July 2, 2025 • 16 mins
This week, Michael is joined by Tomás Quinn to look back on the Steelers influence in Ireland for the 4th July celebrations. Michael also reacts to the big trade which happened this week, with Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith headed to Pittsburgh and Minkah Fitzpatrick bound for Miami in exchange.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Irish airline aer Lingus will proudly serve as the presenting
partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlingus's growth in
North America continues in twenty twenty five as the airline
prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville and Indianapolis,
using its new Airbus eight three twenty one xl or aircraft.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
This brings the number.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Of transatlantic routes operated by the airline from Dublin, Shannon
and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers fans traveling to Ireland
for the Big Game can enjoy a relaxing journey when
they fly.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
With air Lingus. Air Lingus, You're very welcome, Everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Welcome into the Irish Theaters podcast presented by aer Lingus
and Talk of the air Lingus. Steelers Nation has time
to take flight with aer Lingus, an official airline partner
of the Pittsburgh Steeters and the founding partner of Steelers Ireland.
There's never been a better time to book your trip
to Dublin with nineteen North American Gate Whiz, including flights
from nearby Cleveland. Get ready for warm Irish hospitality and
(01:03):
plenty of room on board for your terrible title. Whether
it's game day or a getaway, Erlingus looks forward to
saying you're very welcome to the players and fans of
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Book now at erlingus dot com. And
I'll tell you what, folks. Every week, we are getting
closer and closer to this game under ninety days now
(01:24):
to the first ever regular season game in Dublin between
the Pittsburgh Steeters and the Minnesota Vikings. And delighted to
join you folks as we get closer to Steders preseason
and Steelers' training camp in the troupe. Going to have
the opportunity to go over there in a few weeks time.
Really excited to bring you some content there and some
big news this week, folks. Hey, the Steers a couple
of days ago have agreed to acquire quarterback Jilan Ramsey
(01:47):
and tight end Johnny Smith in a trade with the
Miami Dolphins. Pending physicals. Pittsburgh are also going to receive
a twenty twenty seventh for round pick from the Dolphins,
and in exchange, the Steelers have sent a fifth round
twenty twenty seven pick to the Dolphins and safety Minka
Fitzpatrick over to Miami, and we wish Minka the very
very best and fink him for his time with the
(02:09):
team over the last few seasons. Ramsey coming in, folks,
what a fantastic signing for this team. He's going to
be entering his tenth season in the NFL this year,
and he is a three time All Pro selection, with
First team honors in twenty seventeen, twenty twenty, and twenty
twenty one. Outside of that, he's a seven time Pro
Bowl selection, earning honors from twenty seventeen to twenty twenty three,
(02:32):
and in the last seven years, he has been named
in the NFL's Top one hundred players list. He spent
the last two years with the Dolphins after they got
him from the Rams, and in his two years with
the Dolphins, he appeared in twenty seven games, starting every
one of them, eighty two tackles, fifty seven of them
solo stops, sixteen passes defended, five interceptions, and six tackles
(02:54):
for a loss with Miami. That shows you straight up
the sort of guy we're getting, alongside the fact we're
getting in Smith, going into his ninth season in the league,
who had three hundred and seven receptions for three thousand,
three hundred and seven yards in his career so far,
twenty eight touchdoigns. Hoping we get some more as well
on this season with the Steelers and two good guys
(03:17):
to come straight in in an elevated team with Aaron
Rodgers to come in to Dublin. I'll tell you what.
It's the fan of me talking, but I can't win.
I want to wish everybody, folks at that's celebrating this weekend.
I'm very happy Independence Day in the US. And funnily enough,
if you weren't aware of this obviously, mister Rooney, mister
Dan Rooney was the former US Ambassador to Ireland and
(03:41):
back in the day he used to have a flag
football tournament at the Deerfield Residence in Dublin on Independence
Day where many Steeers players, GA players, local domestic game
players came in and played. And this week we're gonna
hear from a guy that played in those games. In
twenty thirteen, approximately twenty fourteen, former Dublin Gaelic footballer, former
(04:03):
Dublin GEA representative now with Shelbourne delighted to welcome into
moss Quinn to the Irish Theaters Podcast presented by er Lingus.
