guess
the passion for sport in general was pretty apparent. How
did you see it manifests itself in terms of the NFL. Yeah,
I mean I so dating myself a little bit here,
but I grew up in the NFL. I guess my
first role was when NFL Europe was still around this
you were called. By the end of that five out
of the six teams were based in Germany. UM, so
(03:44):
got to spend a lot of time in Germany. Ryan Fire,
Ryan Fire, the Hamburg Seed Levels, Frankfurt Galaxy, et cetera.
We can go through that, UM, but spend a lot
of time in Germany. And although you know, I think
people towards the end of that the crowds weren't big,
there was a there was a lot of support for football.
Football is you know people even back then and people
probably don't appreciate it, but it is played very widely
(04:05):
in Germany UM and I think the influence of the
US military presence there certainly helped grow the sport. And
you know, it is played by Germans, but the fact
that there was a U. S military presence definitely elevated
the sport and made sure that it was seen in
more places. So it was interesting because having been there
(04:26):
and then NFL, you'rebended, and the NFL kind of change
its strategy I think obviously rightly, from having a developmental
league in that market to saying, look, if we're going
to export the NFL, let's export the best for all
the best product. And so headed to the UK and
and obviously we've been playing regular season games there since
two thousand and seven. So then for me, when I
(04:47):
came into the role that I mean I'm currently in
before I move into that uk GM role that you mentioned,
which is international marketing, it was for me it was natural.
I knew that there were fans back in Germany. So
there were a lot of people who are like, Okay,
well look we've got to We've grown a big audience
in Germany. It was like, well, they were kind of
already there. I'll take some credit, and he was, um
so um. You know, we really put a focus on there.
(05:09):
We found the right media partners, we we did everything
we could. You know, one of the sort of levels
that we like to pull to help grow the sport is,
you know, how do we make it more locally relevant
and how do we introduce We were very lucky at
the time with a few German players in the NFL. Sure,
how do we really help grow their profiles? In Germany?
One of them, Sebastian Valma, was on the Patriots, which
(05:31):
certainly helped when they're winning a lot, so that that
sort of helped them grow their profile. So really it
was just about you know, growing the sport, growing the game,
and getting it to a point where it wasn't just
those kind of laps NFL europe fans who were focused,
but we'll bring a whole new generation of fans in
as well. And that that that's sort of what we've
been able to do over the as I say, the
last sort of let's say six to ten years. Uh
(05:53):
and and as I said at the beginning, that then
led to a natural progression of you know, we can
we can play a game there, and just as of
this morning, so we announced you know, munich as the
host city for the first game during Super Bowl weeks. Subsequently,
a couple of weeks after that, we announced that the
Buccaneers We're going to be the whole team. Then today
that the Seahawks are going to be their opponent. And
what happened out of that was we we put a
(06:15):
registry of interest people could sign up to you know,
I'm interested in buying tickets because we can't obviously go
on sale. Interesting, you're you're on the thing. I'm interested,
So you're not alone. Five more than five hundred thousand
people put their email down and said I'm interested in
buying a ticket to this game. And that's just individually,
and you know, normally most people are going to want
(06:36):
to go with one to Pere. We you know, as
they say, we need for this one. So um, you know,
the great news is that that game is going to
be incredibly popular and people are thrown and it's not
just although it helps that Tom Brady and the Buccaneers
are coming, of course. This is the excitement around around
the game in Germany. Oh my gosh, that is that's amazing.
(06:56):
And then just to kind of relate this back to
the origin story that you were talking about and this
year's draft mobile, Ringer was of German descent and was
one of the great one of the great draft stories. Absolutely. Yeah,
it's a part of our International Player Pathway program. The
very first year we had it, um, you know, it
sort of shocked us. Came from a team called the
(07:18):
Swabish Hall Unicorns in Germany. And he was a unicorn
in that he was six ft four and ran I
think four three or four years something, four or four
or something like that. Um got that opportunity, I mean,
really kind of showed that the buzz that can be
built around a player during the draft, and the Vikings
took a took a took a shot at him in
(07:39):
the sixth round that year. Sadly he didn't work out,
but you know, he got a bunch of different shots
didn't work out with him in the Vikings and then
subsequently with the Bengals. But since then we've we've developed
a lot of German players. And in fact, one of
those guys yesterday was part of our player Pathway program
that's ration for this year with the Colts, Marcel Dabo,
and he was he had the incredible athleticism that he
(08:00):
showed it the pro day at Arizona exactly. Yeah, that
was incredible, incredible athlete. I can't wait to see what
he does in his opportunity here. But another you know,
kind of going back to which is what you were
talking about, in American football is played in Germany. Still. Um,
another guy who was drafted in this class from Central
Michigan Bernard Ryman from Austria learned about the game essentially
(08:26):
by happenstance. His family had moved to a suburb of Vienna,
I believe, and then he essentially just saw these guys
playing this game in a field at a park right
club team and then he joined one. Yeah. Absolutely, And
you know, there are a lot of stories like the
Sebastian Valma, who who obviously mentioned and played in the
NFL with the Patriots again found his way to the
sport playing in dustled Off for a youth team. There
(08:49):
so a lot what we're trying to do and it's
funny literally speaking to Sebastian about this in the last
month or two, is how do you kind of remove
the element of luck, um, both from discovering the sport,
whether that's you know, as a fan and or on
TV or whatever, then through playing the sport, how do
you create some pathways for kids to be able to
(09:11):
play flag football in these in these countries and then
a pathway that could take them, you know, to college
to the player pathway program to to to the pros.
And we've done that with an NFL academy that we've
launched in London, which is bringing kids at a high
school level, because really the player Pathway program is very
exciting can give these guys like myrself that I just mentioned,
(09:32):
the opportunity at the age of two. But you and
I know that really the best time to get these
kids is going to be as early as possible, whether
it's from a kind of you know, developing their body
standpoint or understanding the sports, etcetera. So certainly, the early
we can get them, the better training and coaching we
can get them, the more likely they are to have
an opportunity in college, whether that's just to play football
(09:54):
in college and get a great education in the US,
or you know, hopefully to to have that pathway that
takes them all away to the NFL. No, it's a
great it's a great point, and that it's really exciting
all of the things that the the league and the
initiatives that we're doing to to continue to grow the
game and to grow you know, those natives of those
countries interest in the game and ability to play the
game in the NFL level here. Um, it's really cool
(10:16):
to see. Obviously, you know when we talk about the
International series, London is still kind of the marquee right,
and and with three games this year to at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium and then one back at Wembley with the Jaguars.
