NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood to step down after two decades with the league

One of the most influential figures in the growth of the NFL in the UK, Alistair Kirkwood, is to step down from his role at the end of this month. 

Kirkwood, NFL UK’s managing director, joined the league in 2000, and played a crucial part in the establishment and expansion of an International Series, with regular season games played in London every year since 2007 until the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of last season’s fixtures. In total, 28 regular season games have been played in the UK, with all but one of the league’s franchises having made the trip, Green Bay Packers being the exception. 

During that time, the game’s popularity has boomed in this country, while the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has become the first purpose-built NFL venue outside of North America. 

“In many ways, this has been a labour of love,”said Kirkwood. “I feel blessed to have worked on something that I feel so passionate about for such a lengthy period.

“Every time we have tried something new – whether it was playing games in the UK, or taking fan events on the road around the country, or introducing new participation programmes into local communities – the response has been amazing.”

Kirkwood was also influential in setting up the International Player Pathway, the programme which has seen athletes from around the world afforded the opportunity to train with NFL teams and some, such as Britain’s Efe Obada, forge a successful career in the league. 

The NFL’s UK business operations will now be led by Brett Gosper, the former World Rugby CEO who was announced as the NFL’s new Head of UK and Europe last year.