This is the Golden Age of Being an Irish NFL Fan
This has been Ireland's off-season - and long may it continue
In the early hours of Sunday November 13th, I was in Killians Irish Bar in the iconic Frauenplatz area in Munich. I had the pleasure of speaking with two (unnamed) Kerry men. Look - the craic was had. One of the best nights I have had travelling when working on the NFL. Little did we know that the next evening, a historic event in Munich would be written into the sports history.
When we were sitting chatting, I brought up the growth of the game in Ireland and I mentioned that I felt that the game and fan development on the island was at a tipping point - one which would see it grow heavily in the following months. I mentioned that I thought at some point, in two or twenty five years, the NFL would come back to Ireland for a one off or regular season game. “I just can’t see it”, the Kerry man said.
Skip forward ten months - and the game in Ireland could not be in a better position.
When Jeff Reinebold came to The Wool Shed in Dublin in early February before Super Bowl LVII, he repeated my earlier claim - “The game is growing in Ireland like never before”, he said. I think for many, this was the start of the movement. Fast forward three months from that event and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars announced that for the first time, they would cover the ROI market for the NFL Global Markets, with NI also part of this. For a few years, the Jacksonville Jaguars had operated in the UK market with Belfast, but this news was a game changer. The news made international headlines, with FOX Sports talking about the growth of the game in Ireland and the untapped potential that is there in the market.
An event was held in Belfast with the Jacksonville Jaguars not too far away from that announcement and they have indicated that through their NFL Global Markets program, they intend on taking it to Dublin in 2024, which is a great indication of growth and support from the Jags as they aim to make a footprint in the Irish market. For NFL fans in Ireland, it is certainly a case of the more, the merrier.
The obvious large talking point and one which has caused a huge shift in the growth of the game here this year is the movement of the Pittsburgh Steelers into the Irish market, with the first ever launch of the Global Markets scheme in person - this has never happened in any other country. The day at Croke Park was memorable to say the least - and has certainly wet the appetite for more. The Steelers have indicated on their website that they are “at the beginning of our journey in Ireland as part of the NFL's 'Global Markets Program' and much more research and planning needs to be done in this area. However, as part of our long-term planning, we aspire to return to the island to play an NFL game.” That can only be construed as positive news. Dan Rooney Jr flew to Ireland only last week and with the preseason games being shown across the island on GAAGO, it has been a serious introduction into the market from the Steelers and one of serious intent. Who knows what will happen down the line? This year, we expect a fan party - which will be announced at a later date.
If that wasn’t enough - Dan Whelan has made the final 53 man roster for the Green Bay Packers and this is a huge moment. If he starts against the Chicago Bears next week, Dan will make history as the first active Irish born player in the league since Neil O’Donoghue in 1980 - a moment that we should not take lightly - or for granted. We can only take this opportunity to wish Dan the best of luck in what is an incredible opportunity to lead the Irish contingent in the NFL this season.
Finally - what an offseason it has been. Yes, the above points are crucial for the growth of the league naturally, but you can see a serious shift in the fan interaction here. We cannot thank you enough for your support of Pro Football Ireland. This is a free article - if you enjoy it, please consider signing up for a membership. We had our first ever draft event in April in Dublin and everything has gone from strength to strength since. What an amazing time to be a fan and to work on the league here. Roll on our events in Dublin and Belfast this week.
A big shout out again to the Kerry lads in Munich. One can only hope Frankfurt will deliver as well this year. Who is ready for some football?
Get the jerseys out lads