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The National Football League has announced that Irishmen Mark McNamee and Ross Bolger will be two of five specialists joining the International Player Pathway programme for 2025.<\/b><\/p>\n
McNamee, 25, moves from gaelic football after previously playing for Dublin club Ballyboden St Enda’s.<\/p>\n
Former Laois under-20 gaelic footballer Bolger joins up after the 23-year-old had a successful season of college football as punter\/kicker at Idaho State University.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, McNamee and Bolger performed in front of NFL scouts at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n
German punter Bastian Roppelt, German kicker Lenny Krieg and Italian kicker Jonata Loria are the other three specialists joining the 2025 IPP class, with the initial 14-strong group announced in December.<\/a><\/p>\n They hope to follow in the footsteps of former Down gaelic footballer Charlie Smyth, who secured a place on the New Orleans Saints practice squad via the programme in 2024.<\/p>\n Established in 2017, the IPP programme aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills and ultimately work to earn a spot on an NFL roster.<\/p>\n Smyth’s hopes of forging an NFL career remain alive after he signed a new contract with the Saints last month,<\/a> which guarantees him at least another off-season with the team.<\/p>\n In November, Derryman Jude McAtamney<\/a> became the first Irish-born placekicker to feature in a regular season NFL game since 1985 when he made his New York Giants debut in a game against the Washington Commanders.<\/a><\/p>\n Earlier this month, the NFL confirmed that the first regular season game to take place in Ireland will be played at Dublin’s Croke Park<\/a> next autumn when the Pittsburgh Steelers will be the host team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n