Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II knows his dad the late Dan Rooney is smiling down on everyone this week, seeing his dream come true with the Steelers playing in the first regular season game in Ireland.
"My dad would love this. He would love it. I think about him a lot this week. I'm sure he'll be looking down on us on Sunday and enjoying the spectacle," Rooney told reporters in Ireland.
Dan Rooney, Art's son and the Steelers vice president of business development, also has his grandfather in his thoughts this weekend.
"I think about my grandfather," Dan Rooney said. "And my dad had the vision for the Steelers to really push forward into the Irish market in a big way. So, I know my grandfather would be proud of this. We played here in 1997 in a preseason game. I would say it's a dream come true that we're here for a regular season game.
"We've been working on this for quite a while, since 2023 when we announced the Global Markets license in Ireland. From the watch parties we've held at Croke Park, which have all been sellouts, to all of the youth football camps we've been holding across the island for the last few years.
"Being able to get current players like Pat Freiermuth over here and former players like Jerome Bettis who's here right now, enjoying the island and engaging with the people, it's been awesome."
Art Rooney II spoke with the team earlier in the week to give them a history lesson on how much Ireland means to the Rooney family.
"I know it means a lot to [Art] and the family," Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "It's a great family, a great organization. I also know what a win would mean."
Dan Rooney in Ireland. — Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will also have Dan Rooney in his thoughts when the Steelers play the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland on Sunday. He knows how much Rooney cared about the Emerald Isle.
"I think a lot about the late Ambassador (Dan) Rooney and how fired up he would be about this trip, and how important the development of this trip was for him," Tomlin said. "And so I've been thinking a lot about it. I'm sure I'll be thinking a lot about it this week, and I certainly will be thinking a lot about him when we're there.
"Man, you talk about a guy who certainly had a lot of passion for Ireland, and obviously for the Steelers, and then serving as ambassador to Ireland. I'm sure he's going to be smiling down at us this weekend."
Not only do the Steelers have marketing rights to the area, but the late Dan Rooney served as a U.S. Ambassador under President Barack Obama. He served in this position from 2009-2012.
Dan Rooney also co-founded The Ireland Fund in 1976 to promote and support peace, culture, education, and community development throughout the island of Ireland and Irish-related causes around the world.
Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward thinks the Steelers need ball out for the Rooney family on Sunday in Ireland. Along with Chris Boswell , Heyward is the only Steelers player on the current roster that was on the team when the late Dan Rooney was alive.
Heyward knows how much playing the first NFL regular season game in Ireland means to the Rooney family.
"Mr. Rooney [Art Rooney II] came and talked to us and just shared with a lot of the group about this being ancestral to his family. The history behind Croke Park, man, you just wanna get that W for him," Heyward said on his Not Just Football podcast. "So, for him, the Rooney family, old man Rooney, Dan was one of my favorites. I remember he called me from Ireland. He was already the ambassador there, and he was just calling to talk and congratulate me on being a Steeler when I got drafted. So, I have so many great memories of his family and him. I think we gotta show out for him this week."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Art Rooney II Knows His Dad Is Smiling Down on Everyone: 'My Dad Would Love This'
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