Who have you know, have been a popular team in
London since we started the international series. How have you
seen the series grow? You know, from one game in
(10:39):
London to multiple games in London now to three in London? Like,
where have you seen the popularity or maybe the biggest
areas of growth as we sit now? Yeah, I mean, look,
I think it's I think it's across everything. Yeah, it's
you know, the first game, I was lucky enough to
be in the UK office when we played that first
game in London. It was fin actually on the our
friends of Good Morning Football this morning. Um Shawn O'Hara
(11:00):
was on the show this morning and he was part
of the part of this game there, and we had
O Human or who our ambassadors in the UK and
works for the BBC and does a terrific job there
was on the show as well. And just looking back
at those videos and shots of of of that game,
it was hard to imagine at that time that this
will become something as regular and kind of as as like,
(11:22):
of course there are games in London because it took
so much to get to that point. But I think
across the board when you see the growth of the
fan base in the market, you see how well the
NFL is covered by the media in the UK as well. Um,
it's just you know, it's it's been exponential growth and
and it will will will look to continue that in
the coming years with more games, more to do around
(11:44):
the sport and um and you know, hopefully delivering more
UK athletes to the to the NFL as well. No
doubt Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans. Saints will kick things
off in London, so we get all three games in
London this year will come in the month of October,
so that Viking Saints game from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will
be October two. Again. That's all of these are nine
(12:04):
am you stern time kicks and you can see that
one exclusively on NFL Network. That will be followed up
the very next week by the Giants and Packers getting
together at Tottenham Hotspur that again October nine, m E
s Durn here on NFL Network and then the Denver
Broncos will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars from Wembley October
thirty I am eas during that game can be seen
(12:26):
on ESPN plus. I mentioned the Germany game Seahawks and
Tampa Bay Bucks at f C Bayern Munich Stadium November
am Eastern right here on NFL Network. And then finally,
and we'll get to this here in just a second,
but from the studio Esteco once again in Mexico City
the San Francisco forty Niners in Arizona Cardinals in a
divisional matchup November twenty one, eight p m. Eastern time,
(12:49):
that game on ESPN. Um let's just talk about a
couple of the some of the cool instances here with
the UK. I mean, there have been teams that, over
the course of the international series have somehow or have
you know, I have not been a part of the slave.
Now we get the Packers, the last one that the
full set as all the thirty two helmets are now
(13:13):
in London, I mean, is it like a little bit
of a sense of satisfaction to get maybe arguably one
of the greatest players to ever played the game now
in London. It is, And it would have been frustrating
if we'd got the Packers finally and we hadn't hadn't
got Aaron Rodgers with them, So so that's that whole thing,
That whole thing kame together nicely. But also for them
to be playing the Giants, who, as you mentioned, the
first team one of the first two teams to play
in London, but also you know first and last really
(13:35):
well not last, but yeah, you know, really popular team
in the UK as well. So I think that's going
to be a terrific game. Um and yeah, as you say,
great to have the Packers there finally and for fans
to get a chance to see Aaron it's gonna be
really cool. Yeah. What goes into figuring out which teams
are going to go and be a part of the
international series, Yeah, it's so it's it's evolved a lot
(13:57):
actually in the last year or so so with the
extra game with the seventeen game of the season. Part
of that was a commitment that every team would have
to go every eight years and play in an international game,
um and so. Um that then flip flops depending on
which team has the extra home game, which conference has
(14:18):
the game exactly so um this year obviously that meant
that NFC clubs were the ones that we're going to
be able to to go and play internationally, and it
was then a combination of some teams that really wanted
to go. Part of what we've done to grow the
game internationally is have teams um be able to market
themselves in some of these territories. So they've been able
(14:38):
to go and sort of put together a bid to
say we are focused on Germany or the UK or Mexico, etcetera,
to to grow our brands. And so some teams that
are natural affinity to to want to play in these
markets and they put their hands up and said we
want to go. We you know this is important to us.
For the Packers, it was a case of um, they're
not one of the teams that at this point have
(14:59):
have signed up for the UK. But it was a
case of like, you know, here we go. You're going
to have to do at some point the next day years.
Whereas before they were able to say no, we're not interested.
This was really a chance for us to say, look,
let's let's get this done. Let's get you, let's let's
collect the set, let's get you to London. Um. And
then for the other side of the matchup, it's about
you know, looking at who's on on their slate for
(15:21):
that season as a as a visiting team, UM, and
then trying to decide, you know, what's the best matchup.
And clearly, you know there are clubs that want to
protect games, they want to have games that do get
played in their own stadiums, Um, but we were able
to to to get I think, um, you know, probably
biased here, but I think it's the best across all
across all five games, the best slate of international matchups
(15:43):
that we've ever had, I would agree. I mean the
fact that we're gonna get Tom Brady. You know, we're
gonna get Russell Wilson with the Denver Broncos. Now we're
Aaron Rodgers, you get the Saints and Vikings to you know,
really explosive offensive teams too, because I think that sells
you know a lot Um and Um Lawrence are redubing
to Jags team exactly. Yeah. I think, I mean, it's
(16:03):
it's a it's a fantastic slay the matchups. And then
as you mentioned, for Mexico to have a rivalry game
in the NFC is super exciting and well, now you
know one thing I have not unfortunately been able to
get to London for one of the games yet. But
you know, a lot of the stuff I hear the
you know, the the great swath of jerseys that you
end up seeing at a London game and in and
around the city during the week, And I think that's
(16:25):
awesome that you have that many people that are that
that can identify with that many teams in one country,
Whereas in Mexico City at least, the matchups have felt
more regionally um located. You find that the interest there
is still a little bit more regional when it comes
to the NFL in terms of Western teams, NFC a
f C West teams, that sort of thing. Yeah, I mean,
I think the NFL is obviously more established in Mexico. Yeah,
it's been. It's been a big sport in there since
(16:48):
the seventies. So you know, the teams that actually resonate
the most is funny in other markets, as we've grown recently,
the Patriots the team that kind of over index a
month fans because you know, a lot of the way
that people discover the sport is by watching the Super
Bowl their first touch for it. So inevitably they're like, okay, well,
let's look like a good team for Mexico. Those teams
are the Steelers and Cowboys. So that tells you kind
(17:09):
of the vintage of of fandom in Mexico of sort
of seventies eighties, um, when when those teams were obviously,
so there's part of that, and then partly definitely regional.
You know, it's obviously easy for fans to reach the Cowboys,
which he into the Cardinals, the teams in California. So
you see a lot of that as well, and we
tried to lean into that with the matchups and look
that we had a division game. I mean, it just
(17:31):
kind of builds the intensity up. And also a repeat
of the very first game played internationally. So in two
thousand and five we had the opportunity to take one
game internationally. That game was played at a Stadios Techa
and it was the Cardinals against the forty nine. Is
the cool thing was that? Um? In that game, it
was Larry Fitzgerald's rookie season, so you know he was
(17:51):
him and Kurt Warner were there, um in Mexico City.
