When you think about football, your mind directly goes to America. Of course, it’s one of the most traditional sports in the country, which gathers family and friends every year to root for their team, hoping that season they will finally win the Super Bowl.
Millions of young athletes dedicate their lives to becoming part of the NFL teams; from the smallest town in the U.S. to the biggest, most known cities, coaches are training them to become stars.
However, not all players are actually from the U.S. Ireland is mostly known for soccer and the national sport, Gaelic football; still, a few players who have encountered the NFL that were born in this country. Though there are several well-known Irish American players, such as Tom Brady, Mike McCormack, and Ed Healy, today we’ll talk about the best Irish-born NFL players of all time:
Daniel Whelan
Born and raised in Enniskerry, Ireland, Daniel Whelan is among the rising stars of the Green Bay Packers. After moving to the U.S. when he was 13, he grew an interest in football; though he initially played soccer, he played all throughout high school and later in college at UC Davis Aggies.
He started his time in the NFL in 2022 when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints; still, the following year, he was waived and played for the D.C. Defenders of the XFL. Last season, he was signed by the Packers and made his debut against the Chicago Bears at the beginning of the season.
With his entrance to the NFL, he’s currently the only Irish-born player since Neil O’Donoghue retired in 1985. Hopefully he grows in the Packers roster and becomes the most successful Irish NFL player of all time.
Neil O’Donoghue
Neil O’Donoghue is probably the most famous Irish NFL player of all time. However,
O’Donoghue has a long career in sports. He’s a native of Dublin, and from a young age, he got into Gaelic football, as he played for the Round Towers GAA in Clondalkin, where he grew up.
In the 70s, he gave soccer a shot, joining the League of Ireland, where he participated in the Texaco Cup twice and the FAI Cup. He also played soccer throughout college while attending Saint Bernard College in the U.S. and even received the All-American title in 1976.
Still, by 1977, he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills but ended up playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his first NFL team, which has a stadium much bigger than most Denver sports venues, according to ClutchBuzz Sports. He played with the Buccaneers for years as their placekicker, getting a 15-17 record at the end of his time. Later, he was picked by the St. Louis Cardinals, whom he spent five seasons with until he retired in 1985 after eight years in the NFL.
Adrian Young
This linebacker native from Dublin had a long run with the NFL during the late 60s. Adrian Young spent six seasons in the league, joining different remarkable teams; still, he’s also remembered for his time in The Hawaiians during the World Football League in 1974 before retiring.
He played football in California while attending high school. After graduating, he joined the Trojans at the University of Southern California, where he received the All-American honor, becoming the first player on the team to earn the title.
In the draft of 1968, he was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles, the team he would spend the most time with during his career. However, he also played for the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears.
Con O’Brien
One of the classic NFL players is from Ireland. Cornelius O’Brien played in the American League on two occasions. His family moved to the United States when he was younger, so he grew up in Boston, where he attended college and played football.
His performance in Boston College as a tackle got him drafted in 1921 by the New York Brickley Giants. He played with them for only a season, but in 1926, he joined the Boston Bulldogs to play in the first American Football League (AFL).
The AFL pretended to be a competition to the NFL; it consisted of nine teams and was inspired by the NFL season from the previous year. However, the AFL wasn’t as successful as the NFL and was dissolved after just one season, with the Philadelphia Quakers as the winners.
Of course, American football isn’t as popular in Ireland as it is overseas, but the game is growing internationally every year. The league is opening its doors for international players now more than ever, and playing in Europe has played a big role in making the game more global.
Hopefully, more Irish-born players will one day take their talents to the U.S. and find a career in the NFL.