As we roll on getting closer and closer to NFL
training camp here on the Irish Theaters Podcast presented by Erlingus,
we are delighted to welcome in a former Dublin GA
player formerly with Dublin G and I was Shelburne, a
(04:24):
friend of the podcast the second time on this podcast,
Tomas Quinn Mossy Quinn as I'll call him, MASSI coladad
welcome back in. How are you doing.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
I'm very well, Michael, Thank you, It's great to be here.
Good to chatty as always, it's.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Never like it never ends. Now obviously we'll talk about
the game coming in a few months to your old
stomping grounds and Crow Park. It's it's a really interesting time,
mostly in the fact that we're actually bringing you on,
because I'm not sure how many people actually notice. But obviously,
mister Rooney was the former US embassaard Ireland, and with
the fourth of July b in this week, you have
(04:57):
an interesting background and I believe this may be your
opportunity or your way of getting in and knowing the
Steelers organization. The fourth of July party at the US
Ambassador's residence in Dublin. The one year that you went,
I believe for the first time, was one like no
other and it hasn't really been repeated since if I'm correct.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Yeah, No, we were fortunate enough back when Ambassador Rooney
was living in the residence in the Phoenix Park. I
think his first year he ran a Fourth of July
party as his tradition for whoever the ambassador is, and
the ambassador usually puts their own slant on it, so
some will have different types of American music, some will
have it based around food, but as Ambassador Roney did,
it was around football and Steelers football and engaging with
(05:38):
engaging with the Irish people in that context. And we
were fortunate enough. We were actually I was still playing.
I think the first year he did it was twenty twelve,
and myself and a couple of colleagues were still playing
with Dublin at the time, so we weren't we weren't
able to participate in the event that year, but from
twenty thirteen we played two years twenty thirteen twenty fourteen,
and what he did was he had a flag football
event on the lawn outside the Ambassador's residence which was manicured.
(06:04):
There's probably as good a pitch. You probably have Crow
Park as the best pitch in Ireland, and then you
probably had the Ambassador's Residence nearly as the second best
pitch in Ireland, even though it was only every years,
probably once a year for flag football. And it was
a brilliant event, really family, real family events. There was
a number of different family events on around the grounds
in terms of face painting for kids and different different,
(06:25):
different fun games, and it was a brilliant It was
a brilliant initiative and it was I think it was
probably testament to mister Rooney and the family environment that
he brought as an ambassador. And we were fortunate enough
to myself a couple of former Dublin players Barry Call,
Jason Sherlock, Game and Fennel. Our brilliant coach Mickey Wheeling
was there as well in a coach of capacity, and
we mixed. It was effectively the Dublin Eights and the
(06:47):
Dublin Rhinos were the two local American football teams who
are kind of mixed in with some of the I
think some of the embassy staff, some of the military
who might have been based or some of the even
the guard from the customs and border patrolling and dou
An Airport. I know we bumped into a couple of
them with a couple of beers with a few of
them after the game. So yeah, it was a brilliant
(07:07):
environment and really really fun.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
What was the atmosphere like in terms of it, Like,
obviously al it's great to have local clubs there as well.
Was it really like that family fun atmosphere? Was it
competitive in that sense as well? Because from seeing pictures
that you sent to us as well, and thank you
for doing so and seeing this week, it just looks
like something that really hasn't been seen before.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Yeah, the whole event, like I was saying, it was,
it was really family orientated. Even afterwards there was there
was barbecues, there was food, there was music put on,
so it was very much come and play the game.
But it's more it was a part of the occasion
rather I mean the focus of the occasion. But it
was taken seriously, like there was a couple of practices
leading into it, like you were up in the Ambassador's
residence and the week leading up to the fourth of July,
(07:47):
and that was more so just to get used to
the rules, get to know a couple of your teammates,
and each team had a couple of windows to practice
in there, so they were That was very valuable for
us even to work out position wise what people's skill
set were and were what position people were going to play.
