When does the present end and the future begin? It’s a question that was on our minds as we approached the sophomore edition of SPIRAL.

The future is always rooted in a sort of fantasy — a utopia that is both a promise and a lie — depending on which member of society you ask. Football, like the country that birthed it, has always reflected both these polarities. Issue II promptly uses this premise as a jumping off point to tackle what the Future of football could hold.

Is it a future worth celebrating or just much of the same? We explore everything from the rise of the NFL, how data is redefining the way we consume the game, Fox Sports’ Cleatus, Tom Brady’s undying quest for immortality, the international voices growing the sport abroad, to the women who are spearheading the law and order of the gridiron.

We tapped a list of international artists, writers, designers and photographers who shared their love for the game, including a special rendition of HALFTIME by Pete Sharp and interviews with Chris Godwin, PLAYLAB, YGTUT and OUR LEGACY.