JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The NFL made it official on Wednesday morning, announcing the Jaguars will play back-to-back games in London for the second consecutive season.
Jacksonville will face the Bears and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 6 on Oct. 13. That game is considered a home game for Chicago. The following week, the Jaguars will host the Patriots at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 20.
The remainder of the NFL schedule will be released Wednesday night at 8.
The league announced Jacksonville would play in London back in January, which was a surprise to no one. The team signed a three-year contract in 2022 to play games at Wembley Stadium.
Jacksonville has played 11 games in London, nearly double that of Miami, which has played the second-most games (six) out of the country. The Jaguars are 6-5 in London, including back-to-back wins there last season. It was the first time in league history that a team played consecutive international games. The Jaguars beat the Falcons 23-7 at Wembley Stadium and then beat the Bills 25-20 at Tottenham Hotspur.
Jacksonville has played games in London every year since 2013 with the exception of the pandemic season in 2020. Owner Shad Khan had intentions of taking two home games to London that year, a move that created a massive uproar locally. The pandemic scuttled those plans as the NFL canceled all international games.
The Jaguars have made London their home away from home and it’s a financial windfall for the franchise. The Jaguars have said that one home game in London results in 11% to 15% of their total local revenue. Jacksonville runs games in London just as it does a traditional home game at EverBank Stadium. In the framework for a renovated stadium that was released Tuesday, the city and the Jaguars have baked in one home game going to London annually.
Jacksonville is coming off a turbulent and disappointing 9-8 season. After an 8-3 start, the Jaguars lost five of their last six and missed the playoffs.