But there was no doubt. I think it's the same
as anything Michael once. Once the whistle goes that that
competitive edge kicks in with a lot of people. So, okay,
(08:08):
it was flag football, it was meant to be non contact.
But I'm sure if you reviewed the film, there was
a couple of couple of hits. Roby borderline.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Did you get a chance even around that time to
meet mister Nie and shot him? Because look, I can
only imagine he's looking down now smiling in terms of
how much it's grown here since.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Yeah, we did. We were very fortunately even the practices
when it was just us as teams up and the
lead up to the game, he would come out and
welcome us up to the embassy, and he'd come out
and have a look and he'd be keeping an eye
on the practices, And what was so obvious was how
personable he was, how interested he was and talking to
people and understanding where they were from, and he made
time for everybody. So that was it was great to
(08:44):
have met him a couple of times before the day itself,
because on the day itself, it's so busy, but he again,
while it was part of the day, he was he
was right in the middle of it. He was coming over,
he was part of the coin toss beforehand, he was
talking to teams afterwards and making sure guys when people
were staying around, engaging with other guests and different things
like that. So and look, he set the town for
the whole the whole event, the whole week really, and
(09:06):
it was it was very much come in, have some fun,
you know, be part of something that was that was
centered around football, but it was about enjoyment and it
was more about a community spirit. And that's that. That
was one of the things that stood out to me
when you were talking to him. So now we're very fortunate.
That was what I took from the first year, and
then to be to be invited back again the second
year was great.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
It's always a good sign when you're invited Backman, look
for people that are listening and I know you or
may not know of you or your background. I'm sure
a lot of people do massive sporting and background playing
in Krook Park, many many good times with Dublin GA
and still involved with sport and now on the soccer
side of things with Saburne. You know, you know Krowk
Park more than a lot of people, but more so
(09:46):
out of that must year. You're obviously a massive NFL
fan as well. How proud of you or how do
you feel or how have you felt over the last
few months when you've seen this game being nice because
I think for a lot of us we sort of
felt like it would happen at some point, but certainly
for a personal viewpoint for me, I O God, I
just don't see it ever happening. And now it has
and it's the Steelers. It's the team that you obviously
were very close to their ten eleven years ago at
(10:07):
that Ambassard's residence. It's them coming the time and they'll
be the first team to do it in that way.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
It is It's a bit surreal, to be honest, Michael, Like,
I've been watching NFL twenty five, twenty six years at
this stage, and I remember going to the London games
in the mid two thousands and walking up to Wembley
thinking this is incredible because I used to nearly being
a GA player. Our offseason coincided perfectly with the NFL season,
so there was a couple of years in a row
there before real life kicked in with kids and different
(10:35):
things like that, where every year in the offseason we
would have gone over again. Group of us want to
have gone over to different cities and watch the NFL
games and gone to see different teams. So going to
games in London kind of gave you that sense that
maybe someday it would be possible. But it's obviously just
a journey the NFL has been on in the last
number of years. You've seen them going international, You've seen
the manner in which they're looking to expand into different markets,
(10:55):
and obviously the college American football is probably a great
eppingstone you could argue for what can happen in Ireland
and how Dublin in particular is capable of holding such
an event, and look Ireland such a sport and country anyway,
So once once the NFL started casting, they're now a
little bit wider, it to me became a bit of
(11:15):
a no brainer. So it was more a case of
when rather than if it was going to happen. And look,
the fact that the Steelers have come in I was
looking enough to be there the first day announced their
entry into the global marketing program in crow Park, and
that was the question everyone had. And I think it's
probably happened a little bit sooner than maybe they even
thought at that date. But look, it's brilliant. And look
you saw as a man for tickets, You've seen the
(11:36):
hype starting to build already. And I think as a
as a country and as a city, I think Dublin
is Dublin Ireland and Dublin are ready to go. And yeah,
it's only going to build over the coming months.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
It's going to be class a couple of months ago
before we sort of out This week mustly general NFL question.
