LAS VEGAS — The NFL is headed to Spain in 2025 for the first regular-season game ever in that country.
The league announced Friday at the Super Bowl that its international slate of games for the 2025 season will feature a game at Real Madrid's iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
"We could not be more excited to bring the best of the NFL, the best of our teams and star players to the more than 13 million passionate fans in Spain and partner with one of the greatest global soccer clubs in Real Madrid in a truly world class and innovative stadium," said Peter O'Reilly, the NFL's head of international affairs.
The teams that will play in that game will be announced at a later date but O'Reilly said the host team would likely be an AFC team because teams in that conference will have an extra home game that season.
"There's not a lack of interest for teams playing in Madrid with our partner Real Madrid," O'Reilly said.
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The NFL has been expanding its international presence in recent years with owners voting in December to authorize the league to host eight games internationally each season.
Real Madrid was aggressive about getting into the mix.
"I would like to express our deepest gratitude to you and to let you know that it is a great honor for Real Madrid to host this international event with the NFL over the next few years in our stadium," said Emilio Butragueno, Madrid's director of institutional relations. "For us, you are a model of management and a great traveling companion with whom to share our dreams."
In 2024, the NFL will have three games in London — including a home game for the Jacksonville Jaguars — along with one in Germany and the first game ever in Brazil.
The NFL has also hosted several games in Mexico City and plans to return there in 2026 following the World Cup that year after renovations are finished at Azteca Stadium.
O'Reilly said the league is looking at other potential countries to host a game in the future.
Blank says Belichick never asked for control
ATLANTA — Bill Belichick made no demands for additional authority during his two interviews with Atlanta in the coach search that led to the hiring of Raheem Morris, according to Falcons owner Arthur Blank.
Speaking for the first time on Friday about the search, Blank said Belichick did not request control of player personnel, as was widely speculated. Blank also said Belichick was not offered the job.
Belichick, who won a record six Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots, was considered the favorite among 14 candidates interviewed by Blank and his search team before Morris, the former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator, was hired on Jan. 25.
Belichick, 71, a Hall of Fame-bound coach, was not just any candidate. He boasts a career record of 333-178, including the playoffs, and could close in on the late Don Shula’s record of 347 victories if he takes another job.
Blank described Belichick's record as “incredible” and said “he’s the greatest coach who ever coached the game” or “on a very short list.” He said the interviews with Belichick were “excellent.”
AP source: Seahawks expected to hire Durde as DC
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks are expected to hire Aden Durde as the defensive coordinator for new coach Mike Macdonald, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the hire. NFL Network was the first to report Seattle’s plans.
Durde has been the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys since 2011, but he won’t have a chance at calling plays by coming to Seattle. Macdonald, who made his name as one of the top defensive minds in the game, said he plans to continue calling plays for the defense in Seattle at least initially.
Durde worked closely with now Washington coach Dan Quinn during their time together with the Cowboys. Quinn was interviewed twice by Seattle for its head coach opening prior to the Seahawks going with Macdonald.
Durde, 44, also spent three seasons as a defensive assistant in Atlanta and was a coaching intern with the Cowboys in 2014-15.
AP source: Amazon Prime to get playoff game next season
Amazon Prime Video will carry an NFL postseason game next season, people familiar with the matter confirmed to The Associated Press.
The three people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Friday because neither the league nor the streaming platform has made the announcement.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that Amazon is getting a playoff game.
It will be the second straight year that an important NFL game will be carried exclusively on a streaming platform. The Jan. 13 AFC wild-card game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins streamed on Peacock.
According to various reports, NBCUniversal paid $110 million for the rights to the game, with Amazon expected to pay higher.
BRIEFLY
STEELERS: New Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith added to his staff on Friday, hiring Tom Arth as quarterbacks coach, Zach Azzanni as wide receivers coach and Mateo Kambui as offensive assistant.
VIKINGS: The Minnesota Vikings filled two coaching staff vacancies Friday by hiring former Denver Broncos defensive line coach Marcus Dixon and adding outside linebackers coach to Mike Pettine's role.