Johnathan Joseph and his Texans play the Jacksonville Jaguars in London this season. Four months ahead of that game, Joseph has already started spreading his love for the game across the pond.
Joseph was part of an eight-player group of ambassadors which spent this week promoting their sport in the country. Each representative will have a team participating in the 2019 London Games, a league fixture since 2007.
Joseph conducted various interviews, combine-esque drills, and clinics for kids as well, all in the name of increasing the NFL's presence.
“This has been a great experience for me,” Joseph said Wednesday via John McClain of The Houston Chronicle. “I've been so impressed with the kids. They're eager to learn, and there's definitely talent here. They want to be coached up.”
The two-time Pro Bowler didn't hesitate to put on his scouting hat in the midst of his overseas trip. When asked if the NFL could see an influx of U.K. players in the coming years, Joseph expressed that he likes the chances.
“The NFL's doing so much to promote our football over here. You find a talent pool like they have here, and they start to work at getting better, and, in time, I think you'll see several players in the NFL coming from here,” he said.
Because the sport is so uniquely American, football hasn't seen the same presence of foreign talent that leagues such as the MLB or NBA have, though there are a few examples in recent memory. An increase in developing talent across the globe should only be good for the sport, though.
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