Jon Gruden is not here for the NFL’s globetrotting era, and he made that crystal clear on a recent episode of“The Gruden Family Football Show.”When a fan urged him to embrace the league’s international schedule, Gruden erupted, shouting,“If you want to grow the game, grow it in the United States.”He also fired off a line that’s already everywhere online:“I never saw Ray Nitschke play in London!”
His timing is not random. The 2026 NFL season features a record nine international regular-season games across seven countries, including England, France, Spain, Mexico, Australia, Germany and Brazil. That’s up from seven games in 2025, and the league’s international revenue hit $450 million back in 2023. Gruden’s argument centers on the players and the fans: 16-hour flights, seven time zones, and home games that suddenly aren’t at home. He pointed to legends like Red Grange and Ray Nitschke, who built the sport entirely on American soil.
Love him or not, Gruden’s rant is tapping into a real debate. Is the NFL growing the sport, or chasing revenue while players and local fan bases pay the price? And honestly, it’s also just another entry in the Gruden viral rant hall of fame.
So what do you think: should the NFL keep expanding overseas, or should Gruden get his wish and keep it stateside? Drop your take in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.