February 26, 2025 • 18 mins
If you are a Steelers fan across the island of Ireland - you will know Tom McCormack. The Dublin man was named the first ever International Fan Of The Year for the Steelers from Ireland this week. He stops by and chats to Michael about the accolade.
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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.
This brings the number of transatlantic routes operated by the
(00:21):
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. Air Lingus,
You're very welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Everybody, welcome into the Irish Steeters Podcast. You're very very
welcome this week as we get back into things ahead
of the NFL Combine this weekend. The air Steers Podcast
is presented by Erlingus and Irish Airline. Aerlingus has just
allowned plans to become an official airline partner of the
Pittsburgh Stears. As a founding partner of Steeters Ireland, Erlingus
will be welcoming the Steelers and all of Steelers Nation
(01:02):
to Dublin this autumn for what's said to be a
fantastic NFL showdown in Dublin. For listeners outside of Ireland,
you can book your flight to Dublin night at arlingus
dot com to make sure you won't miss out on
any of the action. Well, I tell you what, folks,
this week we have a guest who I do not
think we'll miss out in the action later on this
(01:24):
year in Dublin. He is the newly crowned Steelers International
Fan of the Year from Dublin. It is an honor
to bring on a guy that igen's aider, a friend
as well, Tom McCormick to this podcast and to welcome
back to the Arish to this podcast. Tom. I tell
you what, lad, I did not think last year last
week even I'd be chatting to you a week guy
(01:46):
from the Combine, Congratulations, how do you feel.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I'm still in a state of shop to some extent,
very excited. You saw the piece on social media Steers
Steelers Ireland and Bush me here in the house and
uh with the promise that talk about the seven game again,
and lo and behold, Stephanie pulls out the phone and
there's a record from Dan Rooney saying, I've been selected
(02:13):
number one and then to represent the Steelers at Global
Nation at the NFL Draft which is coming up in
Green Bay, Wisconsin. And thanks there, Lingers through Chicago. My
wife and I will look forward to meeting and greeting
lots of NFL fans and telling them to get on
an Airlis train and get back here to Dublin for
the Steelers in the autumn.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
And look when I seen this year the International Fan
of the Year. Obviously it's the first it's like the
second or third year. What happened. I knew what was
coming in terms of hopefully we'll have a game. I
knew that, and I think I think we have to
give credit to this organization. Tom for people listening, I
believe you're you're definitely in the NFL. You're the first
(02:57):
fan from the Republic of Ireland to be given this award,
but the first fan from Ireland, from the Island of
Ireland for the Steelers to be giving this award. It's
one thing saying that somebody you know. Obviously it was
great to see Stephanie and check out socials, but when
you're sitting there in your kitchen, what does that actually
mean to you because like I could see, like I
see how emotionally we're like that. That's a really special moment. Mate.
(03:19):
It feels like for me, like your fandom of this
team has really culminated in this moment. And I think,
you know, there's hard days, there's great days, but when
you see something that happen, I think it really hits home.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
A dream come true. Michael, you know the history. I
went to Florida in seventy nine with the UCD rugby tour.
We enjoyed watching a couple of games on the box
and then thrown around the ball. A few of us
brought a few home and played a bit of game,
a few scrimmages, et cetera, upro UCD and we started
tracking the games in the States and that was the
(03:54):
year the Steelers went for their fourth Super Bowl. And
just to hear and see Cherry brad Shore in action
and Lin Swan and Stalwarth all those you know landmark plays,
you know, we were almost ballet like catches of the
ball in the end zone and stuff like that. And
obviously Frank o'harris rugged rugged running back. US rugby players
(04:18):
could correlate with that. But not so much the passing game.
So we were we were being used and bewildered and
loved it and h then it was a question of
a few of us had developed a voracious appetite. Where
are we going to hear more about this? What can
we do? And there wasn't much there. There was no
mobile phones, no internet. We wouldn't be talking, we wouldn't
even know about each other. But there were magazines coming
(04:41):
in from the UK occasionally an Escence, First Down, Touchdown,
grid Iron, and Quarterback I think were the four magazines.
And you could buy NFL tapes which from the States,
but they would take weeks to get here, so there
were more compilations and things like that. So the the
mid he was scarce, and obviously the Steelers then went
(05:03):
on not too far after that to win two more
Super Bowls. They're fifth and sixth, and so I would
consider my quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, seeing him grow and develop
and mature both as a winning quarterback and then steering
the ship for so long and getting to see his
last game at Hydesfield as was called then was just magical.
