On any given Sunday, the NFL may be coming to a city near you.
Dublin was the latest stop on the American football global hype train today as fans from the US, Europe and further afield joined locals for the first regular-season game at Croke Park.
Designated 'home' team the Pittsburgh Steelers had the majority of the support at the home of the GAA, but, as could be seen by the variety of generations, jerseys and accents making their way around the city centre, the international games - of which there are seven this season - serve as a beacon for fans of the sport, regardless of who is playing.
Speaking while dispatching an exorbitantly priced pint in Temple Bar, suitably extravagantly attired Pittsburgh native Frank told RTÉ Sport that the Steelers fans had been "waiting for a game in Dublin for years".
"Dan Rooney who owned our team was the ambassador to Ireland, he wanted a game over here and just never got it. So we finally get to do it.
"You guys are very receptive to us. Super friendly. It's really cool. I'm going to start coming back every year."
Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings have been sampling the atmosphere, and some of the local delicacies, in Temple Bar ahead of today's first regular-season #NFL game to be held in Dublin | Live updates https://t.co/2o5UjV1JkY #Steelers #Vikings #nfldublingame pic.twitter.com/HM2vMWERw4
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 28, 2025
Ann, Boyd, Cindy and David had made the journey from Minnesota, who also play in London next weekend, allowing for a nice trip to the eh North Atlantic Isles, bookended by Vikings games.
"The people are unwaveringly kind and welcoming," said Ann, who said it had been difficult to find hotel accommodation, with the result that they were staying closer to the Aviva Stadium than Croke Park.
Ian, Dave and Ian had avoided that issue by making a day trip of it from Leeds/London, despite only one of their group being a supporter of either team.
"We're happy to go to any of the games in Europe, whoever is playing. The NFL make it a fun [day-long] event for everyone. When I go to football [soccer] games, it feels like they just want my money and for me to leave after 90 minutes."
Also soaking up the pre-match vibes in the city centre were the snazzily dressed Scott - a Rogers but not a Rodgers - and Adam from Canada, who have their own slightly different version of football, travel to Pittsburgh for games and aim to add something new to their outfits each time.
"You're trying to promote this thing, you want to make sure every ticket sells"
Giants fans and Tipperary natives Wayne and Will had different perspectives on the tasty ticket prices – most of which were in the €250 range.
"I thought it was too steep, considering the game isn’t sold out," said Will, who nonetheless picked up one of the small number of remaining tickets this morning.
"You’re trying to promote this thing, you want to make sure every ticket sells. I wouldn’t go again [at this price] unless the Giants are playing."
Wayne felt that a lot of NFL fans wouldn’t be put off by the price, even if it becomes an annual event.
"I paid £400 for a premium ticket last year to see the Vikings. I paid $300 for a ticket in the Metlife [home of the Giants].
"I didn’t like that they got rid of the season ticket to go to all three games in London.
"But if you start low and it’s going well and you up the price, you’ll get destroyed for it."
On to Drumcondra and Clonliffe Road, where Irish Sport for Palestine were protesting the GAA hosting the game and the government's €10m sweetener for the NFL.
But inside Croke Park, there was little politicking on display, just tricolours and the stars and stripes festooning the stadium. The Ryder Cup was politely not mentioned.
They had done a nice job of framing the far smaller American football field, which is even tighter than a rugby pitch at 100x53 yards (91x41 metres). The grass may have contracted but the press box had expanded to about three times its regular size, a reflection of the huge interest in the game.
The pre-game razzmatazz was relatively restrained. No fireworks or cheerleaders. Pittsburgh have their ‘Steeline’ drummers instead. The Star-Spangled Banner was delivered in a gentle country style while Lyra belted out Amhrán na bhFiann at a far more rousing decibel level.
FedEx chief operating officer Richard Smith - brother of Steelers’ offensive co-ordinator Arthur - presented the game ball to the ref. Where's the archbishop of Cashel when you need him?
After a saturated Saturday, the weather Gods were kind. September sunshine and the rare privilege of taking drinks to the seats – eight euro for stout but still cheaper than Temple Bar - not a bad way to spend a Sunday.
It was a tenner for a cheeseburger. But the food concessions - including charcoal grills - seemed to be struggling to deal with the increased food demands of a longer day out. One man came back looking for the other half of his bun. Not interested in the low-carb version.
The boos for the Vikings during their warm-up told you who was in the majority but the Steelers veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked (tackled) on the first play of the game.
The terrible towels, which Brendan Schiff had been doing a fine trade in in Temple Bar, twirled as the first touchdown seemed to go to the Steelers defence, Jalen Ramsey returning a fumble all the way to the house. But there were groans around Croke Park when replays showed Jordan Mason had stepped out of bounds before losing the ball.
A huge roar then for the first sack of Carson Wentz when the Vikings were well placed, making them settle for a field goal and the opening three points of the game.
