NFL debut in Berlin: Colts spectacularly defeat Falcons in the overtime final!

NFL debut in Berlin: Colts spectacularly defeat Falcons in the overtime final!

An unforgettable evening for football fans in Germany! The first regular NFL game took place in Berlin's Olympic Stadium on November 9, 2025. The Indianapolis Colts took on the Atlanta Falcons and thrilled over 72,000 spectators with a thrilling duel. The event was themed “Wind of Change” and included impressive choreography of the German and US national colors. This international encounter is part of the NFL's expansion strategy, which aims to make football popular worldwide faz.net reported.

In a thrilling showdown, the Colts finally prevailed 31:25 in overtime. The decisive touchdown was scored by star running back Jonathan Taylor after kicker Michael Badgley equalized the score to 25:25 shortly before the end of the game in regular time. While the Colts now have a record of 8 wins and 2 defeats and are clearly on the way to the play-offs, the Falcons are already suffering their sixth defeat this season and therefore have little chance of winning the title.

A historic moment

It was the fifth NFL game to take place in Germany. There were previously games in Munich and Frankfurt. What is particularly noteworthy is that there has never been a regular season game in Berlin. The NFL has played games outside the United States since 2005, with the “International Series” being created since 2007. usatoday.com highlights that the first four games took place in the third and fifth largest cities in Germany and that the football hype in Germany is constantly growing.

In recent years the games in Germany have been extremely successful; for example, the 2022 game between the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants attracted over 70,000 spectators. In addition to Berlin, future games are also planned in São Paulo, Dublin and Madrid, which underlines the NFL's global expansion course.

A look into the future

The NFL has announced plans to add Australia to its international schedule next year. President Tim Zulawski of the Atlanta Falcons emphasizes the enthusiasm of German fans for football and is optimistic about the future development of this exciting sport. There are seven more games scheduled outside the United States this season, including games in Spain and Ireland.

The interest in football in Germany and the high number of spectators at the games show how much the NFL brand can establish itself here. With their meeting, the Colts and Falcons wrote an important chapter in the history of international football.

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