LONDON — Just a few blocks from Piccadilly Circus in central London sits a veritable American icon: the Lombardi Trophy, awarded annually to the Super Bowl champions.
Yet even 3,300 miles from the nearest National Football League franchise, the gleaming silver is right at home in the NFL UK headquarters. From this office, the league manages its presence in the United Kingdom, including the NFL London Games, which will return in 2026 for three more regular-season contests.
The lobby of the eighth-floor office features the NFL logo on the wall, and the entrance and front desk are home to many jerseys from teams across the league.
The NFL UK office makes a loop around its top floor location, with slanted windows showcasing iconic views of the London skyline.
In addition to desks and collaborative work spaces, the office features a “tailgate” area — which on Jan. 13 featured two boxes of another American classic: Krispy Kreme donuts.
Henry Hodgson, the general manager of NFL UK, met with reporters from The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and Capital News Service to provide insight into the history of the NFL in the U.K. and the league’s push for a larger international presence — and London’s viability as a Super Bowl host.
Hodgson spent 12 years working in international marketing and fan development at the league’s Los Angeles office. Three years ago, he returned to the U.K. to manage the international efforts from the London headquarters.
The NFL has had offices in the U.K. since the early 1990s. The first regular-season game in London was held at Wembley Stadium in 2007.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the only NFL franchise to have a permanent presence in London. The team hosted an official watch party during the wild-card round of this year’s playoffs.
“I would say there’s fandom for all 32 clubs here,” Hodgson said. “I think the Jags over-index, given the work that they’ve done to be in the market a lot over the past decade-plus, and to be playing here and to show up and be present.”
Still, there is support for more than just the Jaguars in the U.K. — and there is potential for a home team.
“We have a fan base that’s large, and I think that [they] would be thrilled to have an NFL team in the market,” Hodgson said. “We have the support of the government and business here. Generally. I think we have the commercial support to make it happen.”
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