Irish NFL fan in America - Trip 1 preview.

Apparently I’m a Cleveland Brown.

That’s according to the same American couple that claimed that I “in no way whatsoever match the personality of a Dallas Cowboys fan”.

To be honest I’m not sure whether to be offended or impressed that my personality best represents a team that has won one game in the last two years. It’s certainly a drop from thinking my allegiance was best aligned with the most famous NFL team there ever was. Perhaps I have the underdog spirit.



This morning I bet on the Cleveland Browns to win the Super Bowl. Not because my personality best represents them, but because at 100/1 I think they’re overpriced. Their new quarterback is a decent prospect and they have been drafting all around him for the last few years. I can probably tear up the slip after 3 games but if I don’t I think they’ll have a chance.



But this preview is not about which NFL franchise my personality best represents or which 100/1 shot I’m betting on to win the big dance but instead to preview my upcoming trip. The first of my Stateside NFL tour.

On Wednesday next I fly out to Philadelphia to see the most recent Super Bowl winners host the Atlanta Falcons in this year’s NFL season opener. This will be one of 16 trips I’m going to take over the next four years in which I’ll see each and every one of the 32 NFL franchises play once at home.



Philadelphia looks like a fun place and not just for its cheesesteaks. The city of brotherly love should be neigh-on bouncing for the season opener in which their team takes to the field as world champions for the first time in the franchise’s history. The rocky steps will be run up, the Liberty Bell will be rung and that’s all before I hop on the train to Baltimore for game two. For the home of The Wire will be my second stop in what is going to be a hectic last few months of 2018 in which I’ll get to see 8 different NFL teams play.



What am I looking forward to most about my trip to America? In a word, breakfast. Or as I like to call it gorge-fest. Pancakes? Yes. Omelette? Yes. French toast? Hell yes. Coffee? Absolutely. Cinnamon buns, banana loaf, chicken and waffles, syrup on everything it’s all kinds of wrong yet all kind of right. Every time I go to the States I always find myself waking up early (thank you jet lag) hungry and ready to eat a lot so I go find the best local diner around and indulge in all a United States’ breakfast has to offer. It is just about the best part of being in America and it will be a constant joy throughout this trip.



Another part I enjoy is the nightlife and for once in my life being considered exotic. Yes I’m really from Ireland. Yes I’ve seen leprechauns. Yes we should get married. Sure isn’t it destiny? Be gorra be gorra sure it definitely is.

The thing I am most apprehensive about is starting a new vlog. It certainly doesn’t seem natural to me or something which I’ll be good at but I feel absolutely obligated to at least give it a go. Hopefully it turns out alright. It’s something which I envisage will definitely get better as I go along.

I recently purchased tickets to all of this year’s games and I’ve managed to garner quite a collection. Each and every one has an angle or story to them which I will share as I go along.



I went for club seats to kick off the trip in Philly and then literally the cheapest seat in M&T Bank Stadium for game two in Baltimore. Should be interesting to contrast the premium seating with the worst seat in the house all in one trip.

I have no idea which trip is going to be the best or most interesting. I haven’t even thought about which city will be the best. I’m just going to do it and see how it goes. It’s all rather exciting.

Looking forward to getting going now and getting this show on the road. Philadelphia, get the cheesesteaks on and the bud lights ready. I'm on my way.