Now they are back again, um doing doing their things?
How cool? How cool? Is that? All right? And then um,
as you look for further expansion, as I mentioned where
we were getting started. You know, my my dad worked
in the NFL for forty years and was a part
of a couple of the American Bowl Games, you know,
which were preseason games played abroad, and it was you know,
(18:13):
it was one in London that he went to with
the Saints, Saints and Raiders, and then it was one
later in the early part of the two thousands with
the now Washington Commanders, get who they played, but it
was in Osaka, Japan. Do you see a potential expansion
to the Far East um as as an option for
the NFL. I think it's definitely an option. I think
(18:33):
it's harder to do with the you know, if we
we want to be playing regular season games as opposed
to preseason games, I think, you know, what's apparent is
that whether it's that or like we mentioned with NFL Europe,
you want to be exporting the real deal. And there
was you know, I used to as a kid go
to those American ball games in the UK and it
was great, be like, hey, the Dolphins are coming, We're
(18:54):
gonna see the marina and it's like, wait, where do
you go? You know? That lasted like three minutes and
then and then you have someone else playing instead. So
I think the difficulty with going that far east to Japan,
to China, et cetera, is how do you schedule that
in the season, because that it's it's it's a long
way for people to go. It's longer from California to
(19:17):
the far East that it is from the Eastern Board
exactly to learn exactly. So you know that that's that's
an issue we've certainly talked about. Could that be done
around you know, the beginning of the season. Could you
play a kickoff game, even a week one game. Um? There,
I don't think we're there yet. I think, you know,
for now, it's about really how do we continue to
grow the fan base in the now three markets that
we're playing in. Um. But look, I mean expansion to
(19:40):
to other markets is certainly something that we're always looking at.
How have you noticed player buy in Because it felt like,
you know, it was initially maybe there was a little
skepticism or push back. It feels like now, just based
on the guys that interviewed on on GMFB this morning,
that there is a real, legitimate, true excitement players in
doing this. Yeah, I mean right, look, I think people
(20:00):
are definitely excited about going there. Inevitably, it's it gets
you know. I guess there are two ways of looking
at gets you out of your routine through the season.
For some players that's not a good thing. They like
their routine that oughtn't to be kept in that routine.
For others, the difference that the slight change can be
really good. And I know that there are teams you
certainly you know you speak to SHAWNA. Harrod. Those guys
(20:21):
felt like that year that they went to London two
thousand and seven, where they were pretty average team going
into that game and then obviously came out and went
on a run and ended up in the Super Bowl
against Patriots. They talk about how going to London, spending
some time together and kind of a training camp environment
was actually a moment that that really kind of was
the catalyst for them to get to the Super Bowl.
So I think it can go both ways. Typically, what
(20:43):
you'll find is that players have had a winning experience
there tell you it's fantastic and they loved it. And
players that didn't win will tell you, well, it took
me out of my routine and and we shouldn't be
doing this. Someone if someone's going to come away with
a good experience and someone's probably going to be less
excited about it. That's a part of it. And then
then lastly, um, as the series relates to the International
(21:04):
Player Pathway Program, how has it kind of helped shine
a light and kind of help kickstart and really kind
of grow the Pathway program getting more players from abroad
into the NFL game. Yeah, I mean I think, um,
you know, the Pathway program is a fantastic one and
and this certainly helps. We've actually used last year, we
used the weekend between the two London games to have
an international combine to help identify the guys that wound
(21:25):
up being the eleven that was selected to go to
the Player Pathway Program that then came down to the
four where allocated yesterday. So it definitely helped on that front.
I think the other honestly one of my favorite stories,
and it's probably not being particularly well told, but the
first year we talked about the Dolphins and Giants playing
in London, there was a kid in London named Jermaine
Aluminore who switched on the TV and was looking for
(21:49):
an arsenal soccer game. Had grown up in the UK
and was like, what's this thing that I'm watching? And
he watched that very first London game in two thousand seven,
was like, oh wow, this sport is cool, told us
that about it, tried to find a team that was
playing in London, wound up persuading his dad to move
them to New Jersey, ended up getting drafted by the
(22:11):
Baltimore Ravens in I don't know what year that was,
probably and that was because he watched that game on TV.
So if you're talking about kind of the fairy tale
of what does this, you know, what's this actually do?
And obviously it's about growing fandom and everything else. But
there will be a kid, probably in this year, whether
it's the UK or Mexico or Germany, that will watch
(22:34):
this game decide that this is something they want to
do and find the a pathway, whether it takes them
all the way to the NFL or to college or
two whatever. That's that's the power of of the exposure
of these games. So I think it's, um it's definitely
very powerful thing. That's so cool. Yeah, it's it says
here and um, I mean Chuck Farm, England to Lackawanna
(22:55):
Junior College to Texas A and M drafted by the
Ravens in the fifth round. And then that first year
when I'm played back in London, which was a very
crazy event that that the Ravens was elected. I think
they played the Jags that year and in his rookie
season and has played five years in the league and
has been a part of fifty three NFL games, all
because he flipped on the TV one day. So that's
the That's that's what this is supposed to do. How
(23:18):
cool Red lewis here with Henry Hodson getting a chance
to chat about the International Series in the International Pathway
Player Pathway program. Uh, it's so cool again. Five games
here in this year's International Series that will be played
in NFL schedule. We have three games from London, one
from Munich, Germany, and one from Mexico City, Mexico. Can't
(23:39):
wait for The International Series starts October two Tottenham Hotspur
Stadium and then wraps up November twenty one the Studio
Stecca in Mexico City. We'll take quick break here in
NFL Inside Report when we come back, but a little
Inside Report Trivia International edition. We're gonna test Henry's knowledge
of the International Series when we come back, all right
(24:17):
back here with you on NFL Inside Report. It's our
pleasure now to be with for this episode, a very
special episode as we focus it on the International series.
With are now the NFL's GM of NFL Europe. Henry
Hodgson is here with us. And Henry, you have exhibited
some fantastic knowledge of the International Series and all the
international players that have been a part of the NFL
(24:40):
as well. We're now going to really put that knowledge
to the test. Thanks to Ben McWilliams of our fantastic
NFL research team for putting together some tribute questions. Okay,
Aaron Rogers will become only the second raining MVP to
play a game in England. Do you know the other
(25:04):
rain m v P to do it by process of elimination?
It's got to be Tom Brady, right, raining and training? Yes,
Adrian Peterson. Okay, so Aaron Rodgers will be the first
reigning a VP quarterback to play in England. Second at
(25:24):
any position, um and I s got me quickly with
Adrian Peterson story in London. So on when the Vikings
played the Steelers that year in London. I happened to
be in um Piccatilly Circus, very central London, and you
know there a lot of crowds, and when you're going
through crowd, you're looking for the you know, trying to
get to the I was trying to get to the
tube pop. You're looking for a gap, right, you're looking
(25:46):
You're looking for the vision to get to the gap.
