NFL Exec Mark Waller Says U.K. On Track To Have Permanent Franchise 'In Six Years'

NFL Exec Int'l VP Mark Waller said the U.K. is "on track" to have its own American football franchise within six years, according to the BBC. London's Wembley Stadium has hosted regular-season NFL games since '07, the Jacksonville Jaguars "playing one home game a season there since 2013." But the sport's governing body says it "fundamentally believes" there will be a permanent franchise by '22. Waller said, "The fan base is big enough and passionate enough that it can support a franchise. I felt in 2007 it was always a 15-year journey. I think we're on track to deliver that. I fundamentally believe we will deliver that." Waller said that a permanent U.K. franchise "would offer American football an advantage" over other U.S. sports in expanding its reach beyond the States. He said, "We are in a unique position as a sport because of the way our season is structured -- we only play one game a week. It's not something other American sports could do" (BBC, 1/20).