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NEW YORK (Reuters) — The NFL said on Wednesday it will resume its international initiative with two games in London during the 2021 season after cancelling all games outside the United States last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be the site of the Oct. 10 game between the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets followed by an Oct. 17 clash between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins. Former BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is expected to start for the Jets in that game.
The NFL said it had been working closely with the UK government, city of London and relevant health organizations over the past year in planning the games.
"Through their successful vaccine rollout and commitment to bringing crowds back to sports events, the time is right for the return of NFL football this fall," NFL Executive Vice President for Chief Strategy & Growth Officer Christopher Halpin said in a news release.
"We will continue to monitor the COVID environment, putting health and safety first, and will adhere to any and all future COVID regulations and restrictions."
It will mark the Jaguars' eighth game in London and fifth for the Dolphins. The Falcons and Jets will both take the field in London for the second time.
The NFL's London Games series has comprised 28 games over 13 consecutive seasons from 2007-2019.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
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