Division Realignment & Future Expansion Teams

REALIGNMENT?
I think the NFL is due for a realignment. The last two were in 2002 and 1976. We are in a long enough time span apart that I think it could happen soon. It would give new intrigue to certain match-ups and the NFL, who loves revenue, to make even more. I also think an expansion team or two could come in the next 5-8 years. If there is a realignment, I know there wouldn't be tons of major changes, but I'd propose the following:

AFC WEST - Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders
AFC EAST - Bills, Ravens, Jets, Patriots
AFC NORTH - Steelers, Browns, Bengals, Colts
AFC SOUTH - Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Dolphins

NFC WEST - 49ers, Cardinals, Seahawks, Rams
NFC EAST - Giants, Commanders, Eagles, Bucs
NFC NORTH - Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings
NFC SOUTH - Cowboys, Saints, Falcons, Panthers

ST. LOUIS EXPANSION TEAM?
With the UFL St. Louis team doing so well, I think the NFL is going to want to tap into that market.. We know they're money hungry, and there's clearly a big football fanbase still there.

I honestly never remembered why the Rams left St Louis but after checking out this article, I was pretty stunned.. https://www.stlpr.org/sports/2021-11-24/st-louis-city-and-county-score-hundreds-of-millions-in-rams-settlement -- I feel like they really made a mistake. Yes they did go to two Super Bowls since then, but their fan support has not been the same since, and after reading about how they left right when the city finally had things in motion to get them what they wanted.. It is kind of a bad look and makes sense why the city was able to get such a huge settlement from them. I actually feel bad for the fans and I hope they do get a new NFL team eventually. I think it's one of most logical places for a new expansion team ATM.

What are your thoughts on all the above?

Historic rivalries > geographic perfection.

Flipping the Bucs and Cowboys would unnecessarily ruin 60+ years of Cowboys vs. Giants/Eagles/Commanders rivalry, for example.

As for expansion to St. Louis, there's a perception problem with them losing two different NFL teams in the past, and the current owners also had to pay the city a bunch of money due to moving the Rams, which will make them the opposite of eager to give them another team. I'd put such places as Portland, San Antonio/Austin, Mexico City and even San Diego above St. Louis.

Originally posted by captveg:
Historic rivalries > geographic perfection.

Flipping the Bucs and Cowboys would unnecessarily ruin 60+ years of Cowboys vs. Giants/Eagles/Commanders rivalry, for example.

As for expansion to St. Louis, there's a perception problem with them losing two different NFL teams in the past, and the current owners also had to pay the city a bunch of money due to moving the Rams, which will make them the opposite of eager to give them another team. I'd put such places as Portland, San Antonio/Austin, Mexico City and even San Diego above St. Louis.

San Diego was an awful fanbase. There's a reason they are the LA Chargers in the same geographical area.

Originally posted by WINiner:

Originally posted by captveg:
Historic rivalries > geographic perfection.

Flipping the Bucs and Cowboys would unnecessarily ruin 60+ years of Cowboys vs. Giants/Eagles/Commanders rivalry, for example.

As for expansion to St. Louis, there's a perception problem with them losing two different NFL teams in the past, and the current owners also had to pay the city a bunch of money due to moving the Rams, which will make them the opposite of eager to give them another team. I'd put such places as Portland, San Antonio/Austin, Mexico City and even San Diego above St. Louis.

San Diego was an awful fanbase. There's a reason they are the LA Chargers in the same geographical area.

That was more awful ownership, IMO. Wanted $1b+ of public money for a stadium, and voters said hell no. That doesn't make them bad fans.

I definitely wonder if NFL wants to bring back NFL Europe. IDK about having a full-time team there.

Portland had a team back in the 40s called the Rockets, lol. I do think the Western US needs another team and Portland has the #22 TV market in the US, better than a third of NFL teams. Orlando also has a top 20 TV market but it's probably well shared by the Florida teams already.

