Tag: nfl international

Ex-Broncos DL Haggai Ndubuisi signs with Commanders

Former Broncos DL Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi has joined the Commanders. Denver still has an open spot on the roster for an international player.

The Washington Commanders have signed former Denver Broncos defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.

Ndubuisi (6-7, 323 pounds) is a Nigerian player who participated in Osi Umenyiora’s UpRise Academy program in Africa before being invited to an international NFL combine in London in 2021.

Ndubuisi joined the league’s IPP program in 2022 and he was allocated to the Arizona Cardinals. After spending preseason in Arizona that year, Ndubuisi was later allocated to the Broncos in 2023.

After practicing as an offensive lineman in Arizona, Ndubuisi switched to the defensive line in Denver. He spent all of the 2023 campaign on the Broncos’ practice squad, but Ndubuisi was not signed to a reserve/future contract at the end of the season.

Ndubuisi had a brief stint with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in February before joining the Commanders earlier this week. He will continue playing as a defensive lineman.

The NFL has given each team an extra spot on the offseason roster for international players and an extra spot on each practice squad for an international player this season. Denver worked out Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit last month, but he opted to join the Kansas City Chiefs instead.

With Ndubuisi moving on, the Broncos have an open spot for an international player in 2024.

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Peter King hints that Browns could play Eagles Week 1 in Brazil

The Browns could be heading to São Paulo in September

The 2024 NFL schedule is months away from being released, but one NFL insider has stated he is “feeling good” about the chances the Cleveland Browns will be the team to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo.

NBC Sports’ Peter King has confidence that the Browns will be traveling to take on the Eagles at Corinthians Arena for the first-ever NFL game in Brazil. The Browns have played one international game, a 33-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London in 2017.

To be honest, who is to say a Week 1 game in Brazil is too much more difficult than a Week 1 game in Philadelphia?

Broncos won’t play an international game in 2024

The Broncos won’t have an international game in 2024. Denver will host eight games and the Broncos will play nine road games stateside.

We already know the Denver Broncos’ upcoming opponents, and we’ll find out the team’s full 2024 schedule with dates and times in May.

We also know that the Broncos will not play abroad this fall.

The NFL has announced the “home” teams for the five international games in 2024 and none of them are set to host Denver next season.

The Philadelphia Eagles (Brazil), Chicago Bears (England), Minnesota Vikings (England), Jacksonville Jaguars (England) and Carolina Panthers (Germany) will “host” games outside the United States this fall.

The Broncos do have the Panthers on their list of 2024 opponents, but that game will be played at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. So the Broncos won’t have an international game during the 2024 season.

Denver last played abroad in 2022 when they defeated the Jaguars 21-17 at Wembley Stadium in London. Each NFL team is required to play at least one international game every eight years. Beginning in 2025, up to eight international games will be scheduled each season. That would involve 16 teams, giving half the league an international game each year.

So the Broncos will likely have another international game in the not-too-distant future, and Mexico is the most likely location. The NFL won’t play in Mexico in 2024 due to construction at Estadio Azteca. Once those renovations are complete, Denver will be a strong candidate to play in Mexico. This year, though, all of the team’s games will be played in the USA.

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NFL will play in Brazil in 2024 — could the Broncos play in the game?

The NFL will play a game in Brazil next season. Could the Broncos play in that game?

For the first time in NFL history, the league will play a regular season game in South America next fall.

The NFL announced Wednesday that a game will be played at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil in 2024. The stadium with a 68,727 capacity previously hosted World Cup games in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016.

The league will announce five “home” teams for its 2024 international schedule early next year, presumably in January. The NFL prefers (but does not require) “home” teams to play in their designated “Global Markets Program” country.

Only one team — the Miami Dolphins — has Brazil listed as their designated country, so the ‘Phins might be a decent bet to “host” the game at Corinthians Arena in 2024.

The Denver Broncos have Mexico listed as their international market, but the team could be a “road” team for an international game in a different country. The Broncos will face the same-place finisher in the AFC East on the road in 2024, so it’s possible that Miami could be on Denver’s 2024 schedule.

