Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers believes the NFL missed an opportunity to make international football even bigger, suggesting the league should have an entire week dedicated to games played around the world.
Rodgers shared his thoughts following Pittsburgh’s 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Paris on Sunday. The matchup marked the NFL’s first regular season game in France and gave Rodgers another opportunity to experience the league’s growing international presence.
According to Rodgers, the idea of an international week was discussed during previous collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The proposal would have seen all 32 teams play overseas during the same week, with 16 games held at locations around the world.
Rodgers Explains His Vision
Under the proposed format, the NFL would have maintained a 16-game regular season while giving every team two bye weeks. One of those weeks would have been designated for international games, allowing the league to expand its global audience without adding another regular-season contest.
Rodgers believes the concept could have been a major step forward for the sport.
“I think it would have been phenomenal for the game,” Rodgers said while discussing the idea.
The veteran quarterback also pointed to several potential destinations, including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Ireland, France, Spain and Germany. He even mentioned Dubai as another possible location for future NFL games.
With the league continuing to pursue international expansion, Rodgers believes there are plenty of opportunities to introduce football to new audiences.
Rodgers Criticizes the League’s Priorities
Rodgers also questioned the decision to expand the regular season from 16 games to 17 games in 2021. He suggested that league owners prioritized the additional revenue from another game instead of pursuing the international-week concept.
The quarterback sarcastically referenced the league’s focus on player safety while discussing the decision, arguing that an additional bye week could have benefited players while providing room for international expansion.
Rodgers also wants the NFL to require teams playing overseas to arrive earlier in the week. He believes traveling to a host country on Sunday or Monday would give players more time to experience the local culture and participate in community events.
The Steelers arrived in France on Friday before facing the Saints, while New Orleans had spent more of the week overseas.
International Expansion Continues
The NFL has continued adding international destinations, making overseas games a growing part of its regular-season schedule. Rodgers has played internationally in London, Dublin and Paris in recent seasons, giving him firsthand experience with the league’s global ambitions.
Although an international week is not currently part of the NFL schedule, Rodgers believes it could benefit both the sport and the communities hosting games.
With the league looking to attract more fans worldwide, his proposal offers another possible approach to expanding football beyond the United States.