After the Thunder have done so well in OKC, I think Oklahoma City would be a fantastic place for expansion in the NFL.

So, my best guess for best expansion cities would be OKC, Portland, Birmingham, and St. Louis. Honorable mention to Salt Lake City. That sports market is growing too with the recent addition of an NHL team.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I definitely wonder if NFL wants to bring back NFL Europe. IDK about having a full-time team there.

Portland had a team back in the 40s called the Rockets, lol. I do think the Western US needs another team and Portland has the #22 TV market in the US, better than a third of NFL teams. Orlando also has a top 20 TV market but it's probably well shared by the Florida teams already.

After the Thunder have done so well in OKC, I think Oklahoma City would be a fantastic place for expansion in the NFL.

So, my best guess for best expansion cities would be OKC, Portland, Birmingham, and St. Louis. Honorable mention to Salt Lake City. That sports market is growing too with the recent addition of an NHL team.

I'm in the minority here but I'd love to see them bring back NFL Europe. Rhein Fire was the team I watched most. I thought that was a good place for players to get second chances, Trey Lance would definitely benefit from the NFLE.

This seems really unnecessary. All those cities you listed just aren't up to par except for Portland.

Re: NFL Europe. The ELF is doing fine filling that role. They are positioning themselves to be that very source of Euro-support league for the NFL.

Originally posted by captveg:

Re: NFL Europe. The ELF is doing fine filling that role. They are positioning themselves to be that very source of Euro-support league for the NFL.

Forgot about them. At the very least, I feel like partnering with the UFL for development for guys like Trey Lance would be a great idea.

Originally posted by lamontb:

This seems really unnecessary. All those cities you listed just aren't up to par except for Portland.

I don't know man, I think there's definitely room for more football teams and greater competition.

If the league ever did expand to 36 teams, we could go back to three divisions in each conference.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by captveg:
Re: NFL Europe. The ELF is doing fine filling that role. They are positioning themselves to be that very source of Euro-support league for the NFL.

Forgot about them. At the very least, I feel like partnering with the UFL for development for guys like Trey Lance would be a great idea.

The issue is usually money. A guy like Lance is being paid too much to risk injury for a development league, so they'd rather have him be a backup. The lower a draft pick/less a guy is paid maybe more would be willing to have them loaned to the UFL or EFL for experience. What I would do is have practice squad, UDFA and draft picks in their first four years who got less than four games playing time in the previous season be eligible to loan to one of these leagues for play experience. Maybe we get there someday.

Rhein Fire were EFL champs again a couple months ago, BTW. That's back-back-back championships for Tomsula, first time in that league's history a team has done that. Over the last two years they're 28-1.

Originally posted by lamontb:
This seems really unnecessary. All those cities you listed just aren't up to par except for Portland.

Oklahoma can support a team. They hugely support the Sooners. St Louis literally had an NFL team and people went to the games. So it can work there too.

Cowboys-Saints and Dolphins-Jaguars would become 2 great new rivalries

About the expansion teams I think that Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City would be good markets because Thunder and Jazz have been very successful in terms of interest from the city but everything is about money as always and I don't know if those cities would approve new taxes for a fancy stadium.

About Birminghan I think that Alabama is all about college football.

Originally posted by Monsterniner:
Cowboys-Saints and Dolphins-Jaguars would become 2 great new rivalries

About the expansion teams I think that Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City would be good markets because Thunder and Jazz have been very successful in terms of interest from the city but everything is about money as always and I don't know if those cities would approve new taxes for a fancy stadium.

About Birminghan I think that Alabama is all about college football.

I know a little bit about Birmingham. I believe an NFL franchise there would thrive with local and statewide support. Thrive!
The biggest hurdle, in my view, would be the far-reaching influential powers of the football enterprise known as the Tide.

If you're just talking geographically, it makes sense except I'd probably swap Tampa and Carolina in your proposal.