Minnesota Vikings, London
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The NFL is a monster and has found a way to monetize everything that the league does. That reality extends to something as simple as unveiling the schedule for each team.
We have known who the Minnesota Vikings will play on the home and road for a while. Now we know specifics around two of their games. A year after playing the New York Jets in London, Kevin O’Connell’s team will double their time commitment in Europe.
MN Vikings making an extended stay in Europe
Last season the Minnesota Vikings played Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets in London for their Week 5 matchup. This season they will play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, Ireland during Week 4. They’ll then stay overseas and play the Cleveland Browns in London for Week 6.
Dublin then London! 🇮🇪🇬🇧
The #Vikings will become the first NFL team to play in back-to-back international games in different countries in 2025.https://t.co/DvUUNxFkso pic.twitter.com/1o0005Ma6Q
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 13, 2025
The game against Pittsburgh will be the first played in Ireland. The NFL will take over Croke Park in Dublin for the event. It is the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association and has a capacity of 82,300.
It’s possible that the Steelers, as the Jets did last year, will have Aaron Rodgers under center for the contest. The future Hall of Famer has yet to sign with a team, and Pittsburgh remains his most likely suitor. Minnesota would then get the chance to beat him overseas yet again.
Set your alarm, Dublin. The NFL is coming to town! 💚
Your official 2025 NFL Dublin Game 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/JYMFY6zIPe
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) May 13, 2025
Beyond just going to Ireland, the Vikings will make a short trip the following week to London. Last season Minnesota acted as the home team at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to play the Jets. This time they will be a road opponent for the Cleveland Browns.
The Vikings know London well and have had success playing international contests as a whole. Minnesota is undefeated in four regular season games overseas while also winning all four of their exhibition contests abroad.
Pittsburgh theoretically will be the tougher opponent of these two, but that’s largely because Kevin Stefanski’s Browns look like a dumpster fire. They brought back veteran Joe Flacco and drafted rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is expected to miss most of the season after re-tearing his achilles in October.
Overseas stretch could benefit Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota will become the first NFL team to play back-to-back games overseas. That seems like a sizable undertaking on the surface, but generally could be something of a reprieve for O’Connell’s team.
Both the Steelers and Browns seem set to be bottom feeders this season and now each contest is being played at a neutral site.
The Vikings don’t have to make a trip back stateside between the contests and the travel time between the two locations is barely an hour plane ride. Minnesota can settle in while traveling to Europe and come back home with a pair of victories in hand.
Related: How Many 2025 MN Vikings Draft Picks Will Make the Final 53-Man Roster?
It stands to reason that the Vikings will also have their bye week following the extended stateside absence. That means Week 6 provides and early opportunity for the team to catch it’s breath and get ready for the rest of their slate.
Mentioned in this article: Ireland London NFL International Games More About:Minnesota Vikings