There Was Some Trouble Before the Steelers-Vikings Game in Ireland

Matt Vespa | September 29, 2025 6:30 AM

Usually this doesn’t happen, right? The National Football League’s expeditions to have games abroad don’t come with legal strife, especially when it involves professional athletes. On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers played the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland. The first NFL game to be played in Croke Park, though one quarterback got into a scuffle before kick-off.

He got jumped by a bunch of hoodlums and robbed. It wasn’t Aaron Rodgers, but backup Skylar Thompson, who’s already on injured reserve, suffered minor injuries (via CBS Sports):

The Pittsburgh Steelers experienced an unfortunate situation leading up to the NFL's first game in Ireland. Skylar Thompson suffered minor injuries after assailants jumped and robbed the backup quarterback Friday night in Dublin. Thompson, who is on injured reserve, is OK and back with the team ahead of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.
"We are aware of a situation involving Skylar Thompson on Friday night in Dublin," Steelers senior director of communications Burt Lauten said in a statement, via NFL Media. "We will have no further comment at this time as we are working with NFL security to gather more information regarding the incident."
Pittsburgh remains set with Aaron Rodgers for the start and Mason Rudolph to back him up against Minnesota.
"We are aware of the incident involving Skylar Thompson in Ireland and are relieved to know he is okay," the NFLPA said in a statement. "The NFLPA is actively gathering more information and working to understand the full circumstances surrounding what took place. As always, our priority is the health and safety of our player members — especially as we continue to work on player protections and well-being while playing international games — and we will continue to support Skylar in any way he needs."

Law and Order: NFL. Tompson is fine, that’s the most important part, but some of the reactions were pretty funny:

The #Steelers’ trip to Dublin wasn’t without some drama: Sources say backup QB Skylar Thompson got jumped and robbed Friday night in Dublin.

Thompson, who is on injured reserve, suffered minor injuries but is OK and with the team.

Statement from Steelers Spokesman Burt…
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 28, 2025