Cam Newton says NFL's global push is 'on brand' ahead of historic 2026 season: 'It’s business'

The NFL volition play a grounds 9 planetary games during the 2026 season, spanning 4 antithetic continents and 7 countries, and opening with a halt successful Melbourne, Australia. 

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers volition play the first-ever crippled successful Australia, but it volition beryllium played astatine 10:35 a.m. section clip connected Friday Sept. 11 to coincide with a Thursday nighttime crippled astatine 8:35 p.m. ET successful the U.S. 

With the NFL continuing its propulsion to scope millions much globally, determination is simply a question: what bash players deliberation astir it, particularly those that volition beryllium successful situations similar the Rams and 49ers travel September? 

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ESPN expert Cam Newton is connected the acceptable of "First Take" connected Feb. 6, 2026 successful San Francisco, California. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton was ne'er capable to play overseas, arsenic helium battled a Lisfranc wounded erstwhile his squad was acceptable to play successful the United Kingdom. However, helium believes, from a concern position for the NFL, a planetary propulsion makes excessively overmuch sense. 

"I deliberation what the NFL is doing is astir connected brand. It’s business," helium said. "As we’re having this speech astir business, they recognize the magnitude of magnifying the crippled of football. They’re doing it connected 1 consciousness with full-contact football, but they’re besides doing it successful different sense, that comes astir apt much natural, with the emblem dynamic. 

According to the International Federation of American Football, determination are 2.4 cardinal kids nether 17 who play organized emblem shot successful the U.S. But globally, determination are millions participating successful the emblem game, which the NFL is heavy progressive in. 

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As a result, planetary fans of each ages are tapped into the NFL game, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the remainder of the league bureau person made a concerted effort to let those fans to spot live-action NFL play successful their location countries. 

"So galore antithetic radical from antithetic colors, creeds, arsenic good arsenic genders, tin enactment successful the emblem game. I deliberation the NFL understands the importance, akin to what the NBA has been connected for decades now. They’re conscionable trying to research and grow the marque of the NFL."

Other than Melbourne, determination volition beryllium 3 London games, portion Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Munich, Madrid and Mexico City volition each beryllium big sites for the NFL successful 2026. 

Cam Newton connected vigor enactment astatine the Super Bowl LIX media halfway connected Feb. 7, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

It whitethorn beryllium bully concern for the NFL, but legendary sports cause Leigh Steinberg said successful a caller interrogation with Fox News Digital that players person "mixed feelings" astir traveling overseas. 

"They really similar the question facet of it, seeing antithetic cultures and different things," Steinberg said. "But it takes a carnal toll. I mean, to alert from [the West Coast] to London is 12 hours. Then, to alert back, it’s 14 hours. When you commencement moving eastbound successful Europe, it gets longer than that. So, it takes a carnal toll.

"I deliberation that if you inquire the coaches, they don’t emotion planetary games, due to the fact that it takes them retired of the regular and schedule."

EXPANDING CONTENT REACH WITH OFFSCRIPT

Newton whitethorn not beryllium connected the tract immoderate longer, but helium remains tuned successful to the NFL and each different sports infinitesimal done his contented creation, astir notably his "Funky Friday" and "4th & 1 with Cam Newton" shows arsenic portion of his Iconic Saga Productions. 

Newton and his accumulation squad announced a large concern with Offscript Worldwide, a creator-owned ecosystem that connects culture-shaping brands and platforms nether 1 roof, which includes REVOLT Sports and 3BlackDot. 

Offscript unveiled this caller concern astatine the 2026 IAB NewFronts, wherever they volition statesman collaborating with Newton’s autarkic accumulation powerhouse, integrating his deed shows and amplifying the scope of athlete-driven storytelling for planetary brands. 

Cam Newton of squad J Balvin looks connected against squad Druski during the Super Bowl LX Celebrity Flag shot crippled connected YouTube astatine Moscone Center South connected Feb. 7, 2026 successful San Francisco, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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"When you truly deliberation astir Offscript, it’s similar the ecosystem that bridges truthful galore antithetic facets of our lives, from sports, to culture, to manner and truthful galore antithetic things," Newton explained. "That modulation for maine wasn’t foreign. Instead of grooming to beryllium the champion shot player, oregon the champion athlete. Now, I’m conscionable grooming to beryllium the champion contented creator I tin perchance be. 

"I conscionable ever privation to beryllium a beacon of the person, successful a batch of ways, figured it retired arsenic I went. I’m conscionable truthful thrilled that Offscript gives maine and Iconic Saga the accidental to proceed to judge successful our vision, and we’re not capable to bash these things without large partners similar this."

As this concern kicks off, Newton volition besides beryllium hitting the roadworthy for the "4th & 1 College Tailgate Experience," visiting HBCU’s crossed the U.S. to observe their practice and radiance a nationalist spotlight connected student-athletes, world programs, and the unsocial game-day civilization that defines what it means to beryllium an HBCU. 

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