(05:24):
So to see the Steelers back here in w but
this time with a regular season points on offer is
going to be something else and a full pro park,
a more modern pro park. It was seventy six thousand
people plus.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah, I think you've hit the nil on the head.
I think we have had you on this podcast before
and you've talked about your fandom. I would recommend anybody
on this podcast feed to go back over the last
eight of the episodes and jump on the podcast and
you come on Tom. We'll talk about your fan of
the year war than Louissecond. But it's something that we
haven't even on a personal level, had a chance to
(05:58):
chat about over the last few weeks. We met at
an event before the Super Bowl. We went out and
it was obviously announced if you think from the Steelers'
most reason super Bowl win to now and so not
just how the NFL has changed, but how the world
has changed and it's got way more close together. We
sort of mentioned it there, but the fact that we
(06:18):
are mere months away from a game in Dublin, how
much as a fans I cite you, but also like
as a fan myself of the NFL, I get emotional
to think how that day is going to be at
whatever point it is this year it's going to be
very very special for you. You've been a fan for
a little longer than me. It must it must be
(06:39):
mean an awful lot man.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, forty five years, Michael, not fifty, but yeah, the NFL.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I got you in trouble over there for that. I'm sorry.
Forty five years. Forty five years.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
So I'm sixty three, So yeah, I know it's huge
because you've seen the growth and development of the NFL
over the last few years with SkySports, who came on
board around twenty twenty, sky Sports NFL. Before that, we
had Channel four highlights for half an hour the week
after then the rights went to ITV and then onto BBC,
(07:10):
back to Channel four, and it was moving as TV
channels were bought. Bt Sport was bit bought over by TNT.
These things happen in the commercial world. So we were
just looking for regular NFL football. And then, as as
most fans do, they tend to gravitate towards their own team.
So you want to see the Steelers matches. You don't
(07:30):
really want to watch another game. You want to see
how your guys are doing and where the schedule is
is the first thing. The calendar that comes out. I
subscribe to the Post Gazette in Pittsburgh, so I get
all the news online for Diddley Squad every morning, and
hopefully I'll meet some of these journalists now at Green
Bay and meet the faces behind the bylines, which is great,
(07:51):
but from the Steelers point of view, they've done a
lot of work here in the last few years once
they were announced this global marketing program. You and I
have been at some events and crow park both announcements
and events, and then the watch parties two hundred, No
Problem sold out, eight hundred Watch Party, No Problem sold out,
and now the next step is seventy six thousand home game,
(08:14):
and I don't think there be a problem selling out
crow Parker could probably sell it out the following week
as well.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
For anybody interested in that game. More information is coming
out soon, but we're looking at NFL dot com slash
Dublin for information on that, so do check that out. Tom,
just talk to us firstly, We're I'm actually going and
people listening to this podcast feed, I'm going to the
NFL Combine this weekend, so do statue for some information
on that there and different interviews hopefully on this podcast network.
(08:44):
An interesting season, the season that brought a lot of promise,
a lot of wins as well. This didn't work out
in the end of As the fan first and foremost,
how do you see the Steelers team going into twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Well, obviously the experts on the ground are already at
the combine omark and the general manager is.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
There and be there right now. I know I'll be
there at the end of the week. I promise.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
He gave a good pressure earlier and he obviously described
that the main focus would be the quarterback position first
and foremost, and they I think the quote was that
he spoke to russ As people, he spoke with the
Justin Fields people, and everything's in the Harper. Obviously, the
combine is there. There's some people putting in fantastic you
know where forty forty yard dashes, you know, some great
(09:26):
times and stuff like that. The athletes are getting better
every year. A couple of cam Ward would he be
there or something? I don't know. But the people who
have been tracking these fellas for years are the ones
that are obviously got their finger on the pulse and
on the agent's phone to see if they can negotiate
something before Green Bay kicks up on Easter Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Absolutely. So it's funny because like we had for for
a lot of last season, there was wins, there was wins,
there was wins, and yes, there was that sort of
ending to the season probably the best way to say it.
