NFL Films Highlights StoneX-Sponsored Story of American Football’s Rise in Ireland

Key Takeaways 

• The Steelers-Vikings NFL game in late September was played at Croke Park in Dublin 
• Ireland’s top traditional sports include Gaelic football, hurling and rugby 
• American-style football is building a grassroots following in the Emerald Island   

A new NFL Films feature highlighted the growing interest of American football across Ireland coinciding with the NFL’s first game played in Dublin in late September pitting the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Minnesota Vikings. The story follows the volunteers, players, and coaches who are building a grassroots pathway from local rugby pitches to the NFL. It also highlights the Cork Admirals, the club sponsored by StoneX. 

The film documents the Cork Admirals and other Irish clubs that train on converted rugby fields, often with players aged 18 to almost 40 learning the sport from scratch. With no paid staff and no long-standing football infrastructure, everything is volunteer-led and driven by passion for the game. 

Watch the full NFL Films feature here.

Grassroots Football Built by Volunteers 

The piece shows how Irish teams: 

• Train on 90-yard rugby fields adapted for American football 
   
• Rely on players who also serve as coaches and club administrators 
   
• Teach fundamentals usually learned in American youth leagues 
   
• Repurpose rugby and Gaelic athleticism for football roles 
   
• Build strong community ties that extend beyond the field 

With teams in Cork, Belfast, Dublin, Limerick and other regions, the sport continues to grow despite limited resources. 

Ireland’s Kicking Pipeline to the NFL 

The feature also highlights Ireland’s emerging talent pipeline for kickers and punters. The country’s long kicking tradition in hurling, Gaelic football and rugby provides a natural foundation for the American game. Specialist coaches are preparing Irish athletes for NCAA and NFL opportunities. 

Training focuses on: 

• Translating Gaelic and rugby mechanics into American football technique 
   
• Developing power and consistency in unpredictable weather 
   
• Replicating game speed pressure 
   
• Meeting the requirements of the NFL International Player Pathway 

This system has already produced prospects such as Charlie Smyth, who joined the New Orleans Saints, and Mark McNamee, who signed with the Green Bay Packers. 

A Landmark NFL Game in Dublin

The film concludes with Ireland hosting its first regular-season NFL game at Croke Park, where the Vikings faced the Steelers in front of a sold-out crowd. The Steelers carry a deep Irish heritage through the Rooney family, which founded the club in 1933 and helped turn the event into a home atmosphere. 

Fans filled the stadium with terrible towels (a bright yellow rally towel used by Steelers fans), as the game marked a significant moment for the sport in Ireland. Many expect this to be viewed years from now as the catalyst for a full Irish to NFL development path.