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Super Bowl winner hails incredible NFL London and Dublin atmosphere: “It energises us on the field”
NFL Sundays in London and Dublin have a character all their own. The sound of the crowd hits differently. The cheers could be straight out of any NFL stadium in the United States, but they’re delivered in a mix of accents and by fans representing every one of the 32 teams in the league.
The players who compete in these games genuinely feel that energy. They feed off the noise and the passion, channelling it into the kind of big plays that make the crowd erupt all over again. It’s a feedback loop that benefits both sides. Players lift the fans, and the fans lift the players right back.
As one former Super Bowl winner and now leading figure in the UK NFL media scene put it: “It energises us on the field.”
That champion is Jason Bell, who spent six years in the NFL with three teams and earned a Super Bowl ring during his time with the New York Giants in 2006.
Speaking exclusively to me pitchside for DAZN after the Denver Broncos’ narrow win over the Jets on Sunday, Bell offered insight into how players feed on the support of fans inside venues like Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Wembley, and now Croke Park in Dublin.
“It’s very special. It makes me proud, and I’m proud to be a part of it. The reason these international games work is because of the fans – the way they respond to the play on the field. They’re constantly having fun.
“It makes it a special environment, and that’s why these games are so important. They matter so much.
“It doesn’t matter what’s going on, they’re going to cheer, they’re going to be loud, and they’re going to be enthusiastic.”
One moment summed that up late in the first half.
With the Jets struggling to get anything going against the Broncos' relentless pass rush, quarterback Justin Fields finally hit a simple eight-yard completion to move the chains.
The play itself was nothing spectacular, but the 61,155 in attendance rose to their feet anyway, roaring as if it had been a touchdown.
Bell loved that moment. “The fans bring the energy, and that’s what you want to see,” he said.
The NFL International Series has been a resounding success since the Miami Dolphins faced the New York Giants at Wembley in 2007, and it continues to grow.
This year’s addition of a regular-season game at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park only underlines how far the league’s global footprint has come, and how much of that progress is powered by fan enthusiasm.
Next up is the Jacksonville Jaguars hosting the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium on October 19. Both teams are fighting for playoff spots, but it probably wouldn’t matter if they weren’t. These crowds show up regardless.
The NFL isn’t just visiting anymore. It belongs here, and the fans are ensuring it stays put.
NFL offer: watch for even less with new Game Pass discounts
UK fans can purchase an annual pass to watch every game for the rest of the season - including the play-offs and Super Bowl - for an upfront discounted fee of £99.99 (reduced from £169.99).
Alternatively, fans can pay for an annual subscription monthly, with payments reduced to £8.99 for the first three months, reverting to £17.99 in month four.
A subscription also includes access to the NFL Network, RedZone, and various weekly shows, such as Downs 2 Business, Kittle Things, and the X's & O's coaching breakdown.