And I was sometimes you get behind somebody're like, oh,
they're going in the same direction as me, and they're
pretty good at finding the gap. I was like, Wow,
this guy really knows how to find his way through
a crowd. Adrian Peterson, Adrian Peterson was my lead fullback
through the crowds and picket of the circus. He was complete.
No one knew who he was because you know, here
he is in London and sent to London. But he
(26:08):
was picking his way through the guys. Like this guy
really is has someone to follow. And then I was like,
is Adrian Peterson would be of course Hall of Fame
worthy vision as a running back for sure? For a
for a good story, we do get half a point
for a fantastic story. So Rogers will be the first
reigning MVP quarterback to playing food with Adrian Peterson having
done so as a running back. All right, moving on
(26:29):
which quarterback has the most passing yards in international games
in NFL history? Well, reasoning, Tom Brady's played in three,
two in London, one in Mexico, So I think I
would go with that. The other guy, I mean, Blake
Buds played in a bunch with the Jags. But I'm
gonna go Brady. Oh you had it was Bartles one
(26:53):
thousand nine. Tom Brady needs twoft eight passing yards at
FC Bayern Munich Stadium this year to surpass play. I
was projecting, well, get that. The guys behind the US
are celebrating too much. Actually, Ryan Fitzpatrick has over a
thousand um. I mean it could have been with any
number of teams. Derek carrs over a thousand uh, and
(27:17):
then Philip Rivers exactly one. There you go, all right,
back to number question number three. We gotta get we
gotta get Henry a win. Here. Of the forty regular
season games that have been played internationally now we've had,
forty six have been in Toronto. Can you name the
only NFL team to appear in all six of those
games in Toronto? The Buffalo Bills. That was a trick question.
(27:42):
I think Thomas back had had had tricked me somehow,
but not Buffalo. Yes, all six games in Toronto have
featured the Buffalo Bills. All right, moving on, there are
six teams that have played at least two International games
and are undefeated. I think you can name the undefeated
teams in the International Series that have played multiple games.
(28:05):
The Patriots, correct three and only three? And okay, um
the okay, working my way down, it's not the Bills,
not the Dolphins. Uh, let's see. Two of them will
play each other in a game this year. Okay, so
(28:27):
one of them is not so the Saints and Vikings
there it is. Okay, that's two. There's three more. There's more.
The we've talked about one of them today. One of
these teams will bring a new quarterback to the International
Series this year, and the quarterback that they Giants. Yes,
(28:55):
but yes, um, are you are you telling me that
Tyrod Taylor is gonna start for the Giants? Um? No?
I was thinking of a different team who will also
see their former quarterback play in an International Series game
this year. So that former quarterback is also playing with
his new team in an international game. And yeah, Seahawks
(29:21):
and then the last one Kansas City Chiefs undefeated. No,
they they played in London too, do they played in London?
And then there you go, so they are undefeated, Um,
you know, in two countries, which is just pretty darn impressed.
All right, now for your international game fandom Dolphins edition.
(29:43):
You know who the Dolphins played in the first ever? Clearly?
Do you remember the score of that game? Uh? Nineteens
seventeen very close? Does uh? Do you know the Dolphins lost?
The Giants won thirteen ti alright, um? Tega his first
(30:04):
half the NFL touchdowns right, yes, okay, and consolation touched him.
So this may not be as great of a deal
for you as it was for me. But the head
coach of the Dolphins that year was also one of
my college head coaches, Cam Cameron. Yes, indeed, there you
go to give him a ding. It's hard to come by.
(30:26):
I know exactly whatever I can get Dolphins starting quarterback
in that game. Um, not Dan Marino. It wasn't Dan Marino.
It was Cleo Lemon. Yes, Um, it was meant to
be Trent Green, but Trent Green got injured that season
and so Cleo stepped in. That was a tough year.
It was a tough year. That was the Greg Camarrio
got the got the one win. Give me a ding,
(30:48):
Come on, give a take. That was the bonus question.
Who did the Dolphins beat for their only win that season?
And what yes, Ravens And then you even gave us
the extra bonus Cleo Lemons sixty four yard touchdown pass
to Greg Camarrio. Um, all right, how did I do
well with my overall school? Did I at least get
(31:08):
I think we got back to by the end, So
that's pretty So that's not too bad. That's pretty solid.
But I was always aiming for Henry. Congratulations on the promotion.
Thank you for getting back home now right, Yeah, that's
exciting as well. I will miss the NFL media family,
though I've had a great time here. So that's that's
that's the sad piece of it. But you guys are
all welcome to to come visit London and come to
(31:29):
need bureau chief example, you gotta write that into the
next deal, Bureau Chief Germany of the Incestral series, got it.
Gotta cover Henry Hotch and everybody here with this NFL
Inside Report. Thank you, all right, that's gonna do it
(31:49):
for this episode of NFL Inside Report. Thanks so much
for being with this reminder to download, rate, and review
our show and the I Heart Radio app on Apple
Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. We appreciate you
guys being along for the ride for our producers Thomas Warren,
Tim Paraca, and Harry since Sanford. I'm your host, Bret Lewis.
We'll catch you next time. NFL Inside Report is the
(32:10):
production of the NFL and partnership with I Heart Radio.
For more official podcasts from the NFL, visit the I
Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
NFL Inside Report is the production of the NFL in
partnership with I Heart Radio. I'm Rett Lewis and this
is NFL Inside Report. Huge episode here post draft as
(00:27):
the NFL today announces the slate of international games for
the NFL season. You heard it live on Good Morning
Football Wednesday morning, and the five games are now officially set, teams, locations, times,
in days TV deals. The whole thing is all set
and we're gonna get into that in a big way.
We'll also talk a little bit about the international Pathway
(00:48):
program in the NFL, which is also a little bit
in interconnected. And here to help us with all of
it is the new general manager of the NFL UK,
Henry Hodson. Of course, has been with us here for
twelve years in Los Angeles before spending time in London
with the NFL UK office there. And if you are
a follower of the NFL podcast network, you are no
(01:09):
stranger to Hank Handsome. Hank is back here. Whether this
looks up, Henry, welcome, Thank you for having me right,
sorry to be here. I'm glad to have you make
your debut on this podcast, um and excited to chat
here because this is so exciting, Like the the International
series keeps growing and you know, despite the you know
the issues we had that you know, put a pause
(01:31):
on it with the COVID season, it's great to kind
of see it really flourishing once again. And in a
brand new country. We're going to Germany. So let me
just say, as a like literal German in my heritage,
both of my mom and dad's side, how do I
essentially become bureau chieffl Germany? Can we arrange that? I
think it just happened. I think I think just by
(01:53):
volunteering this would be great. Um yeah, it's it's it's really.
