Mark McNamee
{{Short description|Irish football player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mark McNamee
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| birth_place = County Dublin, Ireland
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| position = Kicker
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| college = None
| cfldraftyear = 2025G
| cfldraftround= 2
| cfldraftpick = 13
| pastteams =*BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2025}})*
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Mark McNamee is an Irish football kicker who is currently a free agent. In February 2025, he was announced as having joined the National Football League (NFL)'s International Player Pathway scheme. He was later selected by the Lions, in the 2025 CFL global draft.
==Career==
From County Dublin,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/articles/cp8lpzjxyngo|title=Mcnamee and Bolger the latest Irishmen chasing NFL careers|date=25 March 2025|accessdate=26 March 2025|website=BBC Sport}} McNamee played as a goalkeeper in Gaelic football for Ballyboden St Enda's in Dublin.{{cite web|url= https://www.skysports.com/nfl/news/12118/13318398/irish-kickers-named-on-nfls-2025-international-player-pathway-programme|website=Sky Sports|accessdate=1 March 2025|title= Irish kickers named on NFL's 2025 International Player Pathway programme|date=27 February 2025}}{{cite web|url= https://www.irishcentral.com/news/mark-mcnamee-ross-bolger-nfl.amp|website=Irish Central|accessdate=1 March 2025|title= Two Irish athletes named to NFL's International Player Pathway program|first=Kerry|last=O'Shea |date=February 28, 2025 }}
=American football=
He worked with Irish rugby player and former gridiron football kicker Tadhg Leader, who was employed by NFL UK to find a group of international kicking prospects.{{cite web|website=ESPN|accessdate=1 March 2025|url= https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/story/_/id/44023986/2025-nfl-combine-specialist-showcase-field-goals-kickers-competition|title= Will combine tweaks mean more opportunities for specialists?|date=27 Feb 2025}} In February 2025, he was announced as joining the NFL's International Player Pathway scheme.{{cite web|title=Irish duo join NFL international pathway|website=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/articles/cdx22y07wr5o|date=27 Feb 2025|accessdate=1 March 2025}} That month, he participated in the NFL Combine where he was successful in 13 out of 14 of his field goal attempts.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/us-sport/2025/0227/1499301-mcnamee-and-bolger-impress-at-nfl-combine-in-indianapol/|website=RTE|accessdate=1 March 2025|title= McNamee and Bolger impress at NFL Combine|date=27 Feb 2025 }}
== BC Lions ==
In April 2025, McNamee went undrafted in the 2025 NFL draft but was drafted in the second round by the BC Lions in the 2025 CFL global draft.{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/articles/cwynq80g75xo |title= Bolger and McNamee picked by the BC Lions in the CFL draft. |website=BBC Sport|date=30 April 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025}} He was signed by the Lions on May 5, 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-05 |title=Lions Sign Six From CFL Draft & Duo From Global Draft |url=https://www.bclions.com/2025/05/05/lions-sign-six-from-cfl-draft-duo-from-global-draft/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=BC Lions |language=en}} McNamee featured in both preseason games for the Lions, successfully converting his one field goal attempt in each game from 32 yards versus the Calgary Stampeders and 42 yards against the Edmonton Elks. He was released on June 1, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2025/06/01/lions-transactions-sunday-june-1/ |title=Lions Transactions, Sunday June 1 |publisher=BC Lions |date=June 1, 2025}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McNamee, Mark}}
Category:American football placekickers
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Sportspeople from County Wicklow
Category:Irish players of American football
Category:International Player Pathway participants