Neil Rackers, ex-Arizona Cardinals: Playing in Mexico is the best

A highlight that changed nfl history occurred on October 2, 2005, when the League held its first regular season game outside the United States, with a meeting between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at the Azteca Stadiumin what was a game in which the gambusinos began with the advantage of two touchdowns, only for a good reaction from the Cardswho scored 31 unanswered points.

of that match, kicker Neil Rackers was Arizona’s main offensive playmaker with 19 points (six field goals and one extra point) and one of the former player’s favorite matches, who visited Mexico City to spend time with the fans and warm up the atmosphere ahead of the match that the two teams will play again in our country.

Neil, in 2005 you were the point man of that party. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you remember that day?

Yes, it was a great experience, obviously to get a lot of points to get a victorybut the atmosphere that the Mexicans created in that Stadium (Azteca) was not like any other, it was one of the highlights, one of the best moments in my sports career has been the being able to play here in Mexico City.

We’ve talked to some former players and they’ve all said that playing at the Azteca is a Super Bowl-like experience. And you played Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, do you agree with them?

I totally agree with that I mean I played in the Pro Bowl, I played in the Super Bowl and (playing that game in 2005 in Mexico) is my second favorite memory of my entire career in American football, so playing football in a football stadium was a great experience.

That was a historic day for the NFL. What was your favorite moment of that day?

I would say that the simplest thing would be what I wrote down. How do you say you scored six field goals? But what was really cool happened after the game. He had never done a press conference with probably five hundred members of the media there. When I walked into the room it really set me back (he said between laughs). I was a little surprised by the amount, so that was the coolest thing in my memories of Mexico City.

17 years later, the Cardinals and 49ers will meet again at the Azteca Stadium, how important will this game be for Arizona?

I think we have a growing fan base here in Mexico and I think (in Arizona) they just want to imply that they want to deal with Mexicans to realize how much they appreciate their support and how important it is for them to have a fan base here in Mexico. Let there be more Mexicans support the Cardinals.

The team has many fans in Sonora due to the proximity of the state, how to make that number of fans grow in the center of the country?

We just want to be present, I mean, we do the camps in Monterrey tooand I think it’s good to be around and let the people who support them know they’re important for the Cardinals, what they’re trying to do and what we’re going to continue to do is just be a presence here in Mexico City on a consistent basis. You will see us here very often.

The 49ers are very loved in Mexico, what will be the key so that the fan factor is on the side of the Cards?

We know well of your presence here, but when the game starts you know how to be in Mexico City, as far as the real start, we will be able to win over the fans, even when one of our players comes out with the Mexican flaglike we did last time.

What can you tell me about what we’ve seen from the Arizona Cardinals this season?

I don’t think they’ve hit their groove yet this year, I think they’re still feeling their way and you know obviously getting DeAndre Hopkins back (receiver who returned Oct. 20) is going to be a huge boost. But I think the best is yet to come, I mean they have a lot of explosive players on offense, so I thought: I think Mexico City will see it well when they are well on their way towards the end of the year.

meet Neil Rackers

Birth: August 16, 1976 (46 years old)

Origin: Saint Louis, Missouri

Colegio: Illinois

Draft 2000, Ronda 6, Pick 169

Equipment

Cincinnati (2000-2002)

Arizona (2003-2009)

Houston (2010-2011)

Washington (2012)

Acknowledgments

1 All-Pro Team (2005)

1 Pro Bowl (2005)

Statistics

Field goals scored: 264

Field goals attempted: 330

Effectiveness: 80.0%

Longest field goal: 57

Cipher

50

tackles

Neil Rackers achieved, being the kicker with the longest amount in NFL history; they are followed by Jay Feely (43), Jeff Wilkins (39), Adam Vinatieri and David Akers (both 38).

Also

careful with estimates

The last two Super Bowl champions won in their own stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did it in 2021 at Raymond James and in February it was the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi. Super Bowl LVII will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. On the possibility of the Cards following the trend, Neil is conservative. “I want the Cardinals to have a great year. I hope so, but I don’t like to go that far at this point.”

MGC