You know, when you talk about Dublin, you talk about
the first game in Dublin. To have Aaron Rodgers potentially,
I mean, we expect them to be the starting quarterback
for the team this year, but to have him, you know,
playing in Dublin on crowk Park's turf for that historic
first game, it's pretty special and it's a pretty bold
(12:10):
statement by the team as well in terms of what
they hope to do this year.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
It is. Yeah, Look, I think when you're looking you
take an even bigger interest, like we're looking at the
Steelers all the time because of the connection with Ireland,
but even looking at teams and how rosters are put
together and what way there's different ways to win and
what that looks like. And I think I've been very
impressive what the Steelers have done in the offseason. There
was a little bit of a delay and Rogers coming
into the building, but they never seem to panic. There
(12:35):
was a calmnesst there and I think that comes from
having a really strong front office, from having a good
organization from the top down, and obviously the fact that
they would coaches experience and as high quality as he is,
I think it lends itself to having that air of
these guys are going to be ready. This team are
going to be ready to go once the season starts.
And look, the quarterback is the focal point, but he
is just one focal point. You need you need an
(12:57):
offensive line to protect him. You need to keep him
standing no matter who it is, So whether it's a
twenty two year old rookie or whether it's a forty one,
forty two year old experienced quarterback. You need an a
line who's going to protect him and give him time.
And there's a few quarterbacks over the last twenty years
who played the game as higher level as Aaron Rodgers.
So if he can, if he can, if he can
show a bit of that, And with the skill set
players that the Steelers have added in recent months and
(13:19):
in recent days, I think I think the opportunity is
there for him to build on it because you know,
the defense is gonna gonna hold up there side of
the bargain. So it's going to be interesting to see
how team dynamics and everything comes together. But that's that's
part of the beauty of it.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
You know, you see play herme players, players jump or
run around club Park. You talk about the defense for
the Steelers. Just finally we see this week Gilan Ramsey
coming in like talk about having a big state when
the stack in the goal. But you know, you can
see this team getting better and better. Man like you
to see him playing in Dublin, for any Steelers fan,
for any NFL fans, is going to be fantastic. In
Miami's losses, Pittsburgh's game.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
For sure, and look Steelers for since they've been a
synonymous with the NFL have been around on defense and
being mean and being tough to score on and tough
to play against. And I was fortunate enough to be
in Pittsburgh last November to see him against the Ravens.
They beat the Ravens eighteen sixteen that day. And it's
the energy the defense gives the team, and it's when
the crowd gets into it, and it's the breaks and
(14:16):
play and the energy comes from the defense. And I
know that dynamic is they're trying to the crowd is
naturally going to be loud because you're trying to make
it hard for the opposition team, the opposition quarterback. And
obviously when when the Steelers offense is working, you're generally quiet,
but the crowd feeds off the defense and I don't
see any different. And when you're adding quality players like
Jalen Ramsey, all the steeling is making it harder that
(14:37):
when an opposition quarterback, when it's possibly j. J. McCarty
drops back and he's looking to see what his options are,
there's certain parts of the field he knows not to
go out and I think the more the Steelers can
do that might give the big guys up fronts a
chance to get off from a little bit more any
type of hesitation. So yeah, it just adds to that
and adds another piece to the puzzle spot on.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I couldn't put it any better myself. Mostly, I know
it's going to be a really a few months ahead.