Right now, the Broncos are in second place in the AFC West. The corresponding team in the AFC East right now is the Buffalo Bills. For Denver and the Dolphins to finish in the same spot in their respective divisions (barring something crazy), the Broncos would have to win the AFC West or Miami would have to finish in second place in the AFC East.

As things stand now, Denver seems unlikely to play in Brazil next season. But the NFL plans to expand from four international games in 2024 to eight international games in 2025. Once that happens, half the league will play an international game every season (unless a team volunteers for more than one game). So starting in 2025, it seems likely that most NFL teams will have an international game at least once every other season.

So after playing in London, England in 2022, the Broncos seem likely to play another international game in the not-too-distant future. It might not be in Brazil, but Denver will play outside the United States again. Mexico seemingly remains the team’s most likely destination.

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What an international NFL expansion draft could look like

How would an international NFL expansion draft work? Patriots Wire’s Cam Garrity broke things down in this fun piece

The NFL has not so subtly been interested in expanding the league to international markets with games in London, Munich, Frankfurt, Toronto, Tokyo and Mexico City in the past.

If the league wishes to eventually expand internationally, they have two routes, one seeing a franchise like the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars or other previously rumored teams they’ve considered moving. Or, they could go a simpler route.

The simple route is to just add two more teams, making it 34 total, which is a move that would certainly make the league and its owners more money. The NFL would also likely consider a realignment to make the divisions more travel-friendly, but that’s for another day.

Let’s take a look at a hypothetical expansion.

Broncos continue steps toward an eventual game in Mexico

Terrell Davis, Jake Plummer set to represent Broncos in CDMX and Monterrey from April 29-30 when Denver announces a draft pick in Mexico.

The Denver Broncos will play an international game in Mexico. Not this season. Maybe not next season, but within the next seven years.

The NFL requires every team to play at least one international game every eight years. The Broncos just played in England last season, so their next international game might not be imminent, but it will be scheduled before 2030.

So, why Mexico?

The NFL announced in 2021 that Mexico has been designated as Denver’s “International Home Market Area.” As part of that announcement, the NFL said “the league will use its best efforts to ensure clubs play their international games in their international HMAs, where possible.”

The Broncos have said numerous times that they would like to play in Mexico, and the team has taken steps to grow their already sizeable following south of the border.

Denver donated 100 flag football kits to public and private schools in Mexico last fall. Last March, the team sent former senior V.P. of strategy Brittany Bowlen, Hall of Famer Steve Atwater and then-Bronco player Bradley Chubb on a multi-day tour in Mexico to promote the club’s IHMA affiliation.

“Outside of the Denver Metro area, the largest population of Broncos fans resides in Mexico City,” the Broncos said in a press release last spring.

Last week, the team announced they will have another event in Mexico this spring around the 2023 NFL draft. Denver will have Hall of Famer Terrell Davis and ex-quarterback Jake Plummer represent the team in Mexico from April 29-30.

Speaking with media at the NFL owners’ meetings in Arizona last month, Broncos president Damani Leech said the team will announce one of their draft picks in Mexico (presumably Plummer and/or Davis will make the announcement).

This all points toward the team continuing to grow its brand in Mexico ahead of an eventual international game played in Mexico City. The NFL will not play any games in Mexico this season because Estadio Azteca is undergoing renovations.

Once those renovations are complete, the NFL will return to Mexico — and the Broncos will be part of the league’s international schedule at some point within the next seven years.

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Will the Broncos play an international game in 2023?

Two teams on Broncos’ road schedule will “host” international games this year, but Denver seems more likely to play in Mexico after 2023.

The NFL announced five home teams for its 2023 international series on Thursday, and the Denver Broncos are not among the host teams.

The Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars will play “home” games in London with the Titans and Bills playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Jags playing at Wembley Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots will “host” games in Germany, with the exact stadiums still to be announced.

The Broncos are scheduled to play two of those teams — the Chiefs and Bills — on the road next season, but Denver seems unlikely to play in England or Germany next fall.

