The NFL’s First Game In Paris Is Sunday. France Is In Its Worst Unrest In Years

The game itself is straightforward: the Pittsburgh Steelers (4–2) against the New Orleans Saints (2–4), the designated home team, at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris, on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Eastern on NFL Network. It is the NFL’s first regular-season game in France. Both teams won last Sunday — Pittsburgh came back from 13 down to beat Tampa Bay in overtime, and New Orleans beat the Giants 34–27 before flying directly from New York to Paris. Aaron Rodgers has 539 career touchdown passes, tied with Peyton Manning for third all-time; one more moves him past Manning, leaving only Tom Brady and Drew Brees ahead of him.

The setting is not straightforward. Protests began on September 17 with students demonstrating over school conditions — overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and deteriorating facilities — and broadened as university students, labor unions and Yellow Vest groups joined, with grievances expanding to the cost of living, fuel prices, wages and pensions. A government five-point school plan on October 7 did not defuse them. Last weekend brought a nationwide mobilization: French authorities estimated about 550,000 participants (organizers said about 800,000). The demonstrations were largely peaceful, but rioting broke out in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Lille — looting of high-end boutiques, vehicle fires, attacks on public buildings and a fire that badly damaged the city hall in Limoges. In the Bastille neighborhood of Paris, stores were broken into and fires were set. The Associated Press described it as some of France’s worst urban unrest in years, and reported about 2,400 arrests over the weekend.

This week, President Emmanuel Macron tightened curbs on protests on Thursday amid fears Saturday’s demonstrations could turn violent; Marseille and Lyon prohibited protests scheduled for Saturday, and Paris museums are closing Saturday. Fresh demonstrations are planned for Saturday, expected to start near Place de la Bastille, about 10 kilometers from the stadium.

On Thursday, the NFL and the Steelers canceled the “Steelers House” fan event planned at a bar in the Bastille neighborhood, in a joint message to fans: “Following recent events in the Bastille neighborhood, and after careful consideration, we felt it appropriate not to move forward with the planned Steelers House fan event in Paris.” The message added: “Preparations for Sunday’s NFL Paris game at Stade de France continue as planned, with the NFL working closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters.” NFL vice president of global events Nicki Ewell told the AP the decision was the club’s. The league has also increased security: executive vice president Peter O’Reilly said Tuesday that the league’s security team has been in France coordinating with Paris and national authorities — “We’re confident in our security plans. We’re being very vigilant in everything we do with all of our planning” — and that the game was never at risk of being moved.

Late Thursday, the U.S. State Department issued a security alert: “Numerous groups submitted plans for protests on Saturday, October 24. Americans in Paris for the NFL game on Sunday, October 25 should also exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings. While permits may be filed for demonstration routes, last-minute changes can happen and protests can occur outside planned routes.” Reuters reported the alert also called on Americans to avoid demonstrations and areas of unrest.

Commissioner Roger Goodell, speaking Wednesday at the fall league meetings in New York, said he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that officials remain in contact with Parisian and French authorities: “We’ve made all the preparations. Protests are not unusual in France, as you know, and that’s something that we will be aware of and make sure that the appropriate arrangements are made.” The AP reported he expressed a “high comfort level” with the teams playing.

On Friday the Steelers landed in Paris in the morning — and their planned 11 a.m. practice at Stade de France was canceled about 90 minutes beforehand because of bad weather, wind and light rain from Storm Austen, which put Paris and 22 other regions under an orange alert. The press conference moved to the team hotel, where Rodgers said: “I definitely think that the NFL is alert to what’s going on. This game means a lot to the NFL. If it was unsafe, then I’m sure we wouldn’t be here.” Coach Mike McCarthy said the team is “very confident” the experience will be positive. The Saints, based in Versailles, also kept practice closed Friday because of the weather. In Washington, President Trump weighed in: “I think maybe it’s looking like tomorrow is going to be a bad day in France, so you worry about it. I would have said the NFL could have probably postponed that match… because France is really in trouble.” The league did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On the field, the one question is T.J. Watt, who was limited Thursday with a calf injury. At the hotel Friday he said: “I feel really good, honestly… I just try to hydrate as much as possible, was able to sleep on the plane, just hit an espresso so I should be good to go.” McCarthy said he is not concerned, but the formal decision comes after Saturday’s practice. Watt has 4.5 sacks this season. Safety DeShon Elliott (knee) has been a full participant; defensive end Sebastian Joseph-Day went on injured reserve Thursday. Paris Saint-Germain’s soccer match against Lyon, set for Sunday night, was moved to Monday at the request of Paris police.