Germany is a market that we've been really focused on
over the last five six years and it's grown so much.
The fan base there is incredibly passionate. The sport has
played a lot there as well. Um, so it was
a natural progression to to have a game in Germany.
And and the really cool thing is we went through
(02:14):
this bid process last year to try to find, you know,
which city should be played in and and three cities
kind of emerged as as the ones that wanted to
bid for a Munich Frankfort and dustledorff Um and in
the end, we really couldn't you know what. The bids
were so good that we couldn't separate Munich and Frankfurt.
So we're we're going to be playing games over the
next four years in both cities, which is it's amazing.
(02:38):
And of course this year it will be the Seattle
Seahawks in Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing at the FC Baron
Munich Stadium and that will be November Eastern time, and
you see it right here on NFL network. How much
better to get exactly. Um No, it's really cool. You
mentioned you've been working for the last five or six
years on the Germany project. How did the interest I think,
(03:00):
how did you learn of the interest? Like, where did
it come from? How did you see it? Because I
will tell you my wife and I about a year
after we got married, UM went to Germany as part
of a larger europe trip. And you know, obviously the
UM this soccer influence is massive right almost anywhere in Europe,
but certainly in Germany. And we were there during the
World Cup, which was insane. So we were in Munich
(03:21):
and in Berlin and just seeing just the I guess
the passion for sport in general was pretty apparent. How
did you see it manifests itself in terms of the NFL. Yeah,
I mean I so dating myself a little bit here,
but I grew up in the NFL. I guess my
first role was when NFL Europe was still around this
you were called. By the end of that five out
of the six teams were based in Germany. UM, so
(03:44):
got to spend a lot of time in Germany. Ryan Fire,
Ryan Fire, the Hamburg Seed Levels, Frankfurt Galaxy, et cetera.
We can go through that, UM, but spend a lot
of time in Germany. And although you know, I think
people towards the end of that the crowds weren't big,
there was a there was a lot of support for football.
Football is you know people even back then and people
probably don't appreciate it, but it is played very widely
(04:05):
in Germany UM and I think the influence of the
US military presence there certainly helped grow the sport. And
you know, it is played by Germans, but the fact
that there was a U. S military presence definitely elevated
the sport and made sure that it was seen in
more places. So it was interesting because having been there
(04:26):
and then NFL, you'rebended, and the NFL kind of change
its strategy I think obviously rightly, from having a developmental
league in that market to saying, look, if we're going
to export the NFL, let's export the best for all
the best product. And so headed to the UK and
and obviously we've been playing regular season games there since
two thousand and seven. So then for me, when I
(04:47):
came into the role that I mean I'm currently in
before I move into that uk GM role that you mentioned,
which is international marketing, it was for me it was natural.
I knew that there were fans back in Germany. So
there were a lot of people who are like, Okay,
well look we've got to We've grown a big audience
in Germany. It was like, well, they were kind of
already there. I'll take some credit, and he was, um
so um. You know, we really put a focus on there.
(05:09):
We found the right media partners, we we did everything
we could. You know, one of the sort of levels
that we like to pull to help grow the sport is,
you know, how do we make it more locally relevant
and how do we introduce We were very lucky at
the time with a few German players in the NFL. Sure,
how do we really help grow their profiles? In Germany?
One of them, Sebastian Valma, was on the Patriots, which
(05:31):
certainly helped when they're winning a lot, so that that
sort of helped them grow their profile. So really it
was just about you know, growing the sport, growing the game,
and getting it to a point where it wasn't just
those kind of laps NFL europe fans who were focused,
but we'll bring a whole new generation of fans in
as well. And that that that's sort of what we've
been able to do over the as I say, the
last sort of let's say six to ten years. Uh
(05:53):
and and as I said at the beginning, that then
led to a natural progression of you know, we can
we can play a game there, and just as of
this morning, so we announced you know, munich as the
host city for the first game during Super Bowl weeks. Subsequently,
a couple of weeks after that, we announced that the
Buccaneers We're going to be the whole team. Then today
that the Seahawks are going to be their opponent. And
what happened out of that was we we put a
(06:15):
registry of interest people could sign up to you know,
I'm interested in buying tickets because we can't obviously go
on sale. Interesting, you're you're on the thing. I'm interested,
So you're not alone. Five more than five hundred thousand
people put their email down and said I'm interested in
buying a ticket to this game. And that's just individually,
and you know, normally most people are going to want
(06:36):
to go with one to Pere. We you know, as
they say, we need for this one. So um, you know,
the great news is that that game is going to
be incredibly popular and people are thrown and it's not
just although it helps that Tom Brady and the Buccaneers
are coming, of course. This is the excitement around around
the game in Germany. Oh my gosh, that is that's amazing.
(06:56):
And then just to kind of relate this back to
the origin story that you were talking about and this
year's draft mobile, Ringer was of German descent and was
one of the great one of the great draft stories. Absolutely. Yeah,
it's a part of our International Player Pathway program. The
very first year we had it, um, you know, it
sort of shocked us. Came from a team called the
(07:18):
Swabish Hall Unicorns in Germany. And he was a unicorn
in that he was six ft four and ran I
think four three or four years something, four or four
or something like that. Um got that opportunity, I mean,
really kind of showed that the buzz that can be
built around a player during the draft, and the Vikings
took a took a took a shot at him in
(07:39):
the sixth round that year. Sadly he didn't work out,
but you know, he got a bunch of different shots
didn't work out with him in the Vikings and then
subsequently with the Bengals. But since then we've we've developed
a lot of German players. And in fact, one of
those guys yesterday was part of our player Pathway program
that's ration for this year with the Colts, Marcel Dabo,
and he was he had the incredible athleticism that he
(08:00):
showed it the pro day at Arizona exactly. Yeah, that
was incredible, incredible athlete. I can't wait to see what
he does in his opportunity here. But another you know,
kind of going back to which is what you were
talking about, in American football is played in Germany. Still. Um,
another guy who was drafted in this class from Central
Michigan Bernard Ryman from Austria learned about the game essentially
(08:26):
by happenstance. His family had moved to a suburb of Vienna,
I believe, and then he essentially just saw these guys
playing this game in a field at a park right
club team and then he joined one. Yeah. Absolutely, And
you know, there are a lot of stories like the
Sebastian Valma, who who obviously mentioned and played in the
NFL with the Patriots again found his way to the
sport playing in dustled Off for a youth team. There
(08:49):
so a lot what we're trying to do and it's
funny literally speaking to Sebastian about this in the last
month or two, is how do you kind of remove
the element of luck, um, both from discovering the sport,
whether that's you know, as a fan and or on
TV or whatever, then through playing the sport, how do
you create some pathways for kids to be able to
(09:11):
play flag football in these in these countries and then
a pathway that could take them, you know, to college
to the player pathway program to to to the pros.
