The league is making news this week in cities from New York to Paris.
The owners will hold their annual two-day Fall Meeting in New York just blocks from the league office on Park Avenue. The agenda for the session includes presentations on player health and safety, stadium matters, and the international games this season.
One phase of the league’s 2026 international schedule ended yesterday in London with the last of three games there. However, the next four-game international chapter begins this Sunday with the NFL’s initial regular season game scheduled in Paris.
Both teams playing in Paris are coming off victories last Sunday. The Saints arrived in Charles de Gaulle airport at 10 am (Paris time) this morning after defeating the Giants 34-27. The Steelers, who also won on the road Sunday 26-19 in Tampa Bay, will be on the ground in France Friday morning. The game will be played in the 80,00-seat sold-out national Stade de France stadium.
Many NFL alumni have been invited by the league and the two teams to participate in community activities in Paris. Drew Brees, Rickey Jackson, Bobby Hebert, and Deuce McAlister lead the Saints contingent while Mel Blount, Jerome Bettis, Dermonti Dawson, and Kordell Stewart are among