The Green Bay Packers will bring a strong Irish identity to the global stage of the 2026 NFL Draft this weekend, with plans to announce a Day 3 selection live from the Irish Institute of Music and Song in Dublin.
Set for Saturday, April 25, the activation is designed to celebrate both the Packers’ growing fanbase in Ireland and the country’s musical heritage, blending sport, culture and entertainment as part of the Draft broadcast.
Gavin James will feature in the announcement, joined by young musicians from the Institute. The group will deliver a distinctive Irish interpretation of ESPN’s “The Pick is In” chime, followed by a harp rendition of the Packers’ “Go Pack Go” anthem as the selection is revealed. James is also expected to announce the pick, subject to timing within the broadcast.
The Irish Institute of Music and Song, located in Balbriggan, serves as a leading non-profit campus for music education and performance, centred around the 400-seat Lark Concert Hall and a growing academy for emerging Irish talent. James, a patron of the Institute, brings significant global reach, having amassed over two billion Spotify streams and toured internationally with artists including Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith.
From a strategic perspective, the Dublin-based Draft moment forms part of the Packers’ expansion under the NFL’s Global Markets Program. Since securing marketing rights in Ireland, the franchise has increased its on-the-ground presence, including hosting a “Packers Huddle” fan event in Dublin last September aimed at deepening engagement with local supporters.
That international focus will also be reflected in Pittsburgh, where Irish fan Stephen O’Brien has been selected as the Packers’ International Fan of the Year. A native of Arklow, County Wicklow, O’Brien founded the UK and Ireland Packers fan club and will announce an additional Day 3 pick at the Draft venue. This follows on from Tom McCormack being the International Pittsburgh Steelers Fan of the Year last year.
O’Brien’s contribution to building the Packers’ community overseas has been further recognised through a large-scale mural in Arklow, created by artist Stephen Considine. The artwork also features Daniel Whelan, the Wicklow-born Packers punter, reinforcing the authentic Irish links within the organisation.
Whelan himself has played a role in strengthening those ties, visiting Ireland earlier this year to connect with fans and local sporting communities. His itinerary included appearances at supporter events and a visit to County Meath GAA’s Centre of Excellence, underlining the crossover appeal between Gaelic games and American football.
From a Sport for Business perspective, the initiative is another example of how NFL franchises are localising their international growth strategies, using cultural integration and authentic storytelling to build deeper connections in target markets.
Ireland, with its established sporting culture and increasing appetite for American football, continues to emerge as a key territory in that global expansion, and the Packers could be in line alongside the Steelers, the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars to host the next NFL game in Dublin in the coming years.
Image Credit: Green Bay Packers
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