Aaron Rodgers Embraces Irish Culture Ahead of Steelers–Vikings NFL Game in Dublin
DUBLIN, Ireland – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers addressed international media Friday, fielding questions about everything from Guinness stout to the growing global reach of the NFL, as his team prepares to face the Minnesota Vikings at Dublin’s Croke Park on Sunday. The game marks one of seven international contests scheduled for the NFL this season, a meaningful expansion from the occasional Canadian game Rodgers recalled from earlier in his career.
Rodgers,dressed in black for the press conference,acknowledged the inevitable inquiries about the iconic Irish beverage. “I don’t drink beer, but if I drank, then I would drink Guinness. I heard that it tastes different, in barrels, in Ireland,” he stated, adding that he had already sampled Guinness across the border in Northern Ireland and was eager to compare it to the Dublin variety. “It was good, but I can’t wait to see what it tastes like here,” he said.
The Steelers are showing a clear respect for their host country,going beyond simply playing a game on Irish soil. the team unveiled training jerseys Friday featuring player names written in the Irish language – Rodgers’ jersey read “Mac Ruairi.”
This gesture resonated with Rodgers, who revealed his ancestral ties to Ireland and Scotland. “My ancestors are from Ireland and Scotland. I always wanted to come and visit the corner,” he explained.The connection runs deep within the Steelers organization; the Rooney family, owners of the team, hails from Newry, County Down, and the late Steelers President Daniel Rooney served as the United States Ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012. “I no how important it is for them, and how much the family would appreciate a victory here,” Rodgers concluded.
Veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward described the jerseys as a “stunning little attention” and noted the emotional impact of a speech delivered by Steelers President Art Rooney II earlier in the week. Heyward recounted, “It was very emotional. Art looked overexcited… He was carrying his Hurley (a wooden stick used to play hurling, a traditional Irish sport). I was one of the only ones to know what a Hurley was, so I was not too disconcerted.” Rooney reportedly detailed the historical meaning of Croke Park, a stadium with a poignant past.
The Steelers-Vikings game represents a growing trend for the NFL, which is actively expanding its international footprint. Rodgers highlighted the evolution, noting the shift from a single annual game in Canada to a schedule now encompassing multiple games across numerous countries. A win on Sunday, Rodgers implied, would be particularly meaningful given the Rooney family’s strong connection to Ireland and the cultural significance of playing at Croke Park.