Two GAA stars could swap All-Ireland for Super Bowl as they get NFL trials

Two prominent GAA goalkeepers are set for American football trials in the new year. 

In an exclusive interview with the Irish Independent it has been stated that Monaghan’s Rory Beggan and his Wicklow counterpart Mark Jackson have been picked to kick in front of scouts from all 32 NFL teams at a Combine in Indianapolis, which runs from Tuesday, February 27 to Monday, March 4.

The pair of goalkeepers caught the attention of at an International NFL Combine in England in October and are now set to progress to kick at the official Combine next year.

The progress of Beggan and Jackson is timely as a new rule is is due to take effect where all 32 teams must have an ‘international player’ on the practice squad, essentially a reserve side, raising their hopes of getting picked up. 

Both players are set to miss a significant portion of the season in 2024 as they prepare for the Combine. 

Irish interest in the NFL is growing. Earlier this year Daniel Whelan became the first Irishman to play in the NFL since Dublin-born Niall O’Donoghue lined out for the St Louis Cardinals in 1985. The Wicklow-born man plays for the Green Bay Packers as a punter.