The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the largest fan bases in the NFL. Steeler Nation is exactly that, with supporters all over the country. It is easy to forget that Pittsburgh was the lovable loser when they started winning playoff games and Super Bowls after nearly four decades of futility. The blue-collar Steelers struck a chord with the nation in the 1970s and, in the days of limited television exposure for the NFL, became a popular alternative to the clean-cut Dallas Cowboys.
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Many Steelers fans wave the infamous Terrible Towel at every game, home or away.
In 2024, after six Super Bowl trophies in eight appearances, it is hard to envision the Steelers without a die-hard fan base that takes over opposing stadiums. Television announcers like to point out how well the Steelers fan base travels when the sea of Terrible Towels come out at a road game, but it is deeper than that. Many Steelers fans only get the opportunity to watch a game in person when Pittsburgh travels to their hometown, and wild horses couldn’t keep them from taking advantage of the opportunity.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Owner Art Rooney II.
On Monday, Art Rooney II sat down for an interview with Rob King for Steelers.com. Rooney discussed the NFL’s push to expand the game outside the United States by playing games in Europe. When asked about the possibility of the Steelers playing games overseas, Rooney confirmed it would happen.
“I think we will be playing overseas in the coming years,” Rooney stated. “In fact, the league made a decision at our last meeting in December that every team is going to play an international game. Probably within the next three or four years. The league has made a strong commitment to expanding overseas.”
The NFL has been playing a series of games every season in England since 2007. The Jacksonville Jaguars have adopted London as a second home. The Steelers have only played one game in Wembley Stadium in those 17 years. In 2013, they lost to the Minnesota Vikings in a Super Bowl IX rematch, 34-27. Pittsburgh has not been asked to dust off their passports for a regular season game since.
“At a minimum, we will play one international game in the next few years,” Rooney acknowledged. “Could be more than that. Certain countries look like they could have some enthusiasm for football. Germany being maybe the most recent with some of the crowds we’ve seen over in Germany the last two years.”
The NFL has added games in Germany and in Mexico City to the annual international games over the years. Mexico City hosted the first international game in league history in 2005. The NFL has drawn massive crowds for those events. The Steelers’ owner shared with King that he hoped Pittsburgh might play when they are tapped to participate in one of the league's showcase events.
“We’re interested in having a game in Mexico and/or Ireland in the next few years,” Rooney concluded. “We’re just excited about the future.”
How Mexico Has Become The International Home For Steeler Nation
The Steelers have cultivated a rabid fan base in Mexico. The team sent Najee Harris to Mexico City in 2022 to announce the pick of Calvin Austin III in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Harris had a fantastic time and posted on social media about how much he enjoyed spending time with the international wing of Steeler Nation on social media.
“I wanted to explore Mexico City. I had never been out of the country, so I’m interested in learning about different cultures and food.”@ohthatsNajee22 spent draft weekend in Mexico City, connecting with fans & taking part in a youth football clinic.https://t.co/fV2p2uOaLg
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 4, 2022
The NFL has scheduled six regular season games since 2005 in Mexico City. The first game was played in 2005 between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. The most recent game in 2022 also featured the Cardinals and 49ers. In 2018, the Los Angeles Rams were supposed to play the Kansas City Chiefs, but the game was moved back to Los Angeles. The logistics of playing games in Mexico City are much easier for the league and teams to navigate, but the NFL and Roger Goodell have failed to take advantage of it.
ESPN / courtesy of Omar Khan
Omar Khan (left) and Dan Rooney (right) celebrate Super Bowl XLIII.
Dan Rooney was appointed as the Ambassador to Ireland by then-President Barack Obama in July 2009. The Rooney family has deep Irish roots, and playing a game in Ireland would generate significant interest. The country has already demonstrated its enthusiasm for college football. Notre Dame has played Navy twice in Ireland to large crowds, with the 2023 game topping 40,000 fans at Croke Stadium in Dublin. Venue size could be an issue for the NFL in choosing the Emerald Isle to host an NFL game.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Is a road trip to Mexico City long overdue for the black and gold? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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