As the Steelers were practicing on a 'pitch' just outside of Dublin, Ireland on Friday afternoon, Steelers President Art Rooney II couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and excitement.
While the team prepared for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park, he watched as a dream was beginning to unfold
It's a dream that began with his father, late Steelers Chairman and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney Sr., and has now come to fruition.
The first NFL regular season game in Ireland, and the Steelers are a part of it.
"It's an exciting time for us to be here in Ireland and a trip we were hoping to make for many years now," said Art Rooney. "So, it finally happened. I was pinching myself earlier in the week thinking we finally did this. So, we're excited to be here and looking forward to Sunday.
"I would have been upset if we weren't the first ones to play in Ireland. Let's put it that way. So, the commissioner cooperated with us and so that's what makes it very exciting.
"Just seeing the guys over here this morning and knowing we're going to be able to play this game on Sunday, it's just a great feeling.
"My dad would love this. He would love it. I think about him a lot this week. I'm sure he'll be looking down on us on Sunday and enjoying the spectacle."
Dan Rooney, Art's son and the Steelers Vice President of Business Development and Strategy was also a key player in having the game in Dublin and the Steelers securing NFL Global Marketing rights in Ireland.
"I think about my grandfather," said Dan Rooney. "And my dad had the vision for the Steelers to really push forward into the Irish market in a big way. So, I know my grandfather would be proud of this. We played here in 1997 in a preseason game.
"I would say it's a dream come true that we're here for a regular season game.
"We've been working on this for quite a while, since 2023 when we announced the Global Markets license in Ireland. From the watch parties we've held at Croke Park, which have all been sellouts, to all of the youth football camps we've been holding across the island for the last few years.
"Being able to get current players like Pat Freiermuth over here and former players like Jerome Bettis who's here right now, enjoying the island and engaging with the people, it's been awesome."
Art Rooney spoke to the team earlier this week, addressing them in the first team meeting of game prep and shared what the game in Dublin meant to everyone.
"Just wanted them to understand that it was something that we had been planning on for a long time," said Art Rooney. "I wish I had more time to kind of walk them through a little more history of Ireland, but I at least wanted them to know that it's something special for us. I showed them a hurling stick and told them a little bit about Croke Park and this special place that it is in Irish history."
While this is the first game being played in Ireland, Art Rooney is hoping it isn't the last.
"I think there'll be more games in Dublin for sure," said Art Rooney. "The ticket demand has been unbelievable. I think we convinced the league this was a good idea based on that. I think there will be more games in Dublin. Hopefully we'll be in one of them."
