Vikings staff’s preparation gives players peace of mind for a first-of-its-kind road trip
The Vikings are aiming to make a 10-day overseas trip to Dublin and London to play the Steelers and the Browns as normal as possible while finding ways to enjoy the special experience.
By Emily Leiker
The Minnesota Star Tribune
September 25, 2025 at 10:45PM
“This is a big challenge for an organization,” said Tyler Williams, Vikings vice president of player health and performance. “I wouldn’t want any other organization to take that on, other than us.”
Ray McAdam, Lord Mayor of Dublin, attempts a field goal at the NFL Experience in Dublin on Thursday. (Ian Walton/AP Content Services for the NFL)
Back in early June, a Vikings staff contingent with representatives from various departments including operations, security, medical, turf and more went on a scouting trip to Ireland.
They met with staff at the Dublin airport to go over the team’s arrival checklist and did a walkthrough at IRFU High Performance Center, where the team will practice.
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The group also visited the team hotel in downtown Dublin and toured Croke Park. Williams visited local medical facilities to make sure they were ready to go in case of any level of injury or need.
Ben Hawkins, who is the team’s head performance dietitian, went to Dublin and London with the Vikings’ head chef to plan out the meals with a focus on balancing familiar American favorites with local cuisine to keep players satiated. Hawkins estimated they will serve 7,000 meals on the entire trip.
Hawkins said they took note of what foods players might crave and would need to be shipped overseas to have them available in familiar formats. Ranch dressing available in the United Kingdom, for example, isn’t quite the same as it is in the United States.