Will latest NFL clash lead to London-based team?

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Spectacle: the NFL is back in London

Kenneth Elliott

13 April 2012

Maybe it's time to take that old London Monarchs American Football helmet off the top shelf, dust it off and give it a 21st century sheen . . . it would sit nicely on the heads of London's very own NFL franchise players in the not too distant future.

The old red and blue crown on a gold helmet would look good gracing Wembley Stadium, as it did when they were crowned World League champions at the old Wembley Stadium back in 1991, so if you're going to Sunday's NFL regular season match-up between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears, just imagine . . . your very own League team running out eight times a year in front of you at 'home' games.

This month, the NFL's owners gave the green light for further regular season games in London through to 2016. Sunday's game is the fifth successive encounter 'that matters' at new Wembley, following a host of pre-season friendlies. Fans are getting the real thing these days and the whispers of a London-based team, playing in the NFL one day, are getting louder.

The League has a history of teams upping sticks and moving from one city to another in the US and it might just be a matter of time before an owner looks longingly at sell-out home games and the novelty of being based in London.

There may be potential rivals in Germany, Canada and Mexico, but London is certainly a firm favourite with the NFL . . . so how about a return for the London Monarchs and those magical nights in 1991 when they went on to lift the World Bowl at the the old 'Venue of Legends'?

As for Sunday, the Bucs are back, having lost 35-7 to the New England Patriots here in 2009 in front of 84,254 fans. The Bears also make their return to the capital.

They arrived in 1986 for a friendly in the American Bowl series against Dallas with the Mike Ditka-coached team, featuring big names like quarterback Jim McMahon and the somewhat bigger linebacker William 'The Refrigerator' Perry, defeating the Cowboys 17-6.

The Bucs are in a healthy state, leading the NFC South Division with a won four, lost two record so far, but the Bears, in a tough NFC North Division, led by the only unbeaten team left in the NFL, the 6-0 Green Bay Packers and reigning Super Bowl champions, are 3-3 and have a major injury worry over star wide receiver Devin Hester.

Hester was named the NFC's special teams Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks but picked up a chest injury in last Sunday's 39-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings and sat out the Bears practice sessions earlier this week before the team's arrival in London today.

He had a 98-yard kick-off return for a touchdown against the Vikings and that's just the sort of play Wembley fans will want to see come Sunday.

Bucs coach Raheem Morris joked this week: "I was hoping the Bears would leave Hester at home and not bring him to London. If he shows up, hopefully we still won't see him. Hopefully, we can keep him somewhat out of the game."

The game is close to a sell-out once again but for those still wishing to purchase tickets go to

And as part of the pre-game entertainment get down to Trafalgar Square tonight (5-9pm), the venue for a special Friday Night Lights screening at 7pm of the NFL-themed movie Jerry Maguire.

The award winning film stars Tom Cruise as the idealistic agent looking after wide receiver Cuba Gooding Jr and Oscar-winning actor Gooding Jnr will join fans for the open air screening of the film.

And tomorrow (Saturday) Trafalgar Square will become an explosion of colour, glamour and razzmatazz once again with this year's NFL Rally with special guests, former NFL legends, big name live music and dance acts (tba), performances from the Buccaneers cheerleaders, as well as merchandise and interactive games. The event takes place from 12 noon - 5:00 pm at Trafalgar Square and entry is free.

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