Just before the end of the first quarter, Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell lived up to his name and snuck over for his team’s first score, which was enough for a 7-3 lead after 15 minutes of action.
2:45 into the second quarter and DK Metcalfe took a pass from Rodgers before scorching the Vikings secondary for an 80-yard touchdown.
Wentz was having a rough time and DeShon Elliott intercepted him to get possession back for the ‘home’ side again. The break in play allowed badly-needed Pop Tarts-branded T-shirts to be fired into the crowd.
A schemozzle briefly broke out after that, the players clearly inspired by their surroundings. The ‘unnecessary roughness’ that prompted it cost the Vikings 15 yards. Forty-one-year-old Rodgers may have surprised even himself by going for a gallop. He lost the ball but it bounced straight into team-mate Broderick Jones’ hands. Two minutes later, the Steelers’ kicker Chris Boswell had his effort blocked.
That provided time for a Visa-sponsored sing-a-long to Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl – selected by a crowd poll ahead of the Saw Doctors, Sharon Shannon and the Frank and Walters.
There were plenty of other sponsored time-fillers that made Irish sensibilities twitch. This play was brought to you by Bud. An Adobe Fit Cam searched for the best dressed. A FedEx virtual version of Where's The Lady was a surreal highlight. There were, at least, no immediately apparent Coldplay-kiss-cam style incidents.
Singing along, whether sponsored or not, is common during the frequent breaks in play. Blink 182, Bon Jovi and the Cranberries were among the artists all enthusiastically received. Galway group CLADA, who describe themselves as ‘Irish dance music’, also served a steady stream of trad melodies, beats and oggie oggie oggies.
Vikings kicker Will Reichard made it 14-6 at half-time, when English musician Myles Smith came on to entertain the crowd, including a version of Galway girl, which was also covered by his mentor Ed Sheeran.
It took 10 minutes for the second half to really get going, when TJ Watt, brother of Irish rugby fan JJ, intercepted Wentz. A few plays later, Gainwell gained well again for his second rushing score.
Steelers No 66 Mason McCormick did a celebratory jig after Wentz was sacked for the sixth time. The Vikings now facing a huge task to come back from a 21-6 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.
The contest looked to be ebbing towards a comfortable Steelers victory but Wentz was finally able to put together a succession of passes, culminating in a touchdown for Zavier Scott with just under eight minutes on the clock. The Vikings pulled off the riskier two-point conversion and it was game-on again at 24-14.
The crowd was energised and actor Bill Murray’s appearance on the big screen drew a huge cheer. Presumably, the Steelers and Vikings fans hadn’t heard what he had to say about their teams beforehand.
'I'm rooting against them both’
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 28, 2025
Chicago Bears fan and Clare intermediate hurling enthusiast Bill Murray chats to @Darrenfrehill ahead of the NFL game at Croke Park pic.twitter.com/WSLWtwZIdx
Another penalty hurt the Vikings though, and then Gainwell took it to the 11, forcing Minnesota to use their first time out, accompanied by a quick blast of The Wild Rover. Perhaps inspired by Luke Kelly, they held out, resisting a 4&2 push, and that meant they had four minutes and nine seconds left, with one timeout, to score twice.
Minnesota almost got one straight away, Wentz lobbing a bomb to Jordan Addison, who streaked down the sideline and looked sure to score, only for an ankle tap by Payton Wilson. Three and out for Minnesota who had to go for it on fourth down but this time Wentz found Jalen Nailor. A field goal between the sides at 24-21 with 2:08 left.
An unsuccessful onside kick meant the Steelers only needed another first down to close it out. 3rd and 1, 1:52. 4th and a half. This was the game. Vikings didn’t bite on a tease for offside though and got the ball back with 1:02 remaining to score a field goal and force overtime.
Loads of time. Until Wentz tossed the ball to the sideline and was intercepted for the third, and seemingly final time of the day. Replays showed that defender James Pierre had not got his feet down in bounds however. Pittsburgh fingernails non-existent now.
A holding penalty gave the Vikings another five yards and a sack was cancelled out by offside, also stopping the clock. But a perhaps slightly harsh intentional grounding on Wentz fatally cost them 10 seconds and 16 yards. Fourth and 17 on their 37, the QB's last attempted pass was incomplete and Pittsburgh closed it out for the win, their third, as Minnesota dropped to 2-2.
A very pleasant day out for most of the 74,512 (just short of a full house) in attendance. Will the NFL be back? Rodgers thinks so.
"I thought the atmosphere was outstanding," said the four-time MVP. "The music was great. The fans were cool. The field was pristine. We had a nice sunny Irish day. The whole experience was fantastic. Shout out to the country and everybody that made this happen. Win or lose, I would have said the same thing.
"It will be a nice flight back with hopefully a yearly return by us or two other teams. One hundred percent, Ireland has earned another NFL game."
Irish American football fans will be hoping the game's governing body agree. But it will also depend on whether enough supporters and Government are content to keep opening their wallets.