And we've done that with an NFL academy that we've
launched in London, which is bringing kids at a high
school level, because really the player Pathway program is very
exciting can give these guys like myrself that I just mentioned,
(09:32):
the opportunity at the age of two. But you and
I know that really the best time to get these
kids is going to be as early as possible, whether
it's from a kind of you know, developing their body
standpoint or understanding the sports, etcetera. So certainly, the early
we can get them, the better training and coaching we
can get them, the more likely they are to have
an opportunity in college, whether that's just to play football
(09:54):
in college and get a great education in the US,
or you know, hopefully to to have that pathway that
takes them all away to the NFL. No, it's a
great it's a great point, and that it's really exciting
all of the things that the the league and the
initiatives that we're doing to to continue to grow the
game and to grow you know, those natives of those
countries interest in the game and ability to play the
game in the NFL level here. Um, it's really cool
(10:16):
to see. Obviously, you know when we talk about the
International series, London is still kind of the marquee right,
and and with three games this year to at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium and then one back at Wembley with the Jaguars.
Who have you know, have been a popular team in
London since we started the international series. How have you
seen the series grow? You know, from one game in
(10:39):
London to multiple games in London now to three in London? Like,
where have you seen the popularity or maybe the biggest
areas of growth as we sit now? Yeah, I mean, look,
I think it's I think it's across everything. Yeah, it's
you know, the first game, I was lucky enough to
be in the UK office when we played that first
game in London. It was fin actually on the our
friends of Good Morning Football this morning. Um Shawn O'Hara
(11:00):
was on the show this morning and he was part
of the part of this game there, and we had
O Human or who our ambassadors in the UK and
works for the BBC and does a terrific job there
was on the show as well. And just looking back
at those videos and shots of of of that game,
it was hard to imagine at that time that this
will become something as regular and kind of as as like,
(11:22):
of course there are games in London because it took
so much to get to that point. But I think
across the board when you see the growth of the
fan base in the market, you see how well the
NFL is covered by the media in the UK as well. Um,
it's just you know, it's it's been exponential growth and
and it will will will look to continue that in
the coming years with more games, more to do around
(11:44):
the sport and um and you know, hopefully delivering more
UK athletes to the to the NFL as well. No
doubt Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans. Saints will kick things
off in London, so we get all three games in
London this year will come in the month of October,
so that Viking Saints game from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will
be October two. Again. That's all of these are nine
(12:04):
am you stern time kicks and you can see that
one exclusively on NFL Network. That will be followed up
the very next week by the Giants and Packers getting
together at Tottenham Hotspur that again October nine, m E
s Durn here on NFL Network and then the Denver
Broncos will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars from Wembley October
thirty I am eas during that game can be seen
(12:26):
on ESPN plus. I mentioned the Germany game Seahawks and
Tampa Bay Bucks at f C Bayern Munich Stadium November
am Eastern right here on NFL Network. And then finally,
and we'll get to this here in just a second,
but from the studio Esteco once again in Mexico City
the San Francisco forty Niners in Arizona Cardinals in a
divisional matchup November twenty one, eight p m. Eastern time,
(12:49):
that game on ESPN. Um let's just talk about a
couple of the some of the cool instances here with
the UK. I mean, there have been teams that, over
the course of the international series have somehow or have
you know, I have not been a part of the slave.
Now we get the Packers, the last one that the
full set as all the thirty two helmets are now
(13:13):
in London, I mean, is it like a little bit
of a sense of satisfaction to get maybe arguably one
of the greatest players to ever played the game now
in London. It is, And it would have been frustrating
if we'd got the Packers finally and we hadn't hadn't
got Aaron Rodgers with them, So so that's that whole thing,
That whole thing kame together nicely. But also for them
to be playing the Giants, who, as you mentioned, the
first team one of the first two teams to play
in London, but also you know first and last really
(13:35):
well not last, but yeah, you know, really popular team
in the UK as well. So I think that's going
to be a terrific game. Um and yeah, as you say,
great to have the Packers there finally and for fans
to get a chance to see Aaron it's gonna be
really cool. Yeah. What goes into figuring out which teams
are going to go and be a part of the
international series, Yeah, it's so it's it's evolved a lot
(13:57):
actually in the last year or so so with the
extra game with the seventeen game of the season. Part
of that was a commitment that every team would have
to go every eight years and play in an international game,
um and so. Um that then flip flops depending on
which team has the extra home game, which conference has
(14:18):
the game exactly so um this year obviously that meant
that NFC clubs were the ones that we're going to
be able to to go and play internationally, and it
was then a combination of some teams that really wanted
to go. Part of what we've done to grow the
game internationally is have teams um be able to market
themselves in some of these territories. So they've been able
(14:38):
to go and sort of put together a bid to
say we are focused on Germany or the UK or Mexico, etcetera,
to to grow our brands. And so some teams that
are natural affinity to to want to play in these
markets and they put their hands up and said we
want to go. We you know this is important to us.
For the Packers, it was a case of um, they're
not one of the teams that at this point have
(14:59):
have signed up for the UK. But it was a
case of like, you know, here we go. You're going
to have to do at some point the next day years.
Whereas before they were able to say no, we're not interested.
This was really a chance for us to say, look,
let's let's get this done. Let's get you, let's let's
collect the set, let's get you to London. Um. And
then for the other side of the matchup, it's about
you know, looking at who's on on their slate for
(15:21):
that season as a as a visiting team, UM, and
then trying to decide, you know, what's the best matchup.
And clearly, you know there are clubs that want to
protect games, they want to have games that do get
played in their own stadiums, Um, but we were able
to to to get I think, um, you know, probably
biased here, but I think it's the best across all
across all five games, the best slate of international matchups
(15:43):
that we've ever had, I would agree. I mean the
fact that we're gonna get Tom Brady. You know, we're
gonna get Russell Wilson with the Denver Broncos. Now we're
Aaron Rodgers, you get the Saints and Vikings to you know,
really explosive offensive teams too, because I think that sells
you know a lot Um and Um Lawrence are redubing
to Jags team exactly. Yeah. I think, I mean, it's
(16:03):
it's a it's a fantastic slay the matchups. And then
as you mentioned, for Mexico to have a rivalry game
in the NFC is super exciting and well, now you
know one thing I have not unfortunately been able to
get to London for one of the games yet. But
you know, a lot of the stuff I hear the
you know, the the great swath of jerseys that you
end up seeing at a London game and in and
around the city during the week, And I think that's
(16:25):
awesome that you have that many people that are that
that can identify with that many teams in one country,
Whereas in Mexico City at least, the matchups have felt
more regionally um located. You find that the interest there
is still a little bit more regional when it comes
to the NFL in terms of Western teams, NFC a
f C West teams, that sort of thing. Yeah, I mean,
I think the NFL is obviously more established in Mexico. Yeah,
it's been. It's been a big sport in there since
(16:48):
the seventies. So you know, the teams that actually resonate
the most is funny in other markets, as we've grown recently,
the Patriots the team that kind of over index a
month fans because you know, a lot of the way
that people discover the sport is by watching the Super
Bowl their first touch for it. So inevitably they're like, okay, well,
let's look like a good team for Mexico. Those teams
are the Steelers and Cowboys. So that tells you kind
(17:09):
of the vintage of of fandom in Mexico of sort
of seventies eighties, um, when when those teams were obviously,
so there's part of that, and then partly definitely regional.
