By:
Conor Martin
Former Gaelic footballer Mark McNamee has joined NFL giants the Green Bay Packers. Becoming the latest Irishman to make a Stateside NFL move.
McNamee lined out for Dublin club Ballyboden St Enda’s in goal, and his experience in taking kick-outs has had a part in him earning the move to America.
He was part of the 2025 International Player Pathway programme and took part in the NFL Combine, where he successfully kicked 13 out of 14 field-goal attempts.
At the time, McNamee reflected on his impressive showing and said, “It went very well. As a kicking unit, we wanted to go there and flash our talent, let the scouts know that we are there for a reason and on merit.
“I wasn’t overly focused on the numbers but more the process of kicking and making sure we came across well.”
TikTok videos sparked NFL ambition
The former Gaelic footballer also explained to the Irish Independent in March that the prospect of training under Irish-born gridiron kicker Tadgh Leader was one that caught his interest: “I’d seen Tadhg Leader on TikTok posting videos of Ross Bolger a while back when he went to play in college, but after seeing what the lads did last year, just coming from particularly a goalkeeping background in Gaelic football, that’s what really sparked my interest.
“I went to a few open sessions around the middle of last year, just to kind of test the waters, but it was pretty sporadic, I wasn’t training full-time or anything close to it; I was just doing a bit here and there without any real in-depth coaching.
“I went back to playing Gaelic over the summer, went to a couple of sessions here and there, and then when December rolled around, there was an IPP workout and [Leader] invited me to it. Once that was over, I went back to a second workout a few days later, and then I got the green light and it’s pretty much been all-go since late December.”
McNamee was undrafted in the 2025 NFL draft but was drafted in the second round by the BC Lions in the 2025 Canadian Football League (CFL) global draft.
Mark McNamee adds to the Irish NFL contingent
McNamee featured in both pre-season games for the Lions, successfully converting his one field goal attempt in each game from 32 yards against the Calgary Stampeders and 42 yards in the BC Lions game against the Edmonton Elks before being released at the start of June.
On Tuesday, he joined the four-time Super Bowl winners, the Green Bay Packers, joining Fellow-Irishman Dan whelan on their roster, Whelan has made 119 punts for the side in the last two seasons.
McNamee becomes the fourth player from the Island of Ireland to feature in the NFL at present. They are Charlie Smyth of the New Orleans Saints and Jude McAtamney, who plays for the New York Giants.
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