Following the news that the NFL ended its partnership with Papa John's as the official pizza of the league, it left a huge opportunity for another company to step in (Domino's? Pizza Hut?). Papa John's pristinely held the spot since the 2010 season, and they were signed on for several more years.

However, this sudden opening has allowed other rival companies to step into that huge opportunity with arguably one the biggest sponsorships in the professional sports industry. According to Darren Rovell of ESPN, Pizza Hut has quickly laid claim to becoming the new official pizza of the NFL.

The entire layout of the deal have yet to be released, but it is expected to extend past the Papa John's original deal, which was set to run through the 2020 season. Pizza Hut's contract will be pushed through at least the 2021 campaign and possibly further depending on how the partnership transpires over the next few years.

Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement on behalf of the league voicing their excitement for the partnership.

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“We know many of our fans enjoy pizza while watching NFL games and we are thrilled to have Pizza Hut, an industry leader and one of America's favorite brands, as an official league sponsor,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “With a focus on family, friends and fun, Pizza Hut has the creativity we are looking for in a partner and we look forward to working together with them to make the at-home NFL experience more exciting than ever for our fans.”

Pizza Hut is currently the largest pizza chain in the United States with more than 7,500 locations, which is more than double what Papa John possesses. The company's first chance to use their new sponsorship will be at the 2018 NFL Draft in late April, which will be held at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. This is located near their headquarters in Plano, Texas.

This is a major chance for Pizza Hut to further expand its bounds with a huge sponsorship with the most profitable professional sports league in the country.