Jon Gruden Critiques NFL’s International Game Expansion

Former NFL coach Jon Gruden is expressing his frustration over the increasing number of international games the NFL is scheduling.

In a recent appearance on “The Gruden Family Football Show,” Gruden maintained a composed demeanor—at least until a fan pushed him on the topic of overseas games.

“I never saw Ray Nitschke play in London!” he exclaimed.

During the Thursday broadcast, his response was ignited when a fan prompted him about the league’s international slate, which includes games in London, Paris, Madrid, Mexico City, Melbourne, Munich, and Rio de Janeiro this season.

The fan challenged Gruden directly, saying, “I listen to you complain about international games. Oh, how it disrupts routine. Gruden, the game was built on sacrifice.” They emphasized the need to appreciate the efforts of past players who endured long travels to play in tough conditions.

The fan urged Gruden to embrace the notion of expanding the sport globally. “You understand that?” they added. However, Gruden did not take kindly to this suggestion.

“Get him off!” Gruden shouted, interrupting the fan’s comments. “I understand that completely. I mean, we’re not going overseas to play home games.”

As he became more animated, Gruden pointed out that while many legendary players traveled extensively, they didn’t play in other countries. “I didn’t see Red Grange playing in Australia. And I never saw Ray Nitschke play in London! So take that and stick that in your pipe,” he claimed.

Gruden continued, emphasizing that if the goal is to grow the game, it should be done in the U.S. “We’ve got a lot of kids that aren’t playing football. So let’s play games where we need to grow the game in our country,” he insisted, his tone both serious and somewhat humorous.

The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach also remarked on the unfairness of having players travel over 12 hours for a game. “I don’t want to be on a 16-hour flight, seven different time zones to play one of my home games. Sorry,” he shared with his co-hosts.

The NFL is set to feature a record nine international regular-season games in 2026, and already in 2025, the league had increased the number to seven, moving up from a previous maximum of five games played in earlier years.

This season will also see Australia, Brazil, and France hosting their first official NFL games, while the U.K., Mexico, and Canada have welcomed multiple games for over a decade.

The league’s effort to expand globally was previously supported through NFL Europe, which operated from 1991 until 2007 and had teams based in various European countries. The first official international regular-season matchup occurred in 2005, with the Arizona Cardinals facing the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City.

While the league’s international ambitions seem to be financially fruitful—highlighted by a reported $450 million in international revenue for 2023—Gruden’s perspective suggests a need to focus on nurturing American talent in the sport.