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Why Cairo Santos is thrilled for NFL to come to Brazil originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Cairo Santos really wants the chance to play football when the NFL goes to Brazil next year. The league announced on Wednesday that its first game in South America will be played at Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, just an hour and a half away from the city where Santos was born.
Per the NFL’s Global Markets Program, the Dolphins are the only team linked to Brazil, so if Santos sticks with the Bears it seems unlikely that his dream will be realized. But he won’t be deterred.
“If there’s somebody I can contact in the NFL, I will try to make a case,” Santos said. “That would be amazing to do that.
“I’m hoping they choose us over the Dolphins, but whatever, I’m going to try to be there.”
Santos believes the first NFL game in Brazil will be a historic day for the country, especially considering the country’s passion for the league. He said there’s a lively NFL scene in Brazil, where fans flock to bars to catch games wearing the jerseys of their favorite teams or players, no matter who’s playing. You’ll see Packers, Chiefs and Bears colors for a random Patriots game.
“They’ve been dying to have that close, in the game experience of going to a game, and really show how they are at soccer games. You know, singing, vuvuzelas, that kind of stuff.”
Santos has had a taste of Brazilians’ passion for sports. When he was still playing for the Chiefs, he had an opportunity to tour Arena Corinthians. He showed up wearing his jersey, which may have been a mistake, since one of Corinthians biggest rivals is a team called “Santos.”
“So they saw the name Santos and they’re like ‘Get outta here Santos!’ That’s the soccer passion in them. So it was super cool to already be in that stadium and know how that probably will be. I’m happy that the dream is coming true for them.”
Santos hasn’t returned home since the COVID-19 pandemic but used to go…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-cairo-santos-thrilled-nfl-225533678.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2023-12-13 22:55:33
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