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Irish kicker Mark McNamee made his debut for the Green Bay Packers just a day after landing in the United States.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Dubliner took all three kick-offs for the Packers in a 30-10 NFL pre-season defeat to the New York Jets on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old was part of the 2025 International Player Pathway programme<\/a> and signed a contract with the Packers<\/a> in July.<\/p>\n Despite this, his arrival in Wisconsin was delayed as he waited to be granted a visa, which he received last week, leading to him landing in the US the night before the game.<\/p>\n “I landed at about 11pm [the night before the game],” he told reporters after the game.<\/p>\n “The Packers and the immigration lawyers have been great with me in just getting it done, it’s not an easy thing to get a visa. It felt like a long time, but it was only two weeks. It was really quick and I’m really grateful to be here.<\/p>\n “It feels like it’s the beginning, it’s a good moment for me and my family.”<\/p>\n Packers’ special teams coach, Rich Bisaccia was impressed with what he saw from McNamee considering his late arrival to Green Bay.<\/p>\n “He got off the plane at I don’t know what time it was the night before and he did a good job for us,” said Bisaccia.<\/p>\n “We interviewed him at the Combine and he was in the top five guys we had rated from the international players we had over there in the pathway programme.<\/p>\n “He’s got a good leg, is a mature guy and held the ambience petty good, so we’ll see what the future brings.”<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Derry native Jude McAtamney kicked a 43-yard field goal and an extra point in the New York Giants’ 34-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.<\/p>\n Charlie Smyth was on target for the New Orleans Saints in their 27-13 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers, kicking a 50-yard field goal late in the game after he had earlier kicked an extra point.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n