By Paddy Tierney

Copyright belfastlive

Jerome Bettis remembers his first visit to Ireland well and he vividly recalls the message from the owners. This may have been a pre-season game, but the Pittsburgh Steelers were in town to win. It was 1997 and Dublin was a different city then to what it is now. Croke Park was in the process of being reimagined with the brand new Cusack Stand open for business before the Canal End and Hogan Stand were completed in subsequent years. Read more: From Green Bay to Dublin Bay – What NFL team would your county be? Read more: Dublin NFL 2025: Additional tickets released ahead of Pittsburgh Steelers vs Minnesota Vikings Croke Park showdown The ancestral home of the Rooney family, who own the Steelers, is in the Co Down city of Newry. In the 1990s, the franchise was headed by Dan Rooney, son of Art Rooney, who founded the Steelers in 1933. The Rooney family have never forgotten their Irish roots. The Chicago Bears were the opposition in ’97 and, even though it was a pre-season game, Bettis said the players had a “mandate” to win the game. He feels coach Mike Tomlin will have a similar message for his players when they run out onto the hallowed turf of Croke Park to face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in what will be the first regular season NFL to be held in Ireland. “Mrs (Patricia) Rooney, when she was alive, her goal was to win that game (in 1997) – she told her husband, the late Dan Rooney, we have to win the trophy,” said Bettis, who ran in for a touchdown against the Bears. “Now this is a pre-season game, it was a mandate that we win the game. “We won like 30 to 17, it wasn’t close. So I can guarantee you, there is a mandate, we have to win this game, because obviously the heritage is so important to them, and it should be. “You know, I’m proud of my heritage and so I believe that it’s going to be a point of emphasis.” As their previous trip to Dublin was a pre-season game, the Steelers also had a chance to sample Dublin’s nightlife. “For us, it was a business trip because it was a pre-season game, but because it is a pre-season game, there’s not as much put into the game from a players’ perspective,” said Bettis. “We know we might only play a quarter, so you want to enjoy the time. We got the chance to get to a few pubs, got a few pints and got the chance to experience the city and the culture. It was an incredible trip. “Unfortunately, it was short. This trip is much different. The city is much grander than it was. “Seeing the buildings off the River Liffey, the city looks really impressive from 1997 to now. It looks like a huge renaissance has happened and it is impressive.” Bettis said he is enjoying learning more about Irish culture and played a round of golf at the K Club earlier this week – the venue which hosted the Irish Open earlier this month, with Rory McIlroy claiming the title. During his round, his caddie showed him clips of hurling on his phone. As a former professional athlete and someone who reached the pinnacle of his sport, winning the Super Bowl in 2006, Bettis was blown away by the skill of the amateur players. “I watched hurling when I was at the K Club,” added Bettis. “My caddie asked me if I had ever seen hurling. And I said no, I haven’t. So, he took me through all of it. I mean, I saw all the high sticks, low dribbles and I was like “oh, okay” – it was impressive. That these guys are doing this full speed, on the run, you know, you got the ball on it. “I mean, God, on the stick, running full speed. It was impressive to see. A lot tougher than us, I tell you. A lot tougher. “Now, I want to see. He didn’t show me the physical nature of it. I did see a couple of those sticks coming over top. So, I know some of those didn’t end well! “He also told me that no one gets paid. And it’s like, it’s the national honour. That’s for the love of the game. And that’s what I’m talking about. That’s when you become special. “Because you love it. And it’s not a dollar being given to me for it. “It’s because I love what I do. When you love what you do, and you’re willing to sacrifice for it, that’s when it becomes special. So, just hearing that, I was just like, love it. “Would love to see that, because that’s truly the love of the game, right? When nobody’s getting paid for it, you’re putting it all out there. That’s special.”