NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers ‘would love’ NFL game in Ireland – Rooney

The NFL has held regular-season games in London since 2007 and has been expanding across Europe in recent years, with Germany hosting its first game in 2022 and Spain set to follow in 2025.

A feasibility study for further expansion across Europe – including into Dublin – has started and Rooney added that while he would “love” to bring the Steelers to Ireland, it is ultimately up to the NFL.

“We’re awaiting some of their findings and we have told them we would love to get to the island to play a game some day,” he said.

“It’s an exciting future ahead. It would be special no matter where we played it.

“Croke Park hosted it in 1997 and that is a special venue, but that’s really in the hands of the NFL.”

Rooney says “we see an appetite for our game” in Ireland and added the emergence of Charlie Smyth through the NFL’s international player pathway (IPP) programme has helped grow the sport.

Former Down GAA goalkeeper Smyth signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints as a kicker after impressing at the NFL Combine.

“We’ve seen the Gaelic football players and the talented legs that they have,” said Rooney, who added it was “exciting” to have international players challenging to make NFL rosters.

“The fact guys and gals grow up kicking a ball helps transition to American football kicking, so it’s really impressive on that front.”