It just sort of ended. And I think a lot
of us going into the end of November early December
fourth called we could really be honest in here, but
it's it's having that bones of a team, and it's
(10:10):
having different guys in different positions. It feels like we
need small a judgments, but certainly continuity as well, and
we will get there. And how how positive or how
confident do you feel about the team right now or
do you think it's too early to tell so far
in this off season.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
I think there's probably a bit early because obviously the
homework has to be done. They would have seen players
at the Senior Bowl and some of the other bowls
around the states. Now they're into Combine free agency opens up,
so it's still pretty early. They might have seventy seventy
five percent of the team, but I would imagine it's
still a good chunk of twenty twenty five percent to
be filled and as Rob Kan said on the podcast
(10:48):
a few weeks ago, and I obviously much closer to
the to the post than I am. O line, D line,
bigger figures, you know, replicating the Eagles type of Super Bowl,
and maybe we meet more on some some some of
those starting positions and backup positions as well. A few
picks last year got injured more or less in week
(11:10):
one and two when you go after all the work.
But this is what happens. It's a it's a full
contact game, and this this can happen. So I think
we're seventy five percent happy and there's a room for negotiation.
That's what omar Chan is recognized as one of the
top gms in the business, so I'll trust his wisdom
and obviously coach Tomland as well.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
I think you're buying on. I think there's a lot
of teams going to Indianapolis right now with that same
optimism as well. And it's not trust to be having
the guys as well. So it's going to be interesting
to see what happens for people listening hoping to get
so I rock in the Indianapolis early on Friday, So
I'm hoping it's some conversations and I'm going to hop
on a few Steelers radios, so do check it out
for that folks hopefully get a chance to meet Rob
(11:52):
as well. And thank you for your kind words on
that podcast as well. Tom. I remember the first time
we've done this podcast for the Steels, you show me
your ball from the game in nineteen ninety seven. I'm
not asking you to get that now, Tom, but you
know that's almost thirty years ago. And it's one thing
talking about how exciting this game is just but I
think outside of that, and this is maybe a conversation
(12:13):
to be had in later months this year, but Tom,
talk to us about how you feel this team is
right now in the ways that you see going forward
that are really important as we enter an off season
of change but also an off season of opportunity for
the Pittsburgh theaters.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
It's going to be special. Obviously, the NFL have moved
internationally in their marketing with Brett Gosper, former CEO of
World Rugby and all the guys in the London office
that have been over to the Dublin events and the
Flag Football Championships and Limerick Lass and twenty twenty three,
but from the Steelers point of view, changed the quarterback
room big time at this time last year, and they
(12:48):
might do the same again this year. Again, we have
to leave that up to the people who know who
know best. I do think it's obviously a question mark,
apparently on Nagie Harris. So we've got to look at
things like salary caps and all the other things that
go on. And yet the Eagles won the Super Bowl
sick one body made it. Barkley made a huge impression
(13:09):
on that winning trail for the Eagles, and suddenly running
backs might be back in favor again with a more
strengthened physical game rather than a passing game, which might
have been the case a season or two prior to that.
So I think we might be going back to a
more physical game and more running backs. So let's let's
see what develops in the combine. Let's see what the
(13:30):
homework has been done on the senior Bowl, see who
comes into free agency, and again the all important salary cap,
who can be renegotiated, bought in or else released.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Time is going to tell you the funny thing is,
tom Time is going to fly in this offseason and
before we know it, we're going to be at the
start of the season on a mere weeks away from
this doubling game, and we're only a couple of we're
about five or six weeks away from the NFL Draft,
probably with six or seven weeks actually away from the
NFL Draft in Green Bay. First off, congratulations to you
and your family on that accolade. I think it's fitting
(14:07):
of the Steers organization that you've been given this award.
And I'm talking not just somebody that presents this podcast
for the Steelers in Ireland, but as that works in
the game in Ireland that loves the game. I can't
think of anybody else that deserves it as much as you,
So I hope you enjoy it. I hope you have
a great time when you get out there to the
States over the next few weeks, and I'm sure we'll
be able to meet and chat and get together and
(14:30):
talk about your experiences there. And certainly it's a historic
NFL draft and the fact that it's in Green Bay
as well, so it's going to be really really different
and really really fun. But just to you as well,
for people listening, I said it yesterday. For people listening,
Tom has not just been a Steelers fan for his life.
But you've been extremely supportive of events with the Steers
(14:51):
obviously and events that we have done outside of that.
So believe me when I say it's very very much appreciated.