You know, it's obviously easy for fans to reach the Cowboys,
which he into the Cardinals, the teams in California. So
you see a lot of that as well, and we
tried to lean into that with the matchups and look
that we had a division game. I mean, it just
(17:31):
kind of builds the intensity up. And also a repeat
of the very first game played internationally. So in two
thousand and five we had the opportunity to take one
game internationally. That game was played at a Stadios Techa
and it was the Cardinals against the forty nine. Is
the cool thing was that? Um? In that game, it
was Larry Fitzgerald's rookie season, so you know he was
(17:51):
him and Kurt Warner were there, um in Mexico City.
Now they are back again, um doing doing their things?
How cool? How cool? Is that? All right? And then um,
as you look for further expansion, as I mentioned where
we were getting started. You know, my my dad worked
in the NFL for forty years and was a part
of a couple of the American Bowl Games, you know,
which were preseason games played abroad, and it was you know,
(18:13):
it was one in London that he went to with
the Saints, Saints and Raiders, and then it was one
later in the early part of the two thousands with
the now Washington Commanders, get who they played, but it
was in Osaka, Japan. Do you see a potential expansion
to the Far East um as as an option for
the NFL. I think it's definitely an option. I think
(18:33):
it's harder to do with the you know, if we
we want to be playing regular season games as opposed
to preseason games, I think, you know, what's apparent is
that whether it's that or like we mentioned with NFL Europe,
you want to be exporting the real deal. And there
was you know, I used to as a kid go
to those American ball games in the UK and it
was great, be like, hey, the Dolphins are coming, We're
(18:54):
gonna see the marina and it's like, wait, where do
you go? You know? That lasted like three minutes and
then and then you have someone else playing instead. So
I think the difficulty with going that far east to Japan,
to China, et cetera, is how do you schedule that
in the season, because that it's it's it's a long
way for people to go. It's longer from California to
(19:17):
the far East that it is from the Eastern Board
exactly to learn exactly. So you know that that's that's
an issue we've certainly talked about. Could that be done
around you know, the beginning of the season. Could you
play a kickoff game, even a week one game. Um? There,
I don't think we're there yet. I think, you know,
for now, it's about really how do we continue to
grow the fan base in the now three markets that
we're playing in. Um. But look, I mean expansion to
(19:40):
to other markets is certainly something that we're always looking at.
How have you noticed player buy in Because it felt like,
you know, it was initially maybe there was a little
skepticism or push back. It feels like now, just based
on the guys that interviewed on on GMFB this morning,
that there is a real, legitimate, true excitement players in
doing this. Yeah, I mean right, look, I think people
(20:00):
are definitely excited about going there. Inevitably, it's it gets
you know. I guess there are two ways of looking
at gets you out of your routine through the season.
For some players that's not a good thing. They like
their routine that oughtn't to be kept in that routine.
For others, the difference that the slight change can be
really good. And I know that there are teams you
certainly you know you speak to SHAWNA. Harrod. Those guys
(20:21):
felt like that year that they went to London two
thousand and seven, where they were pretty average team going
into that game and then obviously came out and went
on a run and ended up in the Super Bowl
against Patriots. They talk about how going to London, spending
some time together and kind of a training camp environment
was actually a moment that that really kind of was
the catalyst for them to get to the Super Bowl.
So I think it can go both ways. Typically, what
(20:43):
you'll find is that players have had a winning experience
there tell you it's fantastic and they loved it. And
players that didn't win will tell you, well, it took
me out of my routine and and we shouldn't be
doing this. Someone if someone's going to come away with
a good experience and someone's probably going to be less
excited about it. That's a part of it. And then
then lastly, um, as the series relates to the International
(21:04):
Player Pathway Program, how has it kind of helped shine
a light and kind of help kickstart and really kind
of grow the Pathway program getting more players from abroad
into the NFL game. Yeah, I mean I think, um,
you know, the Pathway program is a fantastic one and
and this certainly helps. We've actually used last year, we
used the weekend between the two London games to have
an international combine to help identify the guys that wound
(21:25):
up being the eleven that was selected to go to
the Player Pathway Program that then came down to the
four where allocated yesterday. So it definitely helped on that front.
I think the other honestly one of my favorite stories,
and it's probably not being particularly well told, but the
first year we talked about the Dolphins and Giants playing
in London, there was a kid in London named Jermaine
Aluminore who switched on the TV and was looking for
(21:49):
an arsenal soccer game. Had grown up in the UK
and was like, what's this thing that I'm watching? And
he watched that very first London game in two thousand seven,
was like, oh wow, this sport is cool, told us
that about it, tried to find a team that was
playing in London, wound up persuading his dad to move
them to New Jersey, ended up getting drafted by the
(22:11):
Baltimore Ravens in I don't know what year that was,
probably and that was because he watched that game on TV.
So if you're talking about kind of the fairy tale
of what does this, you know, what's this actually do?
And obviously it's about growing fandom and everything else. But
there will be a kid, probably in this year, whether
it's the UK or Mexico or Germany, that will watch
(22:34):
this game decide that this is something they want to
do and find the a pathway, whether it takes them
all the way to the NFL or to college or
two whatever. That's that's the power of of the exposure
of these games. So I think it's, um it's definitely
very powerful thing. That's so cool. Yeah, it's it says
here and um, I mean Chuck Farm, England to Lackawanna
(22:55):
Junior College to Texas A and M drafted by the
Ravens in the fifth round. And then that first year
when I'm played back in London, which was a very
crazy event that that the Ravens was elected. I think
they played the Jags that year and in his rookie
season and has played five years in the league and
has been a part of fifty three NFL games, all
because he flipped on the TV one day. So that's
the That's that's what this is supposed to do. How
(23:18):
cool Red lewis here with Henry Hodson getting a chance
to chat about the International Series in the International Pathway
Player Pathway program. Uh, it's so cool again. Five games
here in this year's International Series that will be played
in NFL schedule. We have three games from London, one
from Munich, Germany, and one from Mexico City, Mexico. Can't
(23:39):
wait for The International Series starts October two Tottenham Hotspur
Stadium and then wraps up November twenty one the Studio
Stecca in Mexico City. We'll take quick break here in
NFL Inside Report when we come back, but a little
Inside Report Trivia International edition. We're gonna test Henry's knowledge
of the International Series when we come back, all right
(24:17):
back here with you on NFL Inside Report. It's our
pleasure now to be with for this episode, a very
special episode as we focus it on the International series.