Thank you for giving us your memories of that time
in July twenty thirteen, twenty fourteen, and obviously many more
to come as well. Hopefully see you at the game
of a few months and just obviously the best look
to yourself over the nextew months ago. Thank you very
much for coming on.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Hiks, Michael, talk to you.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Sam Irish Airline air LINGUS will proudly serve as the
presenting partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlingus's growth
in North America continues in twenty twenty five as the
airline prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville
and Indianapolis, using its new Airbus eight three twenty one
(15:39):
xl or aircraft.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
This brings the number.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Of Transatlantic routes operated by the airline from Dublin Shannon
and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers fans traveling to Ireland
for the big game can enjoy a relaxing journey when
they fly with air Lingus.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Air Lingus, you're very welcome.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
H
Irish airline aer Lingus will proudly serve as the presenting
partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlingus's growth in
North America continues in twenty twenty five as the airline
prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville and Indianapolis,
using its new Airbus eight three twenty one xl or aircraft.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
This brings the number.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Of transatlantic routes operated by the airline from Dublin, Shannon
and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers fans traveling to Ireland
for the Big Game can enjoy a relaxing journey when
they fly.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
With air Lingus. Air Lingus, You're very welcome, Everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Welcome into the Irish Theaters podcast presented by aer Lingus
and Talk of the air Lingus. Steelers Nation has time
to take flight with aer Lingus, an official airline partner
of the Pittsburgh Steeters and the founding partner of Steelers Ireland.
There's never been a better time to book your trip
to Dublin with nineteen North American Gate Whiz, including flights
from nearby Cleveland. Get ready for warm Irish hospitality and
(01:03):
plenty of room on board for your terrible title. Whether
it's game day or a getaway, Erlingus looks forward to
saying you're very welcome to the players and fans of
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Book now at erlingus dot com. And
I'll tell you what, folks. Every week, we are getting
closer and closer to this game under ninety days now
(01:24):
to the first ever regular season game in Dublin between
the Pittsburgh Steeters and the Minnesota Vikings. And delighted to
join you folks as we get closer to Steders preseason
and Steelers' training camp in the troupe. Going to have
the opportunity to go over there in a few weeks time.
Really excited to bring you some content there and some
big news this week, folks. Hey, the Steers a couple
of days ago have agreed to acquire quarterback Jilan Ramsey
(01:47):
and tight end Johnny Smith in a trade with the
Miami Dolphins. Pending physicals. Pittsburgh are also going to receive
a twenty twenty seventh for round pick from the Dolphins,
and in exchange, the Steelers have sent a fifth round
twenty twenty seven pick to the Dolphins and safety Minka
Fitzpatrick over to Miami, and we wish Minka the very
very best and fink him for his time with the
(02:09):
team over the last few seasons. Ramsey coming in, folks,
what a fantastic signing for this team. He's going to
be entering his tenth season in the NFL this year,
and he is a three time All Pro selection, with
First team honors in twenty seventeen, twenty twenty, and twenty
twenty one. Outside of that, he's a seven time Pro
Bowl selection, earning honors from twenty seventeen to twenty twenty three,
(02:32):
and in the last seven years, he has been named
in the NFL's Top one hundred players list. He spent
the last two years with the Dolphins after they got
him from the Rams, and in his two years with
the Dolphins, he appeared in twenty seven games, starting every
one of them, eighty two tackles, fifty seven of them
solo stops, sixteen passes defended, five interceptions, and six tackles
(02:54):
for a loss with Miami. That shows you straight up
the sort of guy we're getting, alongside the fact we're
getting in Smith, going into his ninth season in the league,
who had three hundred and seven receptions for three thousand,
three hundred and seven yards in his career so far,
twenty eight touchdoigns. Hoping we get some more as well
on this season with the Steelers and two good guys
(03:17):
to come straight in in an elevated team with Aaron
Rodgers to come in to Dublin. I'll tell you what.
It's the fan of me talking, but I can't win.
I want to wish everybody, folks at that's celebrating this weekend.
I'm very happy Independence Day in the US. And funnily enough,
if you weren't aware of this obviously, mister Rooney, mister
Dan Rooney was the former US Ambassador to Ireland and
(03:41):
back in the day he used to have a flag
football tournament at the Deerfield Residence in Dublin on Independence
Day where many Steeers players, GA players, local domestic game
players came in and played. And this week we're gonna
hear from a guy that played in those games. In
twenty thirteen, approximately twenty fourteen, former Dublin Gaelic footballer, former
(04:03):
Dublin GEA representative now with Shelbourne delighted to welcome into
moss Quinn to the Irish Theaters Podcast presented by er Lingus.
