Speaking to BBC Sport NI in June, Pittsburgh’s director of business development Dan Rooney said the Steelers were working on the “opportunity to play a live game in front of Irish fans” and it is understood the NFL carried out feasibility assessments in Dublin earlier this year.
The Aviva Stadium has hosted sell-out American football college games in recent years, showcasing the support for the sport, and in 1997 the Steelers played a pre-season game at Croke Park, the home of Gaelic games.
The NFL have expanded their international match series with regular season games now being played in London, Brazil and Germany this year with Madrid confirmed to welcome a game in 2025.
As part of the International Player Pathway, a number of Gaelic footballers have trialled for contracts in the NFL with former Derry player Jude McAtamney currently signed to the New York Giants’ practice squad and former Down goalkeeper Charlie Smyth with the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.
