WICKLOW'S Dan Whelan could become the first Irishman on an active NFL roster since 1985.
It has been almost 40 years since an Irish-born player competed in the NFL - but that could change by the end of this season.
Dan Whelan, from Enniskerry, is poised to take on the role of the primary punter for the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 season.
After playing three of the Packers' preseason games and recording a 45.67 average distance and a 67-yard best, Whelan looks poised to be the Cheeseheads' new leg after they released the only other punter on their roster, Pat O'Donnell.
Thank you, @PatODonnell_16 pic.twitter.com/O5ptx6NIfg
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 28, 2023
Whelan, now 24, and his family moved to Palm Springs, California, when he was 13 and he made the initial transition from soccer to American football at Rancho Mirage High School, starting off as a kicker, averaging 47.7 yards in kicking distance, which was enough to put him on the radar for college teams.
He then became a punter at college at the University of California, Davis (who play under the name Aggies), but did not opt to go for the NFL draft, instead choosing to complete his degree in Sustainable Environmental Design.
Whelan finished his collegiate career as arguably the greatest punter in Aggie history, averaging a school record 44.01 yards per punt for his career and a single season record 46.25 in 2021.
He had at least one punt of 60 yards or more in seven games this season and had 21 of 50 or more.
Whelan also handled kickoff duties, with 37 of his 68 going for touchbacks. He was also an FCS Punter of the Year semi-finalist in 2021.
The last Irishman to play in the NFL was Neil O'Donoghue, who was the kicker for the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St Louis Cardinals from 1977 until 1985, playing 110 games.
Dan would become the 11th man to strap up his pads and step in between the hashmarks, with the first being Bertie Maher, from county Mayo, in 1920.
@rtenews @rte you guys missed one!!
— Aaron Perez (@ThePuntFactory) May 20, 2020
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Daniel Whelan @danwhelan37 has been playing football here in America on scholarship at UC Davis for 4 years. Came here at 13 from #Dublin and has a GREAT chance at the NFL..
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You should check him out !!! pic.twitter.com/AgFb7YcV5V
After college, Whelan was picked up by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022, but was released before making a preseason appearance.
After his brief stint with the Saints, he was selected in the XFL draft by the DC Defenders and competed in Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's new summer gridiron football league that is attempting to fill the gap left by the NFL off-season.
After finishing as a runner-up for the title and an All-XFL punter, Green Bay signed Dan to their squad in May 2023.
