Roger Goodell Shares Update On Pittsburgh Steelers And New Orleans Saints’ Paris Game

Roger Goodell expresses confidence in security plans for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints’© X/@MLFootball

The NFL's plans for its Paris game faced questions as protests threatened to bring more unrest to the French capital ahead of Sunday's matchup. With the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints preparing for the international contest, league officials had to account for the situation without disrupting the teams' schedules. Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed those concerns Wednesday after the NFL's annual fall owners meeting in New York. He said he was comfortable with the safety arrangements and had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as preparations continued alongside French authorities.

Roger Goodell addresses security concerns

Goodell said the league had made the necessary preparations for the game, even as officials monitored the possibility of further demonstrations in Paris and other parts of France. 

“We've made all the preparations,” Goodell said. “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.”

His confidence came after discussions with American and French officials about the security situation. The league was also keeping track of developments as the game approached, with no announced change to its plans. The Saints had already arrived in France by Monday. Their trip followed a game against the New York Giants, allowing the team to travel directly from the New York area. The Steelers were scheduled to leave Thursday night.

New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis said the situation had not affected the team's plans. He stressed that the organization would continue gathering information and follow the necessary precautions. "We're guests in the country. We're going to be good guests, and we're going to do our thing. And I'm confident they're going to do theirs," Loomis said.

NFL continues preparations even after Paris protests

The league's plans are not limited to the game only, with fan experiences and flag football activities also scheduled in the Paris area. 

The security concerns also came as French police and officials from soccer clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon discussed a possible postponement of their Ligue 1 match scheduled for Sunday.  That situation added another part to the weekend's sporting calendar, although the NFL continued with its own preparations.

Goodell's comments followed a two-day owners' meeting that covered several other league matters, including player medical care and conduct by team officials.  He welcomed the NFL Players Association's call for an investigation into the treatment of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts before and after the team's London game.

For the Saints and Steelers, the main focus is on reaching Sunday without disruption. The NFL had maintained its schedule while continuing to coordinate with authorities in France and the United States.