Big Show in Frankfurt: Five faces at the NFL guest game
Three million inquiries, 48,000 tickets, two NFL title contenders: this Sunday (3.30 pm/RTL and DAZN), a rare football spectacle - at least in Europe - is set to take place at the soccer stadium in Frankfurt.
Super Bowl winner Kansas City Chiefs with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes will face the offensively strong Miami Dolphins. As in the previous year, great sport and an even greater show are expected in the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Patrick Mahomes
The flu symptoms are over and the German adventure can begin. The Chiefs quarterback is the figurehead of the NFL and is looking forward to the game in Frankfurt. "It's exciting to see the culture there. They enjoy it. Football is becoming a global sport," said the 28-year-old Mahomes. On Friday, he was in a good mood and wearing a yellow shirt at training, which was held on the DFB campus with a view of the Frankfurt skyline. Mahomes wants to make up for the 9:24 loss against Denver this weekend.
Alexander Steinforth
The head of the NFL in Germany is currently one of the most sought-after players. Wearing a sporty blue corduroy NFL jacket, he answers questions - including about Taylor Swift. However, he doesn't want to admit to being a Swifty, as the pop singer's hardcore fans call themselves. "Above all, I'm a fan of the NFL and the teams that play here," said Steinforth. He is even more pleased that there can be two games in Germany this year. "We have the special situation this year that we still got the game from Mexico, where it can't be played this year."
Andy Reid
Wearing shorts, the 65-year-old led the Chiefs' first and only session open to the media on Friday. Reid has led the Chiefs to two NFL championships and signaled his anticipation for Germany earlier this week. "I know the Germans love American football. There will be a lot of noise in the stadium for both teams," said Reid. When asked about the culinary highlights of the host country, the head coach said: "I like Bratwurst. I like schnitzel." He doesn't have long for this indulgence, as Kansas City arrived more than two days later than Miami.
Tyreek Hill
His teammates call him "the fastest man in the world", Chiefs coach Reid calls the wide receiver "a challenge". What's more: "He's a good player, he's been doing it for a while now - and he's not letting up." Hill was under contract with Kansas City until March 2022. "I'm his biggest fan when we're not playing against him in Germany," said Reid. Hill himself emphasized: "I want them to play a good game, but at the same time I want to beat them up." After eight games this season, Hill already has 1014 yards through caught passes. That makes him the first player in 62 years with over 1,000 receiving yards in a team's first eight games of the season.
Taylor Swift
The face that may or may not show up in Frankfurt. But in the week leading up to the top game, almost everything revolved around the pop giant, who has been photographed holding hands with Chiefs star Travis Kelce in recent weeks. Many fans are therefore hoping for a short guest appearance by Swift at the soccer stadium before her tour continues in Buenos Aires on November 9. The superstar is then sure to come to Germany in 2024: concerts are planned in Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg and Munich.
During the NFL guest game in Frankfurt, the American Football powerhouses, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins, will face off. Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs' star quarterback and NFL figurehead, is eager to experience the German culture and contribute to the global popularity of the sport. Meanwhile, in Frankfurt, the NFL's head of operations in Germany, Alexander Steinforth, reflects on the excitement surrounding the game, despite his coyness regarding his favorite pop singer.
Source: www.dpa.com
