Steelers will play Vikings in Ireland on Sept. 28

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 13, 2025

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — The Steelers knew they were headed to Ireland for one of their regular season "home" games. And they had a good idea of the date.

Now they know the opponent — the Minnesota Vikings, the team they faced the most recent time they played an international game in 2013.

The NFL announced Tuesday the Steelers and Vikings will play Sept. 28 at Croke Park in Dublin, the first time the league will play a regular season game in Ireland.

However, it is the second time the Steelers will play a game in Ireland. In 1997, they played a preseason game there against the Chicago Bears as part of the American Bowl series.

The game is a matchup of two 2024 playoff teams who each finished second in their respective divisions. The Steelers will be considered the home team.

The Steelers haven't played an international game since they lost to the Vikings 34-27 on Sept. 29, 2013, in London's Wembley Stadium.

The Steelers have known they were playing in Ireland since the league made the announcement nearly a year ago during the spring meetings in Nashville, Tenn. But the date and opponent were not officially known until now.

The site has great significance for the Steelers because of the Rooneys' Irish heritage and their ties to the country. Dan Rooney, the late chairman and owner, served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009-12 after being appointed by President Barack Obama.

The Steelers are hoping to adjust better to the international time zone than they did in 2013 when they arrived in London on Friday morning, just two days before the game. They quickly fell behind 10-0 and 20-10 on their way to a 34-27 defeat to the Vikings, who arrived three days earlier as the designated home team.

Afterward, some Steelers players complained of feeling lethargic and not having their legs to start the game.

It is not known if the Steelers will use their bye the week after the Ireland game or defer till later in the season. That will be determined when the league releases the entire regular season schedule Wednesday night.

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