Head of NFL international: 'Don’t think we’re ready' for 2018 game in China

The NFL made big strides to grow the game internationally in 2017, signing a lucrative digital rights partnership to stream games in China.

The agreement was seen as a way for the league to gain traction toward playing a game in China, but NFL international head Mark Waller said that will take some more time.

“I don’t think it’ll be ’18. I don’t think we’re ready,” said Waller, according to SI.com's Albert Breer.

Waller said the league is focused on trying to get people playing American football in China. The NFL's goal is to build viewership in China, but the time difference poses a significant challenge with games being played in the middle of the night.

Waller emphasized that the NFL doesn't want to go play a one-off game with no long-term plan.