The Pittsburgh Steelers, after successfully expanding their international market to Dublin in 2023, have finally played their first regular-season NFL game in Dublin, defeating the Vikings 24-21.
The Rooney Family, which has owned the Steelers since its founding in 1933, has significant ties to Ireland. The family originally hails from County Down, and Dan M. Rooney was the ambassador to Ireland from 2009-2012 and, as underscored by the big screen, “visited all 32 counties”. An NFL game actually has been played in Croke Park before, in 1997, the Steelers beat the Chicago Bears 30-17 in the pre-season.
In a press conference held at Carton House in Co. Kildare, Steelers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers stated he was “excited to be a part of the first [sic] game over here”, adding “this place means a lot to the organisation because of Ambassador Rooney spending time over here”. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin echoed these sentiments, saying he was “excited to be in this beautiful place”. At a press conference at Sport Ireland Campus, Vikings Head Coach, Kevin O’Connell, said he felt “honestly very blessed to get such a cool opportunity for our organisation”.
However, not everyone is excited about the NFL coming to Dublin. During a debate in the Dáil, Ruth Coppinger, TD for Dublin West, asked Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, “Why is the red carpet being rolled out for the NFL [sic] this weekend?” She stated that the sport was “steeped in militarism, racism and macho culture” and that the NFL was “the most jingoistic league in America”. She cited students in secondary schools receiving flag football kits from the NFL and the government’s €10 million contribution to the festivities.
Coppinger highlighted the NFL’s prayers for Israel on October 16th of 2023 and deep connections to the US military. She also falsely claimed that the NFL “sends players over to the IDF” and “received money from the US army to do so”, though the NFL has never financially or officially supported visits to Israel. However, individual players have gone to Israel and met with the Israeli Defense Forces, including Nick Lowery and Tony Richardson, in January of this year.
Donohoe said, “It is because sport brings people together”, adding, “sport and culture are one of the few common grounds we have”. To which Coppinger responded, “We have our own sports”.
Donohoe also mentioned “extensive economic benefits for Ireland” and that “The money that is being used by the government to support this is money that will be well spent”. He also added, “We will see our country, and our city in particular, full of American people that are coming to Ireland for the opportunity to see a game happen. I think that is a good thing.”
The University Times asked Aaron Rodgers about TDs opposing the NFL in Dublin, and Rodgers replied, “To bring the number one sport in the [United States] to a country like Ireland is really special”. “Just to let the fans over here, the sports fans, see [sic] what the number one sport in America is”.
International expansion, broadly, has been a priority for the NFL, as Rodgers underscored: “We had a game in Brazil already” and “Games all over Europe”. He also listed Mexico City, Germany, and London. He said “the game has global reach”, also mentioning the fact that the Super Bowl is “played in [sic] 100+ different countries”. Tomlin also stated that international travel for matches is “less mystical today than it was twelve years ago”. He said that the team was “enjoying Dublin now that they’re here” but “after the game [it would be] business as usual”.
The city of Dublin has certainly been very accommodating to the NFL. The city centre is covered with NFL merchandise, with a “Welcome to Dublin” archway and a next-door NFL pop-up shop by Stephens Green, a mock American Football pitch in Dublin Castle, a water feature in the Liffey off O’Connell Bridge, flags for the Steelers and Vikings down the river and through the streets, among many other features.
Star Vikings Wide Receiver, Justin Jefferson, noted “It’s the first time [sic] we’re playing in front of people from Ireland”, adding “some people don’t even know anything about football and are still coming to the game and still want to watch”.
The level of cultural sensitivity from the Steelers and Vikings franchises has varied. During Steelers practice, the players wore jerseys with the Irish versions of their names, with DK Metcalf sporting “de Bhial” and Jaylen Warren with “Ó Murnáin”, among others. This move was a significant cultural gesture; however, in official communications, the team referred to the Irish Language as “Gaelic” and misspelt the name of the GAA Irish Language Development Officer who translated the names, Aedín Ní Bhriain, as “Aedin Ni Bhrianin”.
While the Vikings did not engage with the Irish language, Justin Jefferson said, “I [did] a little bit of research and already just with knowing [sic] about Ireland and the different culture and the different style that y’all have here.” Vikings Safety, Harrison Smith, said, “We did get a little bit of an Irish history lesson from one of our rookies today, Chaz” (referring to Vikings linebacker Chaz Chambliss). He joked to the reporter, “It wasn’t as detailed as you would have probably liked, but we learned [sic] a few things.”
Coach Tomlin also noted that the Steelers were aiming to “educate the Steelers about the late great Ambassador Rooney and his passion for this place and his vision for this game”, adding “we’ve done some of that”, but ultimately stating that “largely the work we do here is business as usual.”
Aaron Rodgers called himself a “historian” and said, “I kind of know the history geopolitically”. He added, “I have a family history going back to Ireland and Scotland, so I’ve always wanted to get over here”. He mentioned wishing he had more time in Dublin, and said, “I’m a huge fan of Guinness, I don’t really drink beer, but if I do, I drink Guinness.” Continuing, “I’ve heard it tastes different off the tap in Ireland”.
The University Times also asked Harrison Smith about Guinness, where he stated the one time he was in Dublin, for approximately six hours, he “went straight to the fans and then straight to the pub”, adding, “the Guinness does taste better over here for sure”.
On activities in Dublin, Vikings Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers said, “I just heard about the Irish stew, so I want to definitely try that. But other than that, I’ll just be chilling.” Justin Jefferson called Ireland “beautiful” but added, “I didn’t really have any expectations of Ireland, because I never thought that I would actually be here. But it’s a good vibe, I would say”. He also noted, “I would rather this than being in Pittsburgh”. He also said that he’d been preparing “a little Ireland edition” of the griddy (a touchdown celebration he is famous for popularising). Though, unfortunately, he didn’t get any touchdowns, so the “Irish Griddy” remains to be seen.
Kevin O’Connell said he was looking forward to players getting downtime to see the city, ready for players to “experience a wonderful place with great people and all the different aspects of being around a new culture, and a really positive one at that.” Though he made sure to add “we’ve got a football game to prepare for”.
O’Connell discussed the significance of Croke Park, saying “how fortunate we are to get to be one of the teams that gets to play in Dublin and [sic] at a historical venue in front of great fans, both fans of our team, fans of the Steelers, but just NFL fans in general.”
However, Rebecca O’Keefe, with Mothers Against Genocide, spoke at a Documentary event at Trinity, stating they were “taking this opportunity to oppose the GAA’s partnership with the NFL” in front of a banner reading “NFL Out of Ireland”. She said, “sport is the perfect mirror for the world around us”, arguing that “the two [sports and politics] cannot be separated”. She specifically condemned the use of Croke Park for the match, calling the GAA “inherently political” and “anti-imperial and anti-colonial to its core”.
Ruth Coppinger also said, “The NFL is a model for how sport has been hijacked for propaganda and profit” adding that Croke Park is “meant to be amateur and a community space”. She called American Football “an absolutely rotten sport to be promoted in this country”.
On the subject of Croke Park, Vikings Safety Harrison Smith said, “Yeah, I don’t know in depth on the history, and I know there’s some stuff that has happened there like over the times. But yeah, it’ll be fun to go there and just see the structure and feel what it’s like.” Isaiah Rodgers also said he didn’t “know a ton about the history” but was “excited” upon hearing about the significance of the venue from a reporter.
Kevin O’Connell confirmed that they would love to “check out the stadium”. However, Coach Tomlin said they would not be visiting the stadium, “as long as the field is 100 yards and [sic] the conditions are the same for both teams.” Adding, “We care very little about that.”
The match itself was certainly different from an American NFL game, with trad music played throughout, and the Galway Irish Dance Music Band, CLADA, playing live. Other songs included “Zombie” by the Cranberries, “The Wild Rover” by The Dubliners, and Irish folk song “Galway Girl”. Irish singer Lyra opened the game with “Amhrán na bhFiann”. The fans were certainly noisy; fan noise actually caused the Vikings to false start on an important third down at one point. However, at the start, when fans were asked to make noise “if you’re from Ireland!” or “if you’re from the US!” or “if you’re from elsewhere!” it was clear that the crowd was majority American.
Speaking after the game, Mike Tomlin said he couldn’t be happier with the “hospitality” afforded to the NFL by Dublin. Aaron Rodgers said Dublin “deserves another NFL game”, and Steelers Defensive Tackle Cameron Heyward noted they were on “sacred ground”. Jefferson called the atmosphere “electric”.
With additional reporting by Jack Azoulay-Haron
