The football hype in Germany is not letting up. There were already over three million ticket requests for Frankfurt in the summer and this Sunday there will be three consecutive live games in RTL’s main program. It doesn’t really matter that the six-time Super Bowl winners New England Patriots no longer have much to do with the champion version of the past. Who to watch out for in the duel between the Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday (3:30 p.m./DAZN and RTL).
Bill Belichick
What happens to the ultimate success coach? The Patriots owe Bill Belichick six Super Bowl titles, but things haven’t been going well since Tom Brady left in 2020. The 71-year-old head coach answers questions about his future with a tight lip. Does he think he’s already playing for his job against the Colts? “I’m going to control what I can control and get our team ready for the Colts game,” Belichick responded. So far, seven out of nine games this season have been lost.
Shane Steichen
The coach of the Indianapolis Colts is only 38 years old, but already has Super Bowl experience. Last season he worked for the Philadelphia Eagles, where he coordinated their offense. Steichen is the boss of the Colts, but he doesn’t have the same high-quality player material as the Eagles around star player Jalen Hurts.
Roger Goodell
If the 50,000 seats in the Eintracht Frankfurt football stadium are fully occupied this Sunday, Roger Goodell will be thrilled. The NFL’s expansion plans are moving forward. The three games played this season are probably just the beginning in Germany. “I believe that there will be games in Germany even after 2025. We will not say goodbye to the markets that were important for our growth,” the league boss told dpa. In addition to Munich and Frankfurt, other places – for example Berlin – could also come into play.
Ezekiel Elliott
There were times when, in addition to superstar Brady, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski also shaped the Patriots’ game. The traditional club has not only declined significantly in terms of success, but also in the quality of the players. One of the current stars is running back Ezekiel Elliott, who formed a strong duo with playmaker Dak Prescott in Dallas for several years. After his release from the Cowboys, the Patriots took over the strong running professional this summer.
Oliver Bierhoff
For Oliver Bierhoff, the virtual background on video calls still reminds him of his time at the German Football Association. The DFB campus in Frankfurt is clearly visible behind Bierhoff. Just a few kilometers away, the ex-professional will sit in the stadium on Sunday and watch what his Patriots have to offer the German audience. Bierhoff has been an advisor to the club since October and is expected to drive forward activities in Germany. “It’s incredibly interesting for me to look behind the scenes at the Patriots and open the line to America,” said Bierhoff.
