Why is Seahawks vs. Buccaneers in Germany? Explaining the NFL's inaugural 2022 game in Munich

Guten tag, football.

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When the Seahawks and Buccaneers kick off on Sunday morning on the eastern seaboard of the United States (and just before the crack of dawn on the West Coast), it'll be the first time that the NFL kicks off in Germany in league history. 

(Yes, we are forgetting the whole NFL Europe thing ever happened.)

While the NFL has played regular-season games in Mexico and the United Kingdom in years past, their foray into Germany with Buccaneers vs. Seahawks in Munich marks the first time that a meaningful game will be played in the land of bier, lederhosen and spätzle. 

MORE: NFL international games 2022 — Schedule, dates, kickoff times

Here's why:

Why is Seahawks vs. Buccaneers in Germany?

With the NFL continuing to expand its International Series — there are three games played in London and one in Mexico in 2022 in addition to the German matchup — Germany was the next feasible location to host an international matchup.

There's a reason for that. According to the NFL, Germany is home to 19 million NFL fans, with weekly viewership growing 20 percent since 2017.

In addition to that, Super Bowl viewership in the nation has grown year-over-year for three years, while fantasy football participation, "Madden" video game sales and NFL Shop sales have all steadily grown, according to the league. All that makes for a growing market for the NFL overseas.

American football is second to football as the country's most-watched sport via TV, as well, according to a survey recently done AFG Videoforschung.

🇩🇪 München x @NFL 🏈

All you NEED to know about the visit from our American friends @Buccaneers & @Seahawks. 👋https://t.co/d6fCyqY83S

— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) November 9, 2022

Ticket sales are good, too: There were reportedly 3 million requests for tickets when tickets went on sale in March, according to reports. Allianz Arena will seat about 67,000 Sunday, so suffice to say, not everyone in Germany who wants to will get an opportunity to catch an NFL game live.

While Munich is hosting the inaugural German matchup, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt both were in the running to host regular-season games. Frankfurt will host two international games in the coming years, with Munich also getting another game.

German NFL players

There are currently six active NFL players who were born in Germany. Not all are currently on the 53-man roster, however.

Most players who have joined the league is thanks to the league's International Player Pathway Program. 

Those players: