It has been 27 years since the Pittsburgh Steelers last played a pre-season game at Croke Park against the Chicago Bears. Back in 1997, Kerry were the All-Ireland Football champions under Paidi O’Se, and Clare held the All-Ireland Hurling title, captained by the great Anthony Daly.
All these years later, there was certainly a lot of yellow around GAA HQ on Sunday, but instead of the green and gold of Kerry, it was the iconic black and gold of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over 30,000 fans travelled from the United States to see the first-ever regular-season NFL game to take place in Ireland. This event is part of the NFL’s ongoing mission to grow the game internationally.
This year’s international schedule is bigger than ever, featuring games in Brazil, three in London, as well as matches in Berlin and Madrid.
### Steelers vs. Vikings in Dublin
The Steelers’ opponents in Dublin were the Minnesota Vikings, who came into the game with the same record as the Steelers—two wins and one loss. Despite losing their young quarterback, JJ McCarthy, to injury two weeks ago, veteran Carson Wentz stepped in last week to lead the team to a win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The game started poorly for the Steelers as quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked on the very first play. After a quick three-and-out, the Vikings began to march down the field. Things took a dramatic turn when the Steelers recovered a fumble for a touchdown, only for the referees to rule the player out of bounds at the moment of the fumble, allowing the Vikings to retain possession. The Vikings managed a field goal, putting the score at 3-0.
The Steelers responded sharply. Rodgers led a great drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Kenneth Gainwell.
### Terrible Towels and Intense Defense
The Vikings were unable to mount a response. Rodgers once again took charge, finding his best receiver DK Metcalf open down the middle for a 30-yard touchdown run, sending Steelers fans into a frenzy. Whether it’s at Acrisure Stadium or Croke Park, the mere sight of the yellow “Terrible Towels” is enough to unsettle any opposing team.
That pressure soon told. Wentz was hounded by the Steelers’ defense and threw into coverage, leading to an interception by safety DeShon Elliott.
Between plays—known for frequent stoppages in American football—several celebrities appeared on the big screen, including Steelers superfan and Kerry footballer Paudie Clifford. Connacht and Ireland rugby player Bundee Aki was part of the official coin toss, and legendary Hollywood actor Bill Murray was spotted in the crowd.
The fan presence was as unique as the event itself, with a Steelers fan dressed in black Roman centurion armor and a Vikings fan sporting a Mandalorian helmet with Baby Yoda on his shoulder.
### Second Half and Growing Excitement
As the first half wound down, the game slowed, with the Vikings adding a field goal to make it 14-6 in favor of the Steelers at halftime.
The second half began with sunshine breaking through the clouds, illuminating the beautiful Croke Park field. Fans on Hill 16 soaked up the rays as well. For this game, the famed terrace was converted into a seating-only section, highlighting how far the GAA has gone to accommodate an event of this magnitude.
The Irish State has invested €10 million to help host the game, with expected benefits close to €65 million.
This game did not happen overnight; it has been years in the making. The Steelers were founded by Art Rooney in 1933, who traced his roots back to Newry in County Down. With Art Rooney Jr. and Art Rooney II still at the helm, it is clear why the game holds such importance for the franchise.
As the second half progressed, the Rooney brothers must have been pleased with their team’s performance. The Steelers’ defense took command, and star pass rusher T.J. Watt intercepted a pass mid-way through the third quarter, setting up the offense in prime position. Kenneth Gainwell rushed for another touchdown soon after, extending the lead to 21-6.
During one of the many intermissions, the stadium announcer revealed the attendance was close to 75,000 — not quite All-Ireland final day numbers, but impressive nonetheless.
### Closing Moments and Final Score
With the game in hand, the Steelers controlled the clock and added a field goal, increasing their lead to 24-6 with just over ten minutes remaining.
The Vikings kept the game interesting, scoring a late touchdown through running back Zavier Scott and converting a two-point try with seven minutes to play.
With three minutes left, the game burst back to life. Wentz connected with Jordan Addison for an 81-yard gain. The Vikings, now just yards from the goal line, went for it on fourth down and converted a short pass to Jalen Nailor, closing the gap to 24-21.
Despite their efforts, the Vikings could not tie the game, and the Steelers ran out the clock for the win.
What looked like it could have been a tough loss for the Vikings ended up being a thrilling and competitive contest. Overall, Dublin and Croke Park were excellent hosts.
### The Dublin Experience
The city center buzzed with excitement, and Merrion Square transformed into a Steelers’ tailgate party for the weekend, featuring plenty of family-friendly activities—from trying out kicking field goals to target practice.
Of course, there are areas to improve. Some food stalls ran out of certain items at halftime, and the “loaded” nachos reportedly had just a squeeze of cheese. These are minor kinks that can be ironed out.
For its first NFL game, Croke Park truly became the perfect cauldron for American football, blending the passion of Irish sport with the excitement of the NFL’s international expansion.
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