The Steelers are headed to Ireland in 2025, and players are excited about the unique opportunity to bring Steelers football to a new audience.

The NFL announced on Tuesday morning the Steelers, who are slated to be the home team, will host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 28 in the NFL Dublin game at historic Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. The game will kick off at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, 2:30 p.m. local time in Ireland. The game will be broadcast on NFL Network. NFL Game Pass on DAZN will broadcast all 2025 International Games in international markets outside of the U.S. The game will also stream on NFL+.

"This is something really cool for the Steelers," said tight end Pat Freiermuth, who was part of a group from the team to visit Ireland in April. "Obviously, the history with the Rooney family being from Ireland, and for us to be able to bring the Steelers logo to Ireland and officially play a game there, it's special."

The Steelers played in The American Bowl at Croke Park in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears in 1997, a game the Steelers won.

The Steelers-Vikings game will be the first NFL regular season game ever played in Ireland and being a part of it comes with a sense of pride.

"It's definitely an honor that you're going to be the first team to play a regular season game there," said Freiermuth. "They love football in Ireland. They have an American Football League there. So, it's awesome to be able to bring our football culture to Ireland.

"When we were there, they had signs everywhere already for the game. They love it when we come over and play football there. I went to a rugby game there, and I can't imagine what it's going to be like for an NFL game. It's going to be loud. It's going to be crazy. And it'll be fun."

The Rooney family has deep roots in Ireland, with the family immigrating to the United States from Newry, County Down in Ireland. Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney served as the United States Ambassador to Ireland from 2009-2012, while also co-founding The Ireland Funds.

"With the ties that Mr. Rooney and the Rooney family have to Ireland, it's special for us to be the first NFL team to host a game there," said defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, who recently made a trip to Ireland for his podcast. "It speaks to the ties that are bigger than sports."

The Steelers were awarded rights to expand their brand and activities on the island of Ireland as part of the NFL's 'Global Markets Program' in 2023, hosting multiple events in Ireland, including the first ever Steelers Draft Party in 2025, as well as youth football clinics and Steelers watch parties since 2023.

Now with a regular season game in Ireland, the players are excited to bring a new sport to Ireland, one that differs from what fans might be accustomed to.

"We got such a warm welcome when we here in Dublin," said Heyward. "It should create a really cool atmosphere for all Steelers fans coming over from the States. It's just going to be a really cool place to play.

"They've got a lot of different sports going on in Ireland. There's rugby, Gaelic football and hurling. They talk about our game being very complicated, but I think Gaelic football and rugby are two of the more complicated sports I've ever seen.

"And getting to play at Croke Park, you can just feel the history there. For an NFL regular season game to be there, it's going to be really special. The fans are going to be locked in. I got to take in a rugby game, and if they get that rowdy for a rugby game, they're going to love an NFL game."

While some players have already had the opportunity to visit Dublin, it will be the first time some players will be heading abroad and they can't wait.

"I've never used my passport before," said linebacker Nick Herbig. "I've never been out of the country. Just that experience alone for me will be special. It shows you the things football can do for you.

"And I know we have a huge fan base in Ireland. Being able to go there and perform for them and put on a show. It's awesome."

Fans can register for ticket information at nfl.com/dublin. Tickets will go on sale this summer.

Earlier this year, the Steelers entered into a four-year partnership with Aer Lingus establishing the airline as the Official Airline of Steelers Ireland and a Founding Partner of Steelers Ireland. Aer Lingus offers convenient travel options for fans making their way to Dublin this fall, with 21 direct routes from North America to Ireland. The airline also flies 70 routes from Europe and the UK to the Irish capital. Aer Lingus will ensure that Steelers fans from the US, as well as the UK and Europe, enjoy the most seamless journey to Ireland.

The full NFL schedule will be revealed on Wednesday, May 15 at 8 p.m.