The NFL has continued to grow outside of North America over the last 17 years, ever since the league decided to trial games in other locations.
Mexico City held the first foreign game back in 2005, but London was the first destination to hold games outside of the continent, and they've done so on a yearly basis ever since 2007. Now, 15 years on, there are three games being played in London, with Tottenham's new stadium even being built with the these events in mind further down the line.
Although it's an American league, the interest in the NFL has gone global, with tickets for the London games selling out in record time this year. And former Jacksonville Jaguars running-back Maurice Jones-Drew has claimed that London could easily hold an NFL franchise, and has backed a league expansion to facilitate it.
The Jaguars have been London regulars over the past few years, with 'MJD' making two appearances at Wembley Stadium over the course of his career. Although MJD was on the losing side both times, he loved heading to London, and insists that there's 'no question' that the city could add value to the league and hold a franchise.
MJD spoke exclusively to Mirror Sport ahead of the 2022 London games, and has welcomed the idea of the city having an NFL franchise in the future. "From a financial standpoint, from a standpoint of whether a team can come here and if the city of London can hold an NFL franchise then yes, absolutely no question," Jones-Drew said.
"I think you've seen how the UK has really taken to it. When we first started coming here it was an event, but in the last few years people are actually coming to support these teams.
"Also, I think when you have guys from different countries around Europe, and they all come and support these games it's huge. We're continuously seeing this game growing and it wouldn't surprise me if there is a team that ends up being here in London - or even two teams.
"I think there's an appetite for NFL around the world, but I think the first place that they'd start with and the place they'd feel most comfortable with would be London. That's because the fans have really taken to it, and they know that it would work."
However, it's not just as simple as housing a team here, as there are multiple factors that need to be addressed first. The travel being the primary issue, but Jones-Drew also delved into other logistics that would need to come into consideration.
"Yes, there probably will be a franchise here, but they have to sort out the logistics first," he added. "So they may have to play two or three games in a row here and then be on the road for two or three weeks.
"When on the road you have to find a place where you're going to practice, stay in hotels, which is a little bit of a disadvantage as you're not going home. I think the other concern is if the London franchise becomes a one seed in the play-offs. Is that a disadvantage?
"Now, once they're playing a west coast team they have to fly 12 hours to play. I think that's where it becomes an issue in terms of a competitive advantage or disadvantage depending on how you look at it. Also, when do they get a bye? All of this has to be discussed first, but I think they can do that easily."
Jones-Drew played in front of 83,000 fans on two occasions at Wembley, and the interest has boomed further since he took to the field in 2013 and 2014. He went on to explain that some of his team-mates loved the occasion of travelling to London, but others found it difficult to adjust and acclimatise away from home.
"I think early on it was exciting for me personally as I'd never been there," MJD continued. "Never been overseas, never travelled. Now, even as someone who travels all over the world I'm still excited to come here and see the game and see the way it's grown.
"For certain players they like it, and of course some don't. It's how you feel really. Some people like it as they get to come over here, see something different and they're excited about it. They take pictures, the game of football is showing them another side of the world that they never knew existed.
"The other part of it is that guys like routines. If they can't get their massage on certain days, their chiropractor or whatever it may be, the food is different or they don't have their chef, it can throw you off.
"It forces you to have to go into your laser focus and be ready to go out there and perform at a high level. The recovery process is tough as well because I came from LA, it was a ten and a half hour flight. These guys from Jacksonville, maybe six or seven. It's a long flight to do and get over so the recovery process is tough too.
"But as a professional you have to prepare your body to handle all those things. In my opinion the positives from coming far outweigh the positives."
The first of three 2022 NFL London Games begins on Sunday, October 2 with Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints live on Sky Sports NFL from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, coverage starts from 1.30pm.
