Draft Picks & New Players – Ireland further strengthens NFL standing
The dust has settled on the 2024 NFL Draft, and now our attention begins to shift to the summer as a new season draws closer. For NFL fans, the Draft is the final oasis in an arduous football drought, and this year was one of the biggest events to date. History was made here over the weekend, as not one, not two but three NFL draft picks were announced live from Ireland!
The Jacksonville Jaguars were first off the mark on Saturday afternoon, after the Jets traded back, with super fan Stevie “The Irish Jaguar” Howlin declaring their selection. It was a truly cool moment for NFL fans all over the Island, and one that undoubtedly served to cement Ireland’s position on the global American football stage. This was the culmination of a whole series of activations the Florida franchise had laid out to officially launch into the Republic of Ireland. They still have some treats up their sleeve as well, beginning with a player tour that’s slated to be rolled out later on this summer.
Next up, it was time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to divulge their draft choice. Beamed across America from the shadow of the McGillicuddy Reeks in County Kerry, was none other than inter county GAA star Paudie Clifford. Paudie was joined by a group of young fans, all of whom were decked out in black and gold for the occasion. The Steelers are clearly going all-in on the Irish market, with this moment coming as part of their grander plan to eventually host a game in Dublin.
And last but not least, it was the turn of the New York Jets. Gotham’s Gang Green are the latest team to join the party in Ireland, and were originally slated to go on the clock first. A trade however, scuppered that plan. When they did eventually get around to choosing, Greg O’Shea (yep, really) appeared in the Gravity Bar of the Guinness Storehouse. The former Irish Rugby 7’s and Love Island star seemed to be really into it, even throwing on a jersey, but compared to the preceding picks it all felt a bit contrived. It will be interesting to see what else they come up with this year to generate a bit more of a buzz.
While we were still basking in the glow of a momentous weekend for the NFL in Ireland, further good news arrived in the form of Derry native and previous Rutgers kicker Jude McAtamney signing with the New York Giants! Jude will be joining the team as an “Undrafted Free Agent”, becoming the third Irishman to be currently featured on the roster of an NFL team.
The announcement, while still quite thrilling, wasn’t really a surprise as it becomes increasingly common for Irish athletes to join the ranks of professional American football players. We’ll now have a couple of new Irish NFL hopefuls to keep an eye on this summer, as both Jude and Down’s Charlie Smyth ( New Orleans Saints) strive to make the cut.