And I hope you realize what you have done for
the game here as well, and the support that you've
done as well. On a cold Saturday morning or a
Friday even you know, thank you, Tom for what you
have done. And this is only the beginning, you know, man,
it's going to be a really, really exciting year.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Well, thank you, Michael for your huge help in growing
and developing the game here across the thirty two counties
on this island. It's phenomenal. As I say, I've been
delighted to see it grow and develop. The amateur game
U see and the Rebels start the AFI season next Saturday.
I'll be there on the sideline and you know that's
(15:35):
a very good standard. People want to go and have
a look at their games. And Belfast, craig Avon, Wherever, Dublin, Blimerick, Cork,
there are teams there Westmead. So there's loads of good
American football to watch between now and the start of
the pro season. Coming up at the end of August,
beginning of September Labor Day and preseason games, and then
into the first second Sunday of September, we're back into
(15:58):
the NFL. I mean, Sunday nights just aren't the same
without the NFL, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
It's either that or that or watching Dance with the Stars, Tom,
I'll tell you that, just finally, and just on that point,
go out and sport, Go out and support your local team.
And I know those Deelers will agree with that as well,
Like that's great to see the season starting up again.
And we'll just take this opportunity Tom as well, to
wish all the teams. They're very, very best love of
people that love the game. I know Alan low Masny,
(16:25):
who is the head of AFI, is a great friend
of this podcast, and we appreciate the work that all
you guys, everybody involved with with the domestic game dolls
as well, and it really helps. I don't think we'd
be in a position now where we are with how
people like that as well, So a massive thanks to
them as well. Tom. Just just finally, imagine it's fall,
it's autumn. You're in Crooker and you see the terrible tiles.
How does that make you feel?
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Renegade comes on maybe the third quarter, and we've got
a mixture of yellow and green towels, especially produce green
towels that are out there. I'll be biting my lip again.
You saw me bite my lip there when I when
Dan was on the call. And to think that that
will happen, that wasn't there in ninety seven. So that's
going to be unique. And we've got a regular season
game with points at stake. Here we go.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
I can't think of a better way to end this podcast. Man, Tom,
thank you so much, really really appreciate you, and I
know a lot of Steelers fans have been looking forward
to seeing your adventures over the next few weeks on
the Steelers Ireland social channels. For now, Ladies and gentlemen.
Tom McCormack on the Irish Theaters podcast, Thank.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
You, Michael.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
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 xl
or aircraft. This brings the number of transatlantic routes operated
(17:49):
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.
Air Lingus, You're very welcome.
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.
This brings the number of transatlantic routes operated by the
(00:21):
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. Air Lingus,
You're very welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Everybody, welcome into the Irish Steeters Podcast. You're very very
welcome this week as we get back into things ahead
of the NFL Combine this weekend. The air Steers Podcast
is presented by Erlingus and Irish Airline. Aerlingus has just
allowned plans to become an official airline partner of the
Pittsburgh Stears. As a founding partner of Steeters Ireland, Erlingus
will be welcoming the Steelers and all of Steelers Nation
(01:02):
to Dublin this autumn for what's said to be a
fantastic NFL showdown in Dublin. For listeners outside of Ireland,
you can book your flight to Dublin night at arlingus
dot com to make sure you won't miss out on
any of the action. Well, I tell you what, folks,
this week we have a guest who I do not
think we'll miss out in the action later on this
(01:24):
year in Dublin. He is the newly crowned Steelers International
Fan of the Year from Dublin. It is an honor
to bring on a guy that igen's aider, a friend
as well, Tom McCormick to this podcast and to welcome
back to the Arish to this podcast. Tom. I tell
you what, lad, I did not think last year last
week even I'd be chatting to you a week guy
(01:46):
from the Combine, Congratulations, how do you feel.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I'm still in a state of shop to some extent,
very excited. You saw the piece on social media Steers
Steelers Ireland and Bush me here in the house and
uh with the promise that talk about the seven game again,
and lo and behold, Stephanie pulls out the phone and
there's a record from Dan Rooney saying, I've been selected
(02:13):
number one and then to represent the Steelers at Global
Nation at the NFL Draft which is coming up in
Green Bay, Wisconsin. And thanks there, Lingers through Chicago. My
wife and I will look forward to meeting and greeting
lots of NFL fans and telling them to get on
an Airlis train and get back here to Dublin for
the Steelers in the autumn.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
And look when I seen this year the International Fan
of the Year. Obviously it's the first it's like the
second or third year. What happened. I knew what was
coming in terms of hopefully we'll have a game. I
knew that, and I think I think we have to
give credit to this organization. Tom for people listening, I
believe you're you're definitely in the NFL. You're the first
(02:57):
fan from the Republic of Ireland to be given this award,
but the first fan from Ireland, from the Island of
Ireland for the Steelers to be giving this award. It's
one thing saying that somebody you know. Obviously it was
great to see Stephanie and check out socials, but when
you're sitting there in your kitchen, what does that actually
mean to you because like I could see, like I
see how emotionally we're like that. That's a really special moment. Mate.
