Steelers Aim for NFL Return to Dublin
The Pittsburgh Steelers have expressed strong interest in returning to Dublin to host another regular season American football game.
Dan Rooney, vice-president of the Steelers, described the team’s recent NFL game at Croke Park as "incredible." Despite the success of the sell-out match against the Minnesota Vikings in September, no further NFL fixtures have yet been confirmed for Dublin.
"The Steelers would love to come back some day because that day at Croke was incredible," Rooney told NI.
"I can't speak for the NFL on that but I know that what they saw in September of 2025 was a proving ground for Dublin and the island to be able to host NFL games."
The Rooney family, owners of the Steelers, have ancestral ties to County Down, having emigrated from Newry in the 1840s during the Irish famine.
Flag Football Event in Belfast
Rooney, who is vice-president of business development and strategy, spoke at an American football event held in west Belfast at the Colin Glen leisure complex. The event featured primary school children participating in flag football, a non-contact variation of the sport.
One participant, Nathan, commented on the skills required for the game.
"You need to be fast, agile and you need to have good reflexes."
Another player, Eva, noted the similarities to Gaelic football.
"It kind of reminds me of gaelic (football) ... a wee tiny bit."
In flag football, instead of tackling opponents, players stop them by pulling off a long tag called a flag, which is worn on each hip. The game is played by both boys and girls, with five players per team on the pitch.
A total of 24 schools from across the island of Ireland are participating in the tournament, with the final scheduled for May.
Coaching and Growth of Flag Football
Will Allen, a former Steelers player, assisted in coaching the children ahead of Monday’s matches in Belfast.
"There will be collisions, just like rugby or even in gaelic football, but there's less of that because you're grabbing for a flag and you don't have to make direct contact," Allen explained, emphasizing the importance of speed and agility in the non-contact sport.
Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports globally and is set to feature at the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The tournament, with games held in Belfast, Dublin, and Cork, is organized in partnership with American Football Ireland.
Economic Impact and NFL Expansion
The historic Steelers-Vikings NFL match in Dublin is estimated to have generated over €100 million (£86 million) for the Irish economy.
The NFL has hosted regular-season games in London since 2007 and has been expanding its presence across Europe, with Germany, Spain, and Ireland all staging games. Additionally, fixtures have taken place in Mexico and Brazil.
Growing Popularity of American Football in Ireland
Regarding the sport’s growth in Ireland, Rooney remarked on the rising enthusiasm.
"We're seeing excitement around our game, which is really special. It starts at the grassroots level. It starts with youth participation and kids learning the sport and falling in love with it.
"The athletes are picking it up quite quickly."
What was once considered primarily an American sport is now clearly global in scope, as demonstrated by the flag football fixtures in Belfast.
