As another NFL season culminates in this weekend's Super Bowl, it is clear the league's vision for its future includes a strong global component.
Both Super Bowl coaches, Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks, were asked Friday for their thoughts on the NFL's ongoing international series, especially the now-annual fixture of multiple games at Wembley Stadium in London.
"It's a great game. We all know that it's such a part of what our lives are in America," Belichick said.
"For me, it's great to be involved in it and, from a worldwide standpoint, see if all the people embrace the game anywhere close to the way that it is in this country. It's great to be able to go over there and show it to them and let them see what this country sees."
A study released this week by the sports marketing firm Repucomm showed increasing interest in the NFL in numerous countries around the globe, and the league has moved to capitalize to the extent that it can.
"We're excited about the continuing growth of the popularity of the NFL in the UK, particularly in London, and we're going to continue to learn every year from our experience and continue to try and give them more football, which is what they want," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said on Friday at his annual meeting with the media.
Most immediately, that will include all three games set for London in 2015 kicking off in the mid-afternoon, which works well on both sides of the Atlantic.
Post-game travel is easier for those who actually attend the games at Wembley, and U.S. television networks get an additional television window that they don't normally have — all the better for revenue growth.
Ultimately, the NFL hopes that added exposure also serves to grow the game internationally.
"We know that there is a big following. I don't know how great it is," Carroll said.
"There's such an allure to the excitement to the allure that our country presents.
"There's so much follow-up and so much interaction with our population. Other countries see that and I think that they'd like to share in that and enjoy that.
"I think that the league sees that. They see the opportunity to share our game with the world.
"The world is as small as it has ever been and it's so easy to connect now that, if our game can be part of that and be somewhat of an ambassador around the world, what a great thing it could be for the league."