As we roll on getting closer and closer to NFL
training camp here on the Irish Theaters Podcast presented by Erlingus,
we are delighted to welcome in a former Dublin GA
player formerly with Dublin G and I was Shelburne, a
(04:24):
friend of the podcast the second time on this podcast,
Tomas Quinn Mossy Quinn as I'll call him, MASSI coladad
welcome back in. How are you doing.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
I'm very well, Michael, Thank you, It's great to be here.
Good to chatty as always, it's.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Never like it never ends. Now obviously we'll talk about
the game coming in a few months to your old
stomping grounds and Crow Park. It's it's a really interesting time,
mostly in the fact that we're actually bringing you on,
because I'm not sure how many people actually notice. But obviously,
mister Rooney was the former US embassaard Ireland, and with
the fourth of July b in this week, you have
(04:57):
an interesting background and I believe this may be your
opportunity or your way of getting in and knowing the
Steelers organization. The fourth of July party at the US
Ambassador's residence in Dublin. The one year that you went,
I believe for the first time, was one like no
other and it hasn't really been repeated since if I'm correct.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Yeah, No, we were fortunate enough back when Ambassador Rooney
was living in the residence in the Phoenix Park. I
think his first year he ran a Fourth of July
party as his tradition for whoever the ambassador is, and
the ambassador usually puts their own slant on it, so
some will have different types of American music, some will
have it based around food, but as Ambassador Roney did,
it was around football and Steelers football and engaging with
(05:38):
engaging with the Irish people in that context. And we
were fortunate enough. We were actually I was still playing.
I think the first year he did it was twenty twelve,
and myself and a couple of colleagues were still playing
with Dublin at the time, so we weren't we weren't
able to participate in the event that year, but from
twenty thirteen we played two years twenty thirteen twenty fourteen,
and what he did was he had a flag football
event on the lawn outside the Ambassador's residence which was manicured.
(06:04):
There's probably as good a pitch. You probably have Crow
Park as the best pitch in Ireland, and then you
probably had the Ambassador's Residence nearly as the second best
pitch in Ireland, even though it was only every years,
probably once a year for flag football. And it was
a brilliant event, really family, real family events. There was
a number of different family events on around the grounds
in terms of face painting for kids and different different,
(06:25):
different fun games, and it was a brilliant It was
a brilliant initiative and it was I think it was
probably testament to mister Rooney and the family environment that
he brought as an ambassador. And we were fortunate enough
to myself a couple of former Dublin players Barry Call,
Jason Sherlock, Game and Fennel. Our brilliant coach Mickey Wheeling
was there as well in a coach of capacity, and
we mixed. It was effectively the Dublin Eights and the
(06:47):
Dublin Rhinos were the two local American football teams who
are kind of mixed in with some of the I
think some of the embassy staff, some of the military
who might have been based or some of the even
the guard from the customs and border patrolling and dou
An Airport. I know we bumped into a couple of
them with a couple of beers with a few of
them after the game. So yeah, it was a brilliant
(07:07):
environment and really really fun.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
What was the atmosphere like in terms of it, Like,
obviously al it's great to have local clubs there as well.
Was it really like that family fun atmosphere? Was it
competitive in that sense as well? Because from seeing pictures
that you sent to us as well, and thank you
for doing so and seeing this week, it just looks
like something that really hasn't been seen before.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Yeah, the whole event, like I was saying, it was,
it was really family orientated. Even afterwards there was there
was barbecues, there was food, there was music put on,
so it was very much come and play the game.
But it's more it was a part of the occasion
rather I mean the focus of the occasion. But it
was taken seriously, like there was a couple of practices
leading into it, like you were up in the Ambassador's
residence and the week leading up to the fourth of July,
(07:47):
and that was more so just to get used to
the rules, get to know a couple of your teammates,
and each team had a couple of windows to practice
in there, so they were That was very valuable for
us even to work out position wise what people's skill
set were and were what position people were going to play.
