With the NFL aiming to expand its global reach, it’s sending top quarterbacks overseas.
On Monday, Spanish newspaper Diario AS reported the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders will play in Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Nov. 16 (h/t The Palm Beach Post’s Hal Habib). It’s the league’s first game in Spain.
Eric Fisher of Front Office Sports has reported that the Kansas City Chiefs will play the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 5. This is the second consecutive year the league has featured a game in Brazil.
The Chiefs, of course, have QB Patrick Mahomes, one of the biggest draws in the league.
After winning three Super Bowls and two MVPs in his first eight seasons with the Chiefs, the 29-year-old has established himself as one of the league’s best players. Thus, he has piqued the interest of international fans.
In February, ESPN’s Louisa Frahm reported Mahomes was the second-most-searched NFL player outside of the U.S. over the past year, behind his teammate, tight end Travis Kelce. Four other players on the list were quarterbacks: Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels may become as popular as these other passers if he builds on his spectacular rookie season. In 2024, he steered Washington to its first NFC Championship Game appearance since the 1991 season.
Unlike Mahomes and Daniels, Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert and Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa haven’t won a playoff game. However, they’ve been productive throughout their careers.
Since the Chargers took him with pick No. 6 in the 2020 NFL Draft, Herbert has thrown 137 TD passes. Tagovailoa, meanwhile, has chucked 100 TD passes since the Dolphins selected him with pick No. 5 in 2020.
Perhaps the NFL is banking on these QBs lighting up scoreboards in their respective matchups to help grow the league’s international fan base.
