Steelers Now
Pittsburgh 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.”
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers expressed similar sentiments.
“This game means a lot to all of us, to the league, to the Rooney family. So we want to represent the team and the Rooney legacy well,” Rodgers said. “It’s great for the game, to grow the game, so many countries. To be a part of the first (regular season) game in Ireland is pretty cool.
“I have Irish heritage, so very excited to get out there. As far as the travel goes, it is what it is. If you got to get up on Friday and stay awake all day, you should be feeling pretty good Saturday.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin also will 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.
Croke Park played host to a preseason game between the Steelers and...
