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 class of 2025.

McNamee moves from gaelic football after previously playing for Dublin club Ballyboden St Enda’s while former Laois under-20 gaelic footballer Bolger joins up after a successful season of college football as punter/kicker at Idaho State University.

On Wednesday, McNamee and Bolger performed in front of NFL scouts at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis with the hopes of following 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.

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.

Smyth’s hopes of forging an NFL career remain alive after he signed a new contract with the Saints last month which guarantees him at least another off-season with the team.

In November, Derryman Jude McAtamney 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 Washington Commanders.

Earlier this month, the NFL confirmed that the first regular season game ever to take place in Ireland will be played at Dublin’s Croke Park next autumn when the Pittsburgh Steelers will be the host team.