LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
It's been 24 years since an NFL pre-season match was played in Sydney, but a former running back says it won't be long until big games are played in Australia.
Former LA Rams star Todd Gurley says he can "definitely see" NFL matches played in Australia in the near future, but he's not as certain that a planned NRL combine in the States will be as successful as hoped.
No official NFL matches have been played in Australia, but an exhibition game between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers was held in Sydney in 1999 in front of a huge crowd at Stadium Australia.
Back then it was a novel concept, with articles at the time referencing Crocodile Dundee and Nicole Kidman, while much was made of the Broncos leaving Denver on Sunday local time and landing in Sydney on Tuesday, therefore losing an entire day and leading to comparisons to Rip Van Winkle.
But the sport has become immensely popular over here since then, with the NFL showing a genuine commitment to growing the game that peaked with the launch of the international series in 2007.
Three matches were played in London this year and another two in Germany, with more than 50,000 fans rocking up to the match in Frankfurt between the Colts and Patriots.
College football has already played some games in Australia, while the NHL took a couple of pre-season games Down Under for the first time this year.