Imagining a Realigned NFL as MLB Discusses Possible Geographic Shift

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has suggested Major League Baseball could realign based on potential expansion. 

That got us thinking about the same possibility in the NFL, which last realigned in 2002 but—aside from relocation for the Rams, Chargers and Raiders and a name change in Washington—has remained untouched since. 

A quarter-century or so after expanding to 32 franchises, you would think the NFL might soon consider adding more teams to generate more money. 

Let's imagine that scenario and have some fun speculating on expansion destinations and the subsequent realignment.

Expansion to 36

AP Photo/Tim Ireland

The logical jump in the NFL would be from 32 teams to 36. Anything between 33 and 35 would be awkward in terms of divisions and leave some divisions with five teams and others with four, putting franchises in bigger divisions at a significant disadvantage.

An alternative would be to cut down on divisions entirely and go with two eight-team divisions and two nine-team divisions in the case of 34 teams. The chances of winning a four-team division are 25 percent versus 20 percent for a five-team division, while the chances of winning an eight-team division are 12.5 percent versus 11.1 percent for a nine-team division. It narrows the advantage/disadvantage.

Expansion to 40 would be the cleanest move, though, as it would result in eight five-team divisions. But let's try to make this a little more realistic and split the difference at 36 (four new teams), resulting in six divisions of six teams.

New Franchises

AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili

London

The league has built a solid fanbase in the United Kingdom over the last few decades, and the nation has the stadiums, population and financial power to field a franchise across the pond.

Transatlantic travel for games is far from ideal, but London to New York is only a slightly longer flight than New York to Los Angeles. And let's not forget these teams fly in style.

With conveniently scheduled bye weeks, this could work with limited issues.

St. Louis

The NFL left and returned to both Cleveland and Houston, and St. Louis could follow.

The Rams left the Gateway to the West because owner Stan Kroenke was determined to move to Los Angeles, which makes sense because of the financial incentives there.

That doesn't mean pro football can't work in both cities, though, and St. Louis remains a large market with a rich football past.

Don't forget that when the Rams relocated, the city had a stadium planned for the riverside.

San Antonio

The Cowboys and the Texans wouldn't love this, but they only have two votes and there's definitely room for another team in football-obsessed Texas.

San Antonio is the largest U.S. market without an NFL team, and it would also benefit from Austin being just 80 miles away.

The city has long been in the mix for an NFL franchise, and it could be ready to go ASAP with the Alamodome.

Toronto

Only two U.S. cities are more populated than Toronto, and those cities (New York and L.A.) have a combined four NFL teams.

Toronto has a huge corporate presence and has shown significant interest in the NFL. It supports NHL, NBA and MLB teams extremely well, and the NFL has flirted with it on plenty of occasions in the past.

Buffalo may dislike this idea on the surface, but the regional rivalry between the two cities could be epic. Rogers Centre would also work as a home stadium temporarily, although a new venue would be required eventually. 

Just Missed the Cut

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Mexico City

Three international franchises at once just feels a bit too ambitious.

Mexico City has embraced the NFL, but the average income trails the cities above and corporate sponsorship could lag as well. The natural rivalries might also be lacking compared to Toronto and London.

This market might just need more time. 

Oklahoma City

It's located within a football hotbed, but adding two teams that close to Dallas might be pushing it, and the OKC market remains extremely small in terms of population and corporate presence.

It also lacks an NFL-ready stadium. 

Orlando

It has the market and stadium, as well as great tourism numbers, but it might just be too close to Jacksonville and Tampa. Four teams in Florida would be aggressive right now.

Portland

It's a growing market with passionate sports fans, but there's no stadium and it's pretty close to Seattle. Is there room for both right now?

New-Look AFC

AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File

AFC East

Buffalo Bills
Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Toronto 

We'll keep the old AFC East together and add Toronto for obvious geographic rivalries and travel. The odd addition is Jacksonville, which still makes sense geographically (especially with Miami) but has a lot to do with the fact that we've split the AFC South and it's the best fit from that division. 

AFC Central

Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals
Indianapolis Colts
Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tennessee Titans

We've meshed the familiar AFC North, which is close to perfect, and half of the AFC South. 

AFC West

Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
Seattle Seahawks
St. Louis 

We'll keep the current AFC West together and add the expansion St. Louis for a great geo-rivalry with Kansas City. Meanwhile, Seattle returns to its old AFC stomping grounds. 

New-Look NFC

Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

NFC East

Carolina Panthers
London
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Commanders

It's finally time the Cowboys moved to a more geographically appropriate division, leaving the rest of the NFC East to team up with the first team in major American pro sports from outside of the continent. Carolina and Tampa are the best fits from the broken-up NFC South. 

NFC Central

Atlanta Falcons
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints

That leaves Atlanta and New Orleans (located farther off the Atlantic coast) to join the existing NFC North. 

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals
Dallas Cowboys
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
San Antonio
San Francisco 49ers

Arizona and Dallas were once hilariously division-mates in the "East." Now, they reunite in the more appropriate West. This would be a lot of fun because of the natural three-way Texas rivalry while keeping 75 percent of the current NFC West together.