As the sun bathes the country and the GAA Championship roars into life, one of the game's greatest servants woke up in North Carolina this morning. Like his fellow goalkeeper Mark Jackson of Wicklow, Rory Beggan was on trial with an NFL franchise.
Jackson is in Pittsburgh with the Steelers, Beggan is in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Panthers are based.
Mark Jackson took in Steelers history 📖 with other Rookie Minicamp participants on Friday night, touring the Steelers Hall of Honor Museum at @AcrisureStadium. 🏉 #SteelersIreland#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/YdXWBJFMfS
— Steelers Ireland (@SteelersIreland) May 11, 2024
Two weeks after the NFL Draft, the brightest prospects in American football are attending minicamps with their respective teams. Beggan and Jackson were both on hand attending try-outs over the past 48 hours to earn their place on the extended rosters of their respective teams. While it didn't work out for Beggan with the Panthers - they opted not to offer him a contract - it's still another chapter in an unlikely journey that will hopefully see the Monaghan man signed to an NFL team before the year is out.
Beggan explains Gaelic football to US reporters
Interestingly, Beggan held court for thirteen minutes before the Panthers press pack this afternoon. You can watch the entire interview below. Beggan looked very comfortable speaking about everything from the difference between kicking an American football and a gaelic football to following the Irish contingent at the Wells Fargo championship just up the road.
Beggan also said he kicked from 56 yards this weekend and that his longest ever kick was 66 yards.
There was one particularly great moment where Beggan discussed how gaelic football is like a 'religion' in Ireland.
Kicker Rory Beggan says that Gaelic football “is a religion.”#KeepPounding #NFLIreland pic.twitter.com/M7qrQUzPF6
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) May 11, 2024
Yeah, gaelic football in Ireland. It's a religion, really.
It's what we grew up playing, you know, it's been a part of my life since six years of age.
My father played it, and I come from a little town called little village called Scotstown in a county called Monaghan. and you know, it's just been a massive part of my life. Playing it earlier this year I was I've been playing it, and I've been lucky enough to to come out here and and and showcase the skills that I have as a kicker.
I'd be known as a kicker, free taker back in back in Ireland, as in Gaelic football, I'm a goalkeeper so a lot of a lot of my time is kicking a ball. It's transferred nicely over into this sport., but I know there's there's definitely improvements to be made, but, I feel like I do belong in places like this.
Sadly for Beggan, it was confirmed this evening that the Panthers had opted against signing him. Michael McQuaid of NFL Ireland had the news. Surely the multi-week break from the IMG Combine can't have been a great help.
Can confirm that the Carolina Panthers have opted against signing K Rory Beggan.
The Scotstown man made a 56 yard FG today during minicamp.
Hoping Rory gets more offers over the next few weeks - one of the pioneer Irish IPP athletes looking to make it in the NFL! pic.twitter.com/z2qqi2VuRq— Michael McQuaid (@Michael_NFL) May 11, 2024
It will be fascinating to see if Beggan is given another shot with another team. We may see the Scotstown man in goals for Monaghan next Saturday in Killarney after all.
