The international series for the NFL has been largely successful with a longtime presence in the United Kingdom and expansion into Germany and Mexico. However, the latest expansion of international games takes the league to Brazil where there are already some concerns over player and fan safety.
The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles have been cautioned not to wear green when they travel to Brazil for Week 1 of the regular season. Newly signed Packers running back Josh Jacobs informed the masses that the league informed both teams about potential safety issues associated with wearing green.
In a recent interview on Chris Long’s “Green Light” podcast, Jacobs elaborated on the situation. “They said the part of Brazil we’re going to, you can’t wear green because of gang associations,” Jacobs explained. “We’re not going to Rio. They told us it’s one of those places where we might not even be able to leave the hotels.”
Jacobs added, “They’ll probably have armored vehicles following us. I was excited about this trip, but now they’re saying it won’t be as fun as I thought.”
There is some ambiguity regarding whether Jacobs has new information or if he might be confused about an earlier report. Last month, both teams were advised against wearing green due to it being the primary color of Palmeiras, a rival of the Corinthians, whose home stadium will host the game on September 6th. It’s also unclear if the warning applies to team jerseys only or to all clothing.
Sao Paulo, where the game will take place, is noted for its high crime rates. The tourism safety website “GoAskLocal.com” advises visitors to plan carefully and avoid wandering around aimlessly. The U.S. State Department also highlights Brazil as a country where violent crime is prevalent in urban areas, both day and night.
The NFL has not officially confirmed these reports. However, should it be true the Eagles will be in the most difficult situation as the “home” team and an inability to wear their new alternate black helmets until 2025 leaving them with only green helmet options.