Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon is buzzing with excitement about the NFL’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 6 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, though he’s keeping the reasons for his enthusiasm under wraps.
“I was actually really excited to go to Brazil,” the 26-year-old Nixon shared with a smile during the Packers’ Organized Team Activities this week. “I’m still excited. I ain’t gonna tell y’all why, but I’m excited to go to Brazil.”
Nixon, who playfully described himself as a ‘leaping lemur,’ emphasized his anticipation multiple times, saying, “I’m excited to go to Brazil. Real excited.”
Fans quickly weighed in on why he may be excited for his business trip:
This historic game, which will be the NFL’s first regular-season game in Brazil, also marks the first Friday night game on the season’s opening weekend since 1970.
The NFL confirmed in April that the Packers would face the Eagles at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, a venue known for hosting events during the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy expressed the team’s eagerness about the event: “We’re looking forward to being a part of this historic matchup against the Eagles in Sao Paulo. We’re excited to play in front of our devoted fans in Brazil and help build upon the international popularity of the NFL and the Packers.”
This will be the Packers’ second international game in three years, following their 2022 game against the New York Giants in London. The upcoming game will be available to stream exclusively on Peacock, with local broadcasts in the home markets of the Eagles and Packers.
In March, Nixon signed a three-year, $18 million contract extension with the Packers, including a $6.5 million signing bonus. Last season, he started four games at cornerback but made a significant impact on special teams, leading the NFL with 1,009 kickoff return yards.
He also posted a Packers’ record average of 28.83 yards per return for players with at least 30 returns in a season and contributed on punt returns and special teams tackles.
