The NFL has made a lot of big changes in recent years, there’s no doubt about that. From moving the Rams back to Los Angeles (and bringing the Chargers along with them) to relocating the Raiders to Las Vegas, the NFL hasn’t been afraid to pivot. However, it has been a long time since the league has expanded. In fact, the last time the NFL added an expansion team was the Houston Texans back in 2002. The league has only added three other teams in the last two decades — the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 and the re-launched Cleveland Browns in 1999.
(For those who don’t remember, the Cleveland Browns became the Baltimore Ravens in 1996, but the Browns managed to relaunch their team three years later).. While a 32-team league seems to be working well for the NFL, it does feel like an expansion is overdue. With football continuing to grow in this country, countless other cities would gladly welcome a new team.. Here are a few cities that may be considered for expansion teams in the coming years, if the NFL chooses to grow.
Toronto, Canada
Yes, Canada has its own football league, but it’s about time they have a team in the NFL too. The NBA has the Toronto Raptors and the MLB has the Toronto Bluejays, so it’s only fitting for the NFL to capitalize on that fanbase and bring a team to the city.
This could help to grow the game internationally and get more Canadians invested in the NFL. And, by picking Toronto as the Canadian city (which is in the middle of the country), it makes it easier for teams to travel to and from.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a great sports city and their fan support is unmatched. Sure, the city seems to prefer sports like soccer and basketball, but there’s no question the University of Oregon’s football success in recent years has increased its popularity across the state. Not to mention, it would be fun to have a Portland-Seattle rivalry in the league.
However, it is likely that most Oregon residents already call themselves Seahawks fans, so will they be interested in changing allegiances? While cities such as Los Angeles or New York have the population to support two teams, it is a concern that the Pacific Northwest does not.
London, England
The NFL has experimented in recent years with playing games in London, but would they take a chance on adding a team across the pond? There’s no question Londoners prefer the other football (aka soccer), but American football has become more popular since the NFL started playing games in Wembley Stadium.
This would certainly make American football a more global sport, which in turn would bring in more money, but the traveling is a concern. Would this London team have to travel across the Atlantic eight times in a season? If the league is able to figure out how the travel would work, adding a team in London seems like a no brainer.