NEW YORK – The NFL announced Tuesday that security will be significantly heightened for this Sunday’s matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints in Paris, following a weekend of violent civil unrest that swept through the French capital.
Peter O’Reilly, the league’s Executive Vice President of club business and international events, confirmed that the NFL is working in close coordination with Parisian and national authorities, as well as the U.S. State Department, to ensure the safety of players, staff, and fans. A league security team, led by Senior VP of security Cathy Lanier, is already on the ground in France to manage the evolving situation.
“There’s nothing more important from our standpoint than the teams’ security, the fans’ security — everybody involved with this game,” O’Reilly said during the league’s annual fall owners meeting. “Obviously, we are being very vigilant in everything we do, in all of our planning on an hour-by-hour basis.”
The intense protests, which have seen nearly 2,400 arrests and widespread property damage, resulted in clashes between rioters and police, including the burning of vehicles and public buildings. Despite the volatility in the streets, O’Reilly stated that the league never considered canceling the game at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. He pointed to other major sporting events proceeding in the city as a sign of relative stability, noting that a high-profile Champions League soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona was held as scheduled Tuesday night.
“We feel confident that we would not have any impact on the broader resources needed,” O’Reilly added, addressing concerns that the NFL’s presence might strain local emergency services. “That’s always top of mind for us, and we feel confident that we wouldn’t be depleting resources in a negative way around this game.”
The New Orleans Saints have already arrived in the Paris area to begin their preparations, while the Steelers are slated to fly out closer to kickoff.
Beyond the immediate logistics of Sunday’s game, the league continues to look toward its global expansion. With the current collective bargaining agreement allowing for up to 10 international games per season, the league is weighing its options for next year. While the NFL is currently prioritizing “continuity,” O’Reilly noted that the league is actively exploring new regions, with Asia emerging as a primary target for future expansion.
Also present at the meetings was 49ers owner Jed York, marking his return to league functions following a six-game suspension. York was sanctioned and fined $500,000 earlier this year following his arrest in an Ohio prostitution sting. He had been away from the team during their undefeated 6-0 start to the season.
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