It has been 27 years since the Pittsburgh Steelers played a pre-season game in Croke Park against the Chicago Bears. Back in 1997, Kerry were the All-Ireland Football champions under Paidi O Sé, and Clare were the All-Ireland Hurling champions, 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 yellow 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, all part of the NFL’s mission to grow the game internationally.
This year is bigger than ever, with games in Brazil, three games in London, as well as matches in Berlin and Madrid.
The Steelers’ opponents in Dublin were the Minnesota Vikings, who came into the game with the same record as Pittsburgh—two wins and one loss. Despite losing their young quarterback JJ McCarthy to injury two weeks ago, veteran Carson Wentz stepped in last week, leading the team to a win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
### Game Overview
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 complicated turn when the Steelers appeared to score a touchdown off a fumble recovery. However, the referees ruled the player out of bounds when he fumbled, allowing the Vikings to retain possession. They managed only a field goal, leaving the score 3-0 in favor of Minnesota.
The Steelers responded sharply with a great drive led by Rodgers, ending in a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Kenneth Gainwell.
### Terrible Towels Take Over
The Vikings couldn’t mount a response, and once again Rodgers took the field. He found his best receiver, DK Metcalf, who broke free down the middle for a spectacular 30-yard touchdown run, sending the Steelers fans into a frenzy.
Whether at Acrisure Stadium or Croke Park, the sight of the yellow “Terrible Towels” is enough to unnerve opposing teams. That pressure soon told as Wentz was constantly hounded by the Steelers’ defense, forcing him into a tipped pass that was intercepted by safety DeShon Elliott.
### Celebrity Sightings and Unique Fans
During stoppages—a hallmark of American sports—several celebrities appeared on the big screen, including Steelers superfan and Kerry footballer Paudie Clifford. Connacht and Ireland rugby player Bundee Aki participated in the official coin toss, and legendary Hollywood actor Bill Murray was even spotted in the crowd.
Fans also showed their enthusiasm with unique outfits: one Steelers fan dressed in black armor like a Roman centurion, while a Vikings supporter wore a Mandalorian helmet with Baby Yoda perched on his shoulder.
### Steely Defence and Croke Park Atmosphere
As the first half wore on, the game slowed down with just a Vikings field goal to note, making the halftime score 14-6 to the Steelers.
The sun began to break through the clouds as the second half started, illuminating the beautiful Croke Park field. Fans on Hill 16 were able to soak up the rays from the famed terrace, which was converted into a seating-only section for the game—a clear indication of how far the GAA has come to accommodate an event of this magnitude.
While the State contributed €10 million to help host the game, the expected economic benefit is estimated to reach close to €65 million.
### A Game in the Making for Years
This game did not happen overnight—it has been years in the making. The Steelers were founded by Art Rooney back in 1933, who traced his roots back to Newry in Co Down. With the team still under the stewardship of Art Rooney Jr. and Art Rooney II, it is clear why this game was so important to the franchise.
As the second half progressed, the Rooney brothers must have been pleased with their team’s performance. The Steelers’ defense began to dominate. Midway through the third quarter, star pass rusher T.J. Watt intercepted a pass, setting up the offense in prime position. Kenneth Gainwell capitalized with another touchdown, widening the lead to 21-6.
During one of the many breaks in play, the stadium announcer revealed attendance was close to 75,000—not quite an All-Ireland final day, but still an impressive crowd.
The Steelers continued to control the clock and added a field goal, extending their lead to 24-6 with just over ten minutes remaining.
### Vikings Rally Late
The Vikings fought back, scoring a late touchdown by running back Zavier Scott, followed by a successful two-point conversion with seven minutes to go.
With three minutes remaining, the game burst to life again when Wentz connected with Jordan Addison for an electrifying 81-yard gain. Now just yards from the goal line, the Vikings went for it on fourth down, converting with a short pass to Jalen Nailor, narrowing the score to 24-21.
Despite their efforts, the Vikings could not tie the score, and the Steelers ran out the clock for the victory.
### Final Thoughts
What seemed like a potential blowout transformed into a highly competitive game. Overall, Dublin and Croke Park were excellent hosts. The city centre buzzed with excitement, and Merrion Square was transformed into a Steelers’ tailgate for the weekend. Families enjoyed activities such as trying out field goal kicking and target practice.
There are areas to improve, though. Some food stalls ran out of items by halftime, and the “loaded” nachos served seemed to have only a small squeeze of cheese. These minor kinks can certainly be ironed out for future events.
For its first NFL game, Croke Park proved to be the perfect cauldron for American football—a thrilling showcase of sport and culture coming together on Irish soil.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/steelers-survive-late-vikings-comeback-to-win-in-dublin-1812133.html
