Phoebe Schecter praises rise of American football in Ireland
Michael Bolton
NFL analyst and former Buffalo Bills coach Phoebe Schecter praised Ireland as an example of how American football has risen in popularity across the world.
2025 saw Ireland host its first NFL game in Croke Park, as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings.
Schecter was speaking ahead of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic this August between the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and TCU Horned Frogs at Aviva Stadium.
From her coverage on Sky Sports to coaching and playing football across the world, Schecter has seen how the sport has developed and praised Ireland for hosting the NFL game in Dublin.
She also praised the role of Tadhg Leader, who helped the likes of Charlie Smyth into the sport.
Co Down native Smyth impressed as a kicker for the New Orleans Saints last season.
"I had the pleasure of being here for the NFL game in Croke Park, and that had such unbelievable energy.
"One of the things I love is that ability to be in town, walk to the stadium, and see everyone in different American football gear.
"You can see that it is slowly taking over and becoming a sport that people truly love and take ownership of.
"Ultimately, you are looking at people like Tadhg Leader, who have really done a great job in getting people like Charlie Smyth into the NFL.
"Americans kind of understand there are international athletes playing in the NFL, but I still feel like there is an unknown quantity. People don't know there is domestic leagues, professional and semi-pro leagues, the way flag is growing."
The first woman to be a coach at an NFL franchise says the impression Ireland made in the Steelers game last season was felt across the US, as teams are looking across the Atlantic to visit.
"The Steelers did such a great job of making it feel like a Pittsburgh home game. Down to the music and food, they really recreated that expereince for their fans.
"To go back to the States and different fans and organisations, they see and get inspired by watching those teams over here.
"The fandom, the excitement, the opportunity for their friends and family to come over and travel and work in a different country, a lot of people really look forward to that element."