The Broncos just played the Jaguars at Wembley in 2022 — winning 21-17 — and Denver seems unlikely to immediately return to London the following season. The Broncos also seem unlikely to play in Germany in 2023 after having Mexico set as their designated international market in 2021.

Mexico will not host an international game in 2023 because Estadio Azteca is undergoing renovations, but the NFL plans to return to Mexico City in the future, perhaps as early as 2024. Denver will play at least one more international game before 2029, and Mexico is the likeliest location.

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Broncos’ next international game will likely be played in Mexico

Denver will face the Jaguars in London this week. After that, the Broncos’ next international game will likely be played in Mexico.

After hosting the New York Jets at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 7, the Denver Broncos are now set to catch a flight to England to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London in Week 8.

After facing the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium, the Broncos will play at least one more international game sometime between 2023 and 2028 (all NFL teams are required to play at least one international game every eight years).

The most likely location for Denver’s next international game after London is Mexico, which is the team’s new International Home Market Area.

The NFL announced last year that “the league will use its best efforts to ensure clubs play their international games in their international HMAs, where possible.” So, if possible, the Broncos’ next international game will be played in Mexico.

Eight other teams have Mexico as their HMA: the Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers.

Sometime between now and 2028, Denver will likely play one of those teams in Mexico City.

Broncos vs. Jaguars live in London! Join ESPN+ to watch!

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Broncos donate Tochito (flag football) kits to schools in Mexico

The Broncos partnered with NFL Mexico to donate Tochito (flag football) kits to youth in schools in Mexico.

The Denver Broncos, through the first five games of the NFL season, have been a laughing stock throughout the league and on social media. However, an opportunity to give back can always turn the tide into a favorable position. 

The Broncos have partnered with NFL Mexico to donate 100 Tochito kits to public and private schools in Mexico. Tochito kits translate to flag football, and the point of emphasis is to get Mexican youth to learn how to get active and work together as a team. 

“NFL Mexico has and continues to do an incredible job in promoting youth fitness, and we are very excited to partner and collaborate in the donation of the Tochito kits in Chihuahua and Coahuila,” Marisol Villagomez, Broncos Director of Multicultural Marketing said in a statement. “We hope that through the donation of these kits, the Broncos can assist in supporting local efforts to promote the game of football, and physical activity, through Tochito.”

Last year, Mexico was designated as the team’s International Home Market Area, and the Broncos hope to play a future game in Mexico.

Denver’s partnership with NFL Mexico will ship out kits that include belts, flag sets, footballs, and a ball bag. Kudos to the Broncos for partnering with NFL Mexico to provide Tochito kits to better the Mexican youth experience.


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14 Broncos players to wear international flags on helmets

Fourteen Broncos players will wear international flags on their helmets this week, with six players representing Nigeria.

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More than 200 players, coaches and executives across the NFL will participate in the league’s recognition of nationalities and cultural heritages in Weeks 4 and 5.

As part of the NFL’s initiative, 14 Denver Broncos players will wear international flag stickers on the back of their helmets this week. Here’s the list of players:

DL McTelvin Agim (Nigeria)
CB Essang Bassey (Nigeria)
RB Devine Ozigbo (Nigeria)
CB Michael Ojemudia (Nigeria)
TE Albert Okwuegbunam (Nigeria)
DL Eyioma Uwazurike (Nigeria)
WR Jerry Jeudy (Haiti)
OLB Jonathan Kongbo (Republic of the Congo)
TE Greg Dulcich (Croatia)
CB K’Waun Williams (Jamaica)
DL Mike Purcell (Samoa)
G Netane Muti (Tonga)
OL Luke Wattenberg (South Korea)
P Corliss Waitman (Suriname)

“The NFL is proud of the extensive collection of nationalities and heritage of its players across the League,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “We recognize the many cultures they represent and the excitement they bring to their home fans, which ultimately helps grow our game.”

Sunday’s game against the Raiders will begin at 2:25 p.m. MT (TV map).

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