On Friday morning, the NFL announced the Pittsburgh Steelers would be playing one of the 2025 home games in Dublin, Ireland at Croke Park Stadium. This will be the league’s first regular season game in Ireland but it won’t be the first time the NFL has played a game at Croke Park. Or the first time the Steelers have played there.
Back in 1997, the Steelers and Chicago Bears squared off in a historical preseason showdown in Dublin.
Dubbed the American Bowl, it was a homecoming for the Rooney Family and the only time the NFL has played in Ireland. Head coach Bill Cowher brought his team into Croke Park Stadium and despite it only being an exhibition, put on a great show for the fans in attendance. The Steelers beat the Bears 30-17 on the strength of Kordell Stewart and Jerome Bettis.
The Steelers went on to finish 11-5 in 1997 and lost the conference championship game against the Denver Broncos.