But there was no doubt. I think it's the same
as anything Michael once. Once the whistle goes that that
competitive edge kicks in with a lot of people. So, okay,
(08:08):
it was flag football, it was meant to be non contact.
But I'm sure if you reviewed the film, there was
a couple of couple of hits. Roby borderline.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Did you get a chance even around that time to
meet mister Nie and shot him? Because look, I can
only imagine he's looking down now smiling in terms of
how much it's grown here since.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Yeah, we did. We were very fortunately even the practices
when it was just us as teams up and the
lead up to the game, he would come out and
welcome us up to the embassy, and he'd come out
and have a look and he'd be keeping an eye
on the practices, And what was so obvious was how
personable he was, how interested he was and talking to
people and understanding where they were from, and he made
time for everybody. So that was it was great to
(08:44):
have met him a couple of times before the day itself,
because on the day itself, it's so busy, but he again,
while it was part of the day, he was he
was right in the middle of it. He was coming over,
he was part of the coin toss beforehand, he was
talking to teams afterwards and making sure guys when people
were staying around, engaging with other guests and different things
like that. So and look, he set the town for
the whole the whole event, the whole week really, and
(09:06):
it was it was very much come in, have some fun,
you know, be part of something that was that was
centered around football, but it was about enjoyment and it
was more about a community spirit. And that's that. That
was one of the things that stood out to me
when you were talking to him. So now we're very fortunate.
That was what I took from the first year, and
then to be to be invited back again the second
year was great.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
It's always a good sign when you're invited Backman, look
for people that are listening and I know you or
may not know of you or your background. I'm sure
a lot of people do massive sporting and background playing
in Krook Park, many many good times with Dublin GA
and still involved with sport and now on the soccer
side of things with Saburne. You know, you know Krowk
Park more than a lot of people, but more so
(09:46):
out of that must year. You're obviously a massive NFL
fan as well. How proud of you or how do
you feel or how have you felt over the last
few months when you've seen this game being nice because
I think for a lot of us we sort of
felt like it would happen at some point, but certainly
for a personal viewpoint for me, I O God, I
just don't see it ever happening. And now it has
and it's the Steelers. It's the team that you obviously
were very close to their ten eleven years ago at
(10:07):
that Ambassard's residence. It's them coming the time and they'll
be the first team to do it in that way.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
It is It's a bit surreal, to be honest, Michael, Like,
I've been watching NFL twenty five, twenty six years at
this stage, and I remember going to the London games
in the mid two thousands and walking up to Wembley
thinking this is incredible because I used to nearly being
a GA player. Our offseason coincided perfectly with the NFL season,
so there was a couple of years in a row
there before real life kicked in with kids and different
(10:35):
things like that, where every year in the offseason we
would have gone over again. Group of us want to
have gone over to different cities and watch the NFL
games and gone to see different teams. So going to
games in London kind of gave you that sense that
maybe someday it would be possible. But it's obviously just
a journey the NFL has been on in the last
number of years. You've seen them going international, You've seen
the manner in which they're looking to expand into different markets,
(10:55):
and obviously the college American football is probably a great
eppingstone you could argue for what can happen in Ireland
and how Dublin in particular is capable of holding such
an event, and look Ireland such a sport and country anyway,
So once once the NFL started casting, they're now a
little bit wider, it to me became a bit of
(11:15):
a no brainer. So it was more a case of
when rather than if it was going to happen. And look,
the fact that the Steelers have come in I was
looking enough to be there the first day announced their
entry into the global marketing program in crow Park, and
that was the question everyone had. And I think it's
probably happened a little bit sooner than maybe they even
thought at that date. But look, it's brilliant. And look
you saw as a man for tickets, You've seen the
(11:36):
hype starting to build already. And I think as a
as a country and as a city, I think Dublin
is Dublin Ireland and Dublin are ready to go. And yeah,
it's only going to build over the coming months.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
It's going to be class a couple of months ago
before we sort of out This week mustly general NFL question.
