Joseph finds sport taking hold in London
As part of the NFL’s promoting four regular-season games being played in the United Kingdom this season, Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph has spent the week in London doing interviews, conducting clinics with kids and still finding time for sightseeing.
The Texans play Jacksonville on Nov. 3 at Wembley Stadium, a home game for the Jaguars. Joseph is among eight players representing the eight teams playing in London this season. They’re spending five days promoting their games and raising awareness for American football.
“This has been a great experience for me,” Joseph said Wednesday from London. “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.
“I’ve seen some great plays made by guys and girls. There are no egos here. The kids have opened their eyes and ears, and when you have that, the future’s bright for them.”
Joseph didn’t hesitate when asked if he can predict players from England playing in the NFL.
“Absolutely,” he said. “It’s only a matter of time before we have a (British) player on a roster.
“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.”
Joseph, 35 and entering his 14th season, including his ninth with the Texans, likes promoting the NFL in London and teaching the game to those who want to learn about American football in a soccer-crazed nation.
“I’ve been doing lot of interviews with a lot of media outlets promoting the league and the games,” he said. “We’re doing a lot of work with (social media) influencers, too.
“We’ve run some combine-type drills so (the media) can influence others to get involved in our game.”
Joseph got his first look at England’s new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, built in conjunction with the NFL. The league wanted one of London’s two stadiums, including Wembley, to be NFL-friendly, including larger dressing rooms and a surface conducive to football.
“I’m so impressed with Tottenham’s stadium,” Joseph said. “They built it for soccer and football, and they did a tremendous job.
“By the time we leave Friday, we’ll have spent five days here, and it’s been a great trip, very productive for promoting our (four) games and our football.”