The NFL’s Peter O’Reilly has confirmed the Pittsburgh Steelers will play against an unconfirmed opponent in a regular season international game at Croke Park in 2025.
The Steelers will be the designated home team for the fixture, with the NFL’s Executive Vice President of Club Business and League Events describing the event as ‘historic’, stating that Dublin has ‘a special place in many of our hearts’.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Dan Rooney stated he is ‘excited and honoured’, describing Ireland as ‘the motherland’ and making clear his expectation that this fixture will ‘build our deep connection to this island’.
Rooney has family roots in Newry, County Down, that he labelled ‘extremely special’.
The announcement had been expected prior to this weekend’s Super Bowl LIX, with a series of talks having taken place with the Irish Government in recent weeks.
There is no confirmation as of yet as to whether a temporary seated section will be implemented for Hill 16, with O’Reilly stating there will be Dublin-specific events during matchweek as well as pre-game and at half-time at the GAA’s HQ.
The NFL first held an NFL regular season fixture abroad in Mexico back in 2005, with London, Munich, Toronto and Sao Paolo more recently joining that list.
Whilst confirming the Dublin fixture, O’Reilly also outlined his excitement for the regular season games to come in the next 48 months in Berlin, Madrid and Melbourne.
More information is available at nfl.com/dublin where fans can register to receive updates in relation to ticketing and further news.