With are now the NFL's GM of NFL Europe. Henry
Hodgson is here with us. And Henry, you have exhibited
some fantastic knowledge of the International Series and all the
international players that have been a part of the NFL
(24:40):
as well. We're now going to really put that knowledge
to the test. Thanks to Ben McWilliams of our fantastic
NFL research team for putting together some tribute questions. Okay,
Aaron Rogers will become only the second raining MVP to
play a game in England. Do you know the other
(25:04):
rain m v P to do it by process of elimination?
It's got to be Tom Brady, right, raining and training? Yes,
Adrian Peterson. Okay, so Aaron Rodgers will be the first
reigning a VP quarterback to play in England. Second at
(25:24):
any position, um and I s got me quickly with
Adrian Peterson story in London. So on when the Vikings
played the Steelers that year in London. I happened to
be in um Piccatilly Circus, very central London, and you
know there a lot of crowds, and when you're going
through crowd, you're looking for the you know, trying to
get to the I was trying to get to the
tube pop. You're looking for a gap, right, you're looking
(25:46):
You're looking for the vision to get to the gap.
And I was sometimes you get behind somebody're like, oh,
they're going in the same direction as me, and they're
pretty good at finding the gap. I was like, Wow,
this guy really knows how to find his way through
a crowd. Adrian Peterson, Adrian Peterson was my lead fullback
through the crowds and picket of the circus. He was complete.
No one knew who he was because you know, here
he is in London and sent to London. But he
(26:08):
was picking his way through the guys. Like this guy
really is has someone to follow. And then I was like,
is Adrian Peterson would be of course Hall of Fame
worthy vision as a running back for sure? For a
for a good story, we do get half a point
for a fantastic story. So Rogers will be the first
reigning MVP quarterback to playing food with Adrian Peterson having
done so as a running back. All right, moving on
(26:29):
which quarterback has the most passing yards in international games
in NFL history? Well, reasoning, Tom Brady's played in three,
two in London, one in Mexico, So I think I
would go with that. The other guy, I mean, Blake
Buds played in a bunch with the Jags. But I'm
gonna go Brady. Oh you had it was Bartles one
(26:53):
thousand nine. Tom Brady needs twoft eight passing yards at
FC Bayern Munich Stadium this year to surpass play. I
was projecting, well, get that. The guys behind the US
are celebrating too much. Actually, Ryan Fitzpatrick has over a
thousand um. I mean it could have been with any
number of teams. Derek carrs over a thousand uh, and
(27:17):
then Philip Rivers exactly one. There you go, all right,
back to number question number three. We gotta get we
gotta get Henry a win. Here. Of the forty regular
season games that have been played internationally now we've had,
forty six have been in Toronto. Can you name the
only NFL team to appear in all six of those
games in Toronto? The Buffalo Bills. That was a trick question.
(27:42):
I think Thomas back had had had tricked me somehow,
but not Buffalo. Yes, all six games in Toronto have
featured the Buffalo Bills. All right, moving on, there are
six teams that have played at least two International games
and are undefeated. I think you can name the undefeated
teams in the International Series that have played multiple games.
(28:05):
The Patriots, correct three and only three? And okay, um
the okay, working my way down, it's not the Bills,
not the Dolphins. Uh, let's see. Two of them will
play each other in a game this year. Okay, so
(28:27):
one of them is not so the Saints and Vikings
there it is. Okay, that's two. There's three more. There's more.
The we've talked about one of them today. One of
these teams will bring a new quarterback to the International
Series this year, and the quarterback that they Giants. Yes,
(28:55):
but yes, um, are you are you telling me that
Tyrod Taylor is gonna start for the Giants? Um? No?
I was thinking of a different team who will also
see their former quarterback play in an International Series game
this year. So that former quarterback is also playing with
his new team in an international game. And yeah, Seahawks
(29:21):
and then the last one Kansas City Chiefs undefeated. No,
they they played in London too, do they played in London?
And then there you go, so they are undefeated, Um,
you know, in two countries, which is just pretty darn impressed.
All right, now for your international game fandom Dolphins edition.
(29:43):
You know who the Dolphins played in the first ever? Clearly?
Do you remember the score of that game? Uh? Nineteens
seventeen very close? Does uh? Do you know the Dolphins lost?
The Giants won thirteen ti alright, um? Tega his first
(30:04):
half the NFL touchdowns right, yes, okay, and consolation touched him.
So this may not be as great of a deal
for you as it was for me. But the head
coach of the Dolphins that year was also one of
my college head coaches, Cam Cameron. Yes, indeed, there you
go to give him a ding. It's hard to come by.
(30:26):
I know exactly whatever I can get Dolphins starting quarterback
in that game. Um, not Dan Marino. It wasn't Dan Marino.
It was Cleo Lemon. Yes, Um, it was meant to
be Trent Green, but Trent Green got injured that season
and so Cleo stepped in. That was a tough year.
It was a tough year. That was the Greg Camarrio
got the got the one win. Give me a ding,
(30:48):
Come on, give a take. That was the bonus question.
Who did the Dolphins beat for their only win that season?
And what yes, Ravens And then you even gave us
the extra bonus Cleo Lemons sixty four yard touchdown pass
to Greg Camarrio. Um, all right, how did I do
well with my overall school? Did I at least get
(31:08):
I think we got back to by the end, So
that's pretty So that's not too bad. That's pretty solid.
But I was always aiming for Henry. Congratulations on the promotion.
Thank you for getting back home now right, Yeah, that's
exciting as well. I will miss the NFL media family,
though I've had a great time here. So that's that's
that's the sad piece of it. But you guys are
all welcome to to come visit London and come to
(31:29):
need bureau chief example, you gotta write that into the
next deal, Bureau Chief Germany of the Incestral series, got it.
Gotta cover Henry Hotch and everybody here with this NFL
Inside Report. Thank you, all right, that's gonna do it
(31:49):
for this episode of NFL Inside Report. Thanks so much
for being with this reminder to download, rate, and review
our show and the I Heart Radio app on Apple
Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. We appreciate you
guys being along for the ride for our producers Thomas Warren,
Tim Paraca, and Harry since Sanford. I'm your host, Bret Lewis.
We'll catch you next time. NFL Inside Report is the
(32:10):
production of the NFL and partnership with I Heart Radio.
For more official podcasts from the NFL, visit the I
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