Globalization is a key component of professional sports leagues around the world and the National Football League is no exception, despite its reputation as a U.S.-centric league, which stems in part from its smaller slate of international players compared with other major North American competitions.
In recent years the league has looked to reach further overseas and attempt to close that gap with a number of global initiatives.
Ahead of the announcement of 11 players invited for this year’s International Player Pathway Program, The Japan Times spoke with Damani Leech, the chief operating officer of NFL International, to discuss the league’s international strategies and its growing efforts in the Japanese market.