You know, when you talk about Dublin, you talk about
the first game in Dublin. To have Aaron Rodgers potentially,
I mean, we expect them to be the starting quarterback
for the team this year, but to have him, you know,
playing in Dublin on crowk Park's turf for that historic
first game, it's pretty special and it's a pretty bold
(12:10):
statement by the team as well in terms of what
they hope to do this year.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
It is. Yeah, Look, I think when you're looking you
take an even bigger interest, like we're looking at the
Steelers all the time because of the connection with Ireland,
but even looking at teams and how rosters are put
together and what way there's different ways to win and
what that looks like. And I think I've been very
impressive what the Steelers have done in the offseason. There
was a little bit of a delay and Rogers coming
into the building, but they never seem to panic. There
(12:35):
was a calmnesst there and I think that comes from
having a really strong front office, from having a good
organization from the top down, and obviously the fact that
they would coaches experience and as high quality as he is,
I think it lends itself to having that air of
these guys are going to be ready. This team are
going to be ready to go once the season starts.
And look, the quarterback is the focal point, but he
is just one focal point. You need you need an
(12:57):
offensive line to protect him. You need to keep him
standing no matter who it is, So whether it's a
twenty two year old rookie or whether it's a forty one,
forty two year old experienced quarterback. You need an a
line who's going to protect him and give him time.
And there's a few quarterbacks over the last twenty years
who played the game as higher level as Aaron Rodgers.
So if he can, if he can, if he can
show a bit of that, And with the skill set
players that the Steelers have added in recent months and
(13:19):
in recent days, I think I think the opportunity is
there for him to build on it because you know,
the defense is gonna gonna hold up there side of
the bargain. So it's going to be interesting to see
how team dynamics and everything comes together. But that's that's
part of the beauty of it.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
You know, you see play herme players, players jump or
run around club Park. You talk about the defense for
the Steelers. Just finally we see this week Gilan Ramsey
coming in like talk about having a big state when
the stack in the goal. But you know, you can
see this team getting better and better. Man like you
to see him playing in Dublin, for any Steelers fan,
for any NFL fans, is going to be fantastic. In
Miami's losses, Pittsburgh's game.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
For sure, and look Steelers for since they've been a
synonymous with the NFL have been around on defense and
being mean and being tough to score on and tough
to play against. And I was fortunate enough to be
in Pittsburgh last November to see him against the Ravens.
They beat the Ravens eighteen sixteen that day. And it's
the energy the defense gives the team, and it's when
the crowd gets into it, and it's the breaks and
(14:16):
play and the energy comes from the defense. And I
know that dynamic is they're trying to the crowd is
naturally going to be loud because you're trying to make
it hard for the opposition team, the opposition quarterback. And
obviously when when the Steelers offense is working, you're generally quiet,
but the crowd feeds off the defense and I don't
see any different. And when you're adding quality players like
Jalen Ramsey, all the steeling is making it harder that
(14:37):
when an opposition quarterback, when it's possibly j. J. McCarty
drops back and he's looking to see what his options are,
there's certain parts of the field he knows not to
go out and I think the more the Steelers can
do that might give the big guys up fronts a
chance to get off from a little bit more any
type of hesitation. So yeah, it just adds to that
and adds another piece to the puzzle spot on.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I couldn't put it any better myself. Mostly, I know
it's going to be a really a few months ahead.
Thank you for giving us your memories of that time
in July twenty thirteen, twenty fourteen, and obviously many more
to come as well. Hopefully see you at the game
of a few months and just obviously the best look
to yourself over the nextew months ago. Thank you very
much for coming on.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Hiks, Michael, talk to you.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Sam Irish Airline air LINGUS will proudly serve as the
presenting partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlingus's growth
in North America continues in twenty twenty five as the
airline prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville
and Indianapolis, using its new Airbus eight three twenty one
(15:39):
xl or aircraft.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
This brings the number.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Of Transatlantic routes operated by the airline from Dublin Shannon
and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers fans traveling to Ireland
for the big game can enjoy a relaxing journey when
they fly with air Lingus.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Air Lingus, you're very welcome.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
H
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