Tom McCormack has been named as the Pittsburgh Steelers International Fan of the Year.  As part of hios prize he will be flown to Wisconsin to both observe and take part in the 2025 NFL Draft.

We have known Tom over many years dating back to his days working with Six Nations Rugby but our conversations have always steered towards the other oval ball.

He has been a long time participant in what is now a 30 year + ‘pick’em competition founded by another friend John Bateson and which I now have the pleasure of managing between September and February every year.

Tom’s entry will always favour the Steelers but when chatting to him yesterday he forbade me from revealing how successful (or otherwise) he has been down the years.

I had the pleasure of sitting with him at the Steelers Watch Party this year in Croke Park and witnessing the excitement of the dream turned real that is the announcement of the Steelers bringing a regular season NFL game to Dublin later this year.

Tom learned of his selection with a message from Dan Rooney, the Steelers Director of Business Development and Strategy.

“I’m sending you this message to let you know that you have been selected as the Steelers International Fan of the Year,” he said.

“It’s a well-deserved honor for a member of Steelers Nation who has been supporting the team from Dublin for many years.”

“Thanks again for your support, Here we go.”

“I love the game. I love the Steelers. I love the city. I just want to bring more people here to see the Steelers,” said McCormack.

The Steelers were granted rights to the island of Ireland through the NFL’s Global Market Program in 2023 and since then have hosted a number of events across the island, including watch parties involving former players and youth football camps with current and former players there.

McCormack attended a preseason game the Steelers played against the Chicago Bears in 1997 at Croke Park as well, but this time it will be different.

“It’s surreal,” said McCormack. “When they were here in 1997, it was incredible. So, to actually see them for a regular game is just fantastic. To have them come here for a game where there is so much at stake is amazing. It’s incredible.”

McCormack was introduced to the NFL and Steelers when he made a trip with his University College Dublin rugby team in 1979. He also had family connections to the Pittsburgh area, so it just appeared that everything was right for him to become a Steelers fan.

“In 1979, our freshman rugby team went to Florida to do a six-game tour,” recalled McCormack. “That was the first time a lot of us had actually seen American football. Obviously in rugby you can’t pass forward where in American football it’s the opposite, you can pass the ball forward with pinpoint accuracy and scientific algorithms and everything that goes with it.

“So, a lot of us were fascinated with it. I played out-half and fullback, so that would be an equivalent to quarterback and running back. I enjoyed where the gaps remained, where the blocks were, where people crisscrossed for interceptions and things like that. So completely different than rugby which in those days you kicked for possession. Dan Rooney Sr. even said it would be a great game if you didn’t keep kicking the ball out.

“So, my love for American football started then.”

It became a lifelong love affair and this will now be an even more special year.

In a moment of weakness he promised he would report for us from the Draft when that takes place in April.  If he can keep his emotions together!