Vikings fans react to NFL's wild international schedule: ‘Fire Roger'

Ryan OLeary

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Vikings fans react to NFL's wild international schedule: ‘Fire Roger' image

The NFL has officially announced its seven-game international schedule for 2025, and the Minnesota Vikings will be featured in two of them.

In an unprecedented decision, the league is sending Minnesota to Dublin, Ireland, to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 28 (Week 4), followed by short flight to the UK to play the Cleveland Browns in London on Oct. 5 (Week 5).

Two marquee games? In consecutive weeks? In two different countries? On paper, it feels like the NFL did the Vikings dirty, and fans have reacted accordingly on social media.

“Terrible,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“Fire Roger,” another said of Commissioner Goodell. “This is ridiculous.”

“That’s some BS,” cried another.

The initial reaction is understandable. The Vikings will essentially play games in three separate countries over the first month of the regular season. With a first-year quarterback taking the reins in J.J. McCarthy, that’s less than ideal.

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But once the dust settles and the full 18-week slate is released on Wednesday night, the Vikings will actually have the luxury of some hidden scheduling quirks that they can use to their advantage.

The Lions, Packers and Bears, for example, were not picked to play overseas this season. That means all three of those teams will play nine true road games in 2025. The Vikings? They’re now set to host eight games at U.S. Bank Stadium, with seven true road games and two at neutral sites.

They’ll have to take advantage of their two-week business trip, but if the Vikings can secure a pair of Ws, they’ll return home from London in Week 6 with a considerable advantage over their divisional rivals.

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.