The NFL plans to launch London games this year if coronavirus is fully released | NFL News

The NFL still hopes to host games in London in 2021 but the final decision will depend on coronavirus; four regular-season games were to be held in London last year but were postponed due to the pandemic; Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were going to host games

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would hold games if the slate went ahead in 2021

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the league plans for UK internationals to go ahead in 2021 but a final decision will depend on the fight against coronavirus.

Last season’s international slate – which was to see four regular-season games played in London and one in Mexico City – was announced in May last year due to global pandemic.

The same sort of thing may be waiting for plans for the upcoming season, but Goodell said Thursday that he hoped the games, which usually take place in October, would go on forward.

“We’re planning for international matches in 2021, that’s the approach we’re going to take,” he said.

“We are definitely going to liaise closely with our partners in the UK and Mexico and make sure we do that safely.

“If at any time we do not think we can do it safely we will make that decision.

“We’re hoping to get back there and we’re planning for it and we’ll make that decision when we have enough information to do that. “

2:04

Harry Kane tells JJ Watt that he still has ambitions to become an NFL weaver, but that he is aiming for football.

Matches were expected to be played at both Wembley and Tottenham stadiums last year but Goodell said there were concerns about the safety of such a large travel party and the implementation of protocols at non-NFL-controlled stadiums.

The postponement meant this was the first year since 2007 that Wembley had not hosted at least one regular NFL season game.

Both Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were going to hold games if the slate went ahead in 2021.

The schedule for the 2021 season is expected to be announced in the spring.

Goodell: More work to be done on head coach diversity

Roger Goodell has said he is not happy with this year’s head coach recruitment cycle, a year after he promised to increase diversity in the role.

Just one of the vacant head coaching positions in the league went to a candidate from an ethnic minority this year, with the New York Jets hiring former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.

Robert Saleh has joined the New York Jets

The league unveiled a plan in November to promote diversity among head coaches and staff.

“That was not what we expected and that is not what we expect to continue,” Goodell told reporters at his State of the League press conference on ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Florida.

“For us, we want to continue to look and see what went right, what went wrong,” he said. “That has to happen through individual discussions with candidates – both successful and unsuccessful candidates – the clubs. , and try to understand what exactly went right and what went wrong.

“Not the results we wanted.”

Join us on it Sky Sports NFL and Main Event from 10pm on Sunday, Feb. 7 for 90 minutes of Super Bowl LV build with Kirk Cousins, Dallas Clark and Cliff Avril joining Neil Reynolds and company; Sky One broadcast the match from 11pm.