The United States National Football League is seriously considering a permanent UK team, after the unexpected success of its exhibition games in London's Wembley Stadium. NFL officials keen on the plan have said a London franchise could start up as early as the 2022 season.

Spreading the regular season schedule across two countries and eight time zones would present logistical hurdles as formidable as the Houston Texans' defensive line. Fans are split on the idea, and players haven't even had a chance to raise their concerns.

But American football's growing popularity in this sports-mad country isn't lost on the NFL's marketing juggernaut.

"There's a lot of balls in the air, but I do believe there will be an NFL team in London," said Will Gavin, host of the NFL-focused UK podcast Tuesday Morning Football. "It's too obvious of an opportunity."

There have been NFL exhibition games in London as far back as the 1980s, when slickly produced TV broadcasts of US "gridiron" contests earned a devoted British fan base raised on the Cowboys-49ers rivalry and Mike Ditka's moustache.