(03:19):
It feels like for me, like your fandom of this
team has really culminated in this moment. And I think,
you know, there's hard days, there's great days, but when
you see something that happen, I think it really hits home.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
A dream come true. Michael, you know the history. I
went to Florida in seventy nine with the UCD rugby tour.
We enjoyed watching a couple of games on the box
and then thrown around the ball. A few of us
brought a few home and played a bit of game,
a few scrimmages, et cetera, upro UCD and we started
tracking the games in the States and that was the
(03:54):
year the Steelers went for their fourth Super Bowl. And
just to hear and see Cherry brad Shore in action
and Lin Swan and Stalwarth all those you know landmark plays,
you know, we were almost ballet like catches of the
ball in the end zone and stuff like that. And
obviously Frank o'harris rugged rugged running back. US rugby players
(04:18):
could correlate with that. But not so much the passing game.
So we were we were being used and bewildered and
loved it and h then it was a question of
a few of us had developed a voracious appetite. Where
are we going to hear more about this? What can
we do? And there wasn't much there. There was no
mobile phones, no internet. We wouldn't be talking, we wouldn't
even know about each other. But there were magazines coming
(04:41):
in from the UK occasionally an Escence, First Down, Touchdown,
grid Iron, and Quarterback I think were the four magazines.
And you could buy NFL tapes which from the States,
but they would take weeks to get here, so there
were more compilations and things like that. So the the
mid he was scarce, and obviously the Steelers then went
(05:03):
on not too far after that to win two more
Super Bowls. They're fifth and sixth, and so I would
consider my quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, seeing him grow and develop
and mature both as a winning quarterback and then steering
the ship for so long and getting to see his
last game at Hydesfield as was called then was just magical.
(05:24):
So to see the Steelers back here in w but
this time with a regular season points on offer is
going to be something else and a full pro park,
a more modern pro park. It was seventy six thousand
people plus.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah, I think you've hit the nil on the head.
I think we have had you on this podcast before
and you've talked about your fandom. I would recommend anybody
on this podcast feed to go back over the last
eight of the episodes and jump on the podcast and
you come on Tom. We'll talk about your fan of
the year war than Louissecond. But it's something that we
haven't even on a personal level, had a chance to
(05:58):
chat about over the last few weeks. We met at
an event before the Super Bowl. We went out and
it was obviously announced if you think from the Steelers'
most reason super Bowl win to now and so not
just how the NFL has changed, but how the world
has changed and it's got way more close together. We
sort of mentioned it there, but the fact that we
(06:18):
are mere months away from a game in Dublin, how
much as a fans I cite you, but also like
as a fan myself of the NFL, I get emotional
to think how that day is going to be at
whatever point it is this year it's going to be
very very special for you. You've been a fan for
a little longer than me. It must it must be
(06:39):
mean an awful lot man.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, forty five years, Michael, not fifty, but yeah, the NFL.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I got you in trouble over there for that. I'm sorry.
Forty five years. Forty five years.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
So I'm sixty three, So yeah, I know it's huge
because you've seen the growth and development of the NFL
over the last few years with SkySports, who came on
board around twenty twenty, sky Sports NFL. Before that, we
had Channel four highlights for half an hour the week
after then the rights went to ITV and then onto BBC,
(07:10):
back to Channel four, and it was moving as TV
channels were bought. Bt Sport was bit bought over by TNT.
These things happen in the commercial world. So we were
just looking for regular NFL football. And then, as as
most fans do, they tend to gravitate towards their own team.
So you want to see the Steelers matches. You don't
(07:30):
really want to watch another game. You want to see
how your guys are doing and where the schedule is
is the first thing. The calendar that comes out. I
subscribe to the Post Gazette in Pittsburgh, so I get
all the news online for Diddley Squad every morning, and
hopefully I'll meet some of these journalists now at Green
Bay and meet the faces behind the bylines, which is great,
(07:51):
but from the Steelers point of view, they've done a
lot of work here in the last few years once
they were announced this global marketing program. You and I
have been at some events and crow park both announcements
and events, and then the watch parties two hundred, No
Problem sold out, eight hundred Watch Party, No Problem sold out,
and now the next step is seventy six thousand home game,
(08:14):
and I don't think there be a problem selling out
crow Parker could probably sell it out the following week
as well.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
For anybody interested in that game. More information is coming
out soon, but we're looking at NFL dot com slash
Dublin for information on that, so do check that out. Tom,
just talk to us firstly, We're I'm actually going and
people listening to this podcast feed, I'm going to the
NFL Combine this weekend, so do statue for some information
on that there and different interviews hopefully on this podcast network.
(08:44):
An interesting season, the season that brought a lot of promise,
a lot of wins as well. This didn't work out
in the end of As the fan first and foremost,
how do you see the Steelers team going into twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Well, obviously the experts on the ground are already at
the combine omark and the general manager is.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
There and be there right now. I know I'll be
there at the end of the week. I promise.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
He gave a good pressure earlier and he obviously described
that the main focus would be the quarterback position first
and foremost, and they I think the quote was that
he spoke to russ As people, he spoke with the
Justin Fields people, and everything's in the Harper. Obviously, the
combine is there. There's some people putting in fantastic you
know where forty forty yard dashes, you know, some great
(09:26):
times and stuff like that. The athletes are getting better
every year. A couple of cam Ward would he be
there or something? I don't know. But the people who
have been tracking these fellas for years are the ones
that are obviously got their finger on the pulse and
on the agent's phone to see if they can negotiate
something before Green Bay kicks up on Easter Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Absolutely. So it's funny because like we had for for
a lot of last season, there was wins, there was wins,
there was wins, and yes, there was that sort of
ending to the season probably the best way to say it.
It just sort of ended. And I think a lot
of us going into the end of November early December
fourth called we could really be honest in here, but
it's it's having that bones of a team, and it's
(10:10):
having different guys in different positions. It feels like we
need small a judgments, but certainly continuity as well, and
we will get there. And how how positive or how
confident do you feel about the team right now or
do you think it's too early to tell so far
in this off season.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
I think there's probably a bit early because obviously the
homework has to be done. They would have seen players
at the Senior Bowl and some of the other bowls
around the states. Now they're into Combine free agency opens up,
so it's still pretty early. They might have seventy seventy
five percent of the team, but I would imagine it's
still a good chunk of twenty twenty five percent to
be filled and as Rob Kan said on the podcast
(10:48):
a few weeks ago, and I obviously much closer to
the to the post than I am. O line, D line,
bigger figures, you know, replicating the Eagles type of Super Bowl,
and maybe we meet more on some some some of
those starting positions and backup positions as well. A few
picks last year got injured more or less in week
(11:10):
one and two when you go after all the work.
But this is what happens. It's a it's a full
contact game, and this this can happen. So I think
we're seventy five percent happy and there's a room for negotiation.
That's what omar Chan is recognized as one of the
top gms in the business, so I'll trust his wisdom
and obviously coach Tomland as well.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
I think you're buying on. I think there's a lot
of teams going to Indianapolis right now with that same
optimism as well. And it's not trust to be having
the guys as well. So it's going to be interesting
to see what happens for people listening hoping to get
so I rock in the Indianapolis early on Friday, So
I'm hoping it's some conversations and I'm going to hop
on a few Steelers radios, so do check it out
for that folks hopefully get a chance to meet Rob
(11:52):
as well. And thank you for your kind words on
that podcast as well. Tom. I remember the first time
we've done this podcast for the Steels, you show me
your ball from the game in nineteen ninety seven. I'm
not asking you to get that now, Tom, but you
know that's almost thirty years ago. And it's one thing
talking about how exciting this game is just but I
think outside of that, and this is maybe a conversation
(12:13):
to be had in later months this year, but Tom,
talk to us about how you feel this team is
right now in the ways that you see going forward
that are really important as we enter an off season
of change but also an off season of opportunity for
the Pittsburgh theaters.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
It's going to be special. Obviously, the NFL have moved
internationally in their marketing with Brett Gosper, former CEO of
World Rugby and all the guys in the London office
that have been over to the Dublin events and the
Flag Football Championships and Limerick Lass and twenty twenty three,
but from the Steelers point of view, changed the quarterback
room big time at this time last year, and they
(12:48):
might do the same again this year. Again, we have
to leave that up to the people who know who
know best. I do think it's obviously a question mark,
apparently on Nagie Harris. So we've got to look at
things like salary caps and all the other things that
go on. And yet the Eagles won the Super Bowl
sick one body made it. Barkley made a huge impression
(13:09):
on that winning trail for the Eagles, and suddenly running
backs might be back in favor again with a more
strengthened physical game rather than a passing game, which might
have been the case a season or two prior to that.
So I think we might be going back to a
more physical game and more running backs. So let's let's
see what develops in the combine. Let's see what the
(13:30):
homework has been done on the senior Bowl, see who
comes into free agency, and again the all important salary cap,
who can be renegotiated, bought in or else released.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Time is going to tell you the funny thing is,
tom Time is going to fly in this offseason and
before we know it, we're going to be at the
start of the season on a mere weeks away from
this doubling game, and we're only a couple of we're
about five or six weeks away from the NFL Draft,
probably with six or seven weeks actually away from the
NFL Draft in Green Bay. First off, congratulations to you
and your family on that accolade. I think it's fitting
(14:07):
of the Steers organization that you've been given this award.
And I'm talking not just somebody that presents this podcast
for the Steelers in Ireland, but as that works in
the game in Ireland that loves the game. I can't
think of anybody else that deserves it as much as you,
So I hope you enjoy it. I hope you have
a great time when you get out there to the
States over the next few weeks, and I'm sure we'll
be able to meet and chat and get together and
(14:30):
talk about your experiences there. And certainly it's a historic
NFL draft and the fact that it's in Green Bay
as well, so it's going to be really really different
and really really fun. But just to you as well,
for people listening, I said it yesterday. For people listening,
Tom has not just been a Steelers fan for his life.
But you've been extremely supportive of events with the Steers
(14:51):
obviously and events that we have done outside of that.
So believe me when I say it's very very much appreciated.
And I hope you realize what you have done for
the game here as well, and the support that you've
done as well. On a cold Saturday morning or a
Friday even you know, thank you, Tom for what you
have done. And this is only the beginning, you know, man,
it's going to be a really, really exciting year.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Well, thank you, Michael for your huge help in growing
and developing the game here across the thirty two counties
on this island. It's phenomenal. As I say, I've been
delighted to see it grow and develop. The amateur game
U see and the Rebels start the AFI season next Saturday.
I'll be there on the sideline and you know that's
(15:35):
a very good standard. People want to go and have
a look at their games. And Belfast, craig Avon, Wherever, Dublin, Blimerick, Cork,
there are teams there Westmead. So there's loads of good
American football to watch between now and the start of
the pro season. Coming up at the end of August,
beginning of September Labor Day and preseason games, and then
into the first second Sunday of September, we're back into
(15:58):
the NFL. I mean, Sunday nights just aren't the same
without the NFL, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
It's either that or that or watching Dance with the Stars, Tom,
I'll tell you that, just finally, and just on that point,
go out and sport, Go out and support your local team.
And I know those Deelers will agree with that as well,
Like that's great to see the season starting up again.
And we'll just take this opportunity Tom as well, to
wish all the teams. They're very, very best love of
people that love the game. I know Alan low Masny,
(16:25):
who is the head of AFI, is a great friend
of this podcast, and we appreciate the work that all
you guys, everybody involved with with the domestic game dolls
as well, and it really helps. I don't think we'd
be in a position now where we are with how
people like that as well, So a massive thanks to
them as well. Tom. Just just finally, imagine it's fall,
it's autumn. You're in Crooker and you see the terrible tiles.
How does that make you feel?
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Renegade comes on maybe the third quarter, and we've got
a mixture of yellow and green towels, especially produce green
towels that are out there. I'll be biting my lip again.
You saw me bite my lip there when I when
Dan was on the call. And to think that that
will happen, that wasn't there in ninety seven. So that's
going to be unique. And we've got a regular season
game with points at stake. Here we go.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
I can't think of a better way to end this podcast. Man, Tom,
thank you so much, really really appreciate you, and I
know a lot of Steelers fans have been looking forward
to seeing your adventures over the next few weeks on
the Steelers Ireland social channels. For now, Ladies and gentlemen.
Tom McCormack on the Irish Theaters podcast, Thank.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
You, Michael.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
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 xl
or aircraft. This brings the number of transatlantic routes operated
(17:49):
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.
Air Lingus, You're very welcome.
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