Sky Sports analyst and former NFL player Jason Bell believes a London expansion franchise would ‘definitely work,’ as he told Mail Sport in an exclusive interview.

Bell, who suited up for the Cowboys, Texans and Giants, has become a mainstay in UK NFL punditry and has seen firsthand the raucous fan response to the now-yearly international games in England.

And speaking ahead of this weekend’s Super Bowl LIX between the Chiefs and Eagles, Bell expressed optimism that a London-based team could thrive in the NFL.  

‘I definitely think it will be viable,’ he said, speaking on behalf of 888 Sport. ‘They have to get strategic about what they would do in the offseason. You know, if that happens, you have to have a local hub, probably somewhere on the East coast, or something like that. 

‘But I think the start is just playing enough games here to where, maybe one day you can get a league here, you can get a division here or something like that, to where teams would travel over and play several games and then go back. I think if you were to expand globally, that would definitely work. And London would be the first step be just purely by proximity and familiarity.’

The league first hosted an international game in 2005, when the 49ers faced the Cardinals in Mexico City. Games at Wembley, Tottenham H๏τspur Stadium and Twickenham have followed since in London (with the first coming 18 years ago), and so too has the speculation that the NFL will add a 33rd team in London.

Ex-NFL player and Sky Sports analyst Jason Bell thinks an NFL team could thrive in London

Bills fans are seen showing support for their team in London prior to a matchup vs. the Jaguars

Bell played six seasons in the NFL, including one with the New York Giants in 2006

The Jaguars have played a whopping 13 times there since the 2013 season, while commissioner Roger Goodell said in 2018 that there’s ‘no question’ a team could thrive in London.

Bell, who has done NFL punditry for a UK audience for nearly a decade, clearly shares that sentiment.

‘In this space, we have to earn the right for people to want to consume the NFL,’ he said. ‘So that’s been a fun challenge. But when people are introduced to this game, you just see them fall in love with it, and each year the fan base is growing.

‘There’s so many different people at different points. You have to kind of talk to all of them [on TV] at the same time. You know, there’s a lot of fans that came on last year just because of Taylor Swift and that whole conversation.

‘…There’s been fans that have been down since the 80s, and they know everything. But there are also new fans who are just coming on because they like this Patrick Mahomes guy, and they wanted to know about him, and what makes him so good?

Mahomes and his Chiefs teammates will be going for a historic Super Bowl three-peat this weekend in New Orleans.

And while the quarterback has of course played a mᴀssive role in getting his team to this point, Bell gushed about coach Andy Reid in the buildup to the game.

The former defensive back was coached by Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo while they were both in New York, and Bell believes him and Reid a knack for maximizing talent.

Bell has become a mainstay as an NFL pundit to UK audiences on Sky Sports

The first NFL game was staged in London in 2007 and the fan response continues to be huge

‘You look at the way players respond to them and the way they get the best out of their roster, it’s because they do not judge,’ he said.

‘They try to find the best in everybody. The greatest coaches I’ve been around are always trying to figure out what you can do instead of what you cannot do, find out what you can do and tailor the offense or defense or whatever we’re asking you to do around that. And I think Andy Reid is one of the best at that.

‘Also the way he motivates and leads. You know, it’s hard to continue to get guys to fall in line to follow a story, especially when you’ve been winning like they have, but ultimately they do, and I think it’s because of that respect level he gives to all of his players. You just see it. You see it in all the coaches. You see how they operate. It’s substantial and it’s unique.’

Bell has also been impressed from afar by Eagles coach Nick Sirianni.

The Eagles coach has reached his second Super Bowl in four years with the franchise, and has a hugely impressive 48-20 regular season record.

Still, he’s found himself under fire from the Eagles fanbase at times, with the team’s loaded roster used as an argument against him.

Bell sees it differently.

Travis Kelce has praised Andy Reid for his man management with him and his teammates

Nick Sirianni has also reached a second Super Bowl in four seasons with the Eagles

‘The one thing you gotta say about Nick Sirianni is, he’s back again. This is a talented roster. He finds a way to get out of the way. You know, he had the turnovers with all of his coordinators, but yet, he found a way to get it right. The head coach is supposed to do that. 

‘That’s his responsibility. Are we ready to play? And have I got the right people teaching the rest of the roster? And Nick Sirianni has been phenomenal at that, and that’s why he’s back in the Super Bowl.’

On his second try, Sirianni will look to capture his first championship this weekend. Of course, there’s a dynasty in his way.

‘We know how hard this is, especially in a league that is structured to tear good teams down,’ Bell said. ‘What has been the constant? Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.’