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Jon Gruden absolutely unloads on NFL’s international game obsession

Jon Gruden believes the NFL is going the wrong way with its commitment to international games. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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Jon Gruden absolutely unloads on NFL’s international game obsession

By Chris Pownall | Last updated Sep 11, 2026 8:24 AM ET

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The NFL has never been more committed to international games. Jon Gruden has apparently never been more convinced that the league is making a mistake.

The former Super Bowl winning head coach unloaded on the NFL's push overseas this week, questioning why teams should sacrifice home games to grow football in other countries when he believes there is still work to be done in the United States.

Jon Gruden unloads on NFL international games

Gruden made his position clear during the Gruden Family Football Show when the subject of international games came up.

“I understand that completely. I mean, we're not going overseas to play home games,” Gruden said. “I didn't see Red Grange playing in Australia. And I never saw Ray Nitschke play in London, okay?”

Then he took his argument a step further.

“So take that and stick that in your pipe. If you want to grow the game, grow it in the United States. We got a lot of kids that aren't playing football. So let's play games where we need to grow the game in our country. And let's start and end with that.”

Gruden wasn't finished.

“I don't want to be on a 16-hour flight, seven different time zones to play one of my home games. Sorry.”

His brother, former Washington head coach Jay Gruden, agreed with the larger point, saying, “This is American football.”

NFL is going bigger than ever overseas

Gruden's comments come as the NFL is doing exactly what he doesn't want it to do.

The league has scheduled a record nine international regular-season games in 2026, spanning four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums. Sixteen teams will play outside the United States, with the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars each making two international appearances.

The first came Thursday when the 49ers and Los Angeles Rams played the first regular season NFL game in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

And Melbourne is only the beginning.

The NFL will also play in Brazil, England, France, Spain, Germany and Mexico this season. London alone gets three games, while Paris and Melbourne are hosting regular-season NFL games for the first time.

That expansion isn't accidental. The league has openly described the international schedule as part of its long-term effort to grow football around the world.

Gruden's argument is essentially that the NFL is looking too far away.

Gruden believes the NFL is trying to grow in the wrong place

There is little mystery about why the NFL loves international games. Every new country represents another potential group of fans, television viewers and customers for a league that has already become enormous in the United States.

Gruden isn't arguing that people overseas shouldn't enjoy football. His issue is what NFL teams and their American fan bases are being asked to give up in the process.

A home game is only one of 17 regular-season games. Taking one away means season ticket holders lose a date in their own stadium while players and coaches deal with travel that can span continents and time zones.

The NFL clearly believes the sacrifice is worth making.

Gruden just made it equally clear that he doesn't.

Chris Pownall

Chris Pownall is a Contributor to Yardbarker covering all major sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, college athletics, and the biggest storylines shaping the sports world. His work focuses on timely analysis, strong opinion, and the narratives fans are actually talking about. He also serves as an NFL Analyst for Last Word on Sports, where he provides in depth coverage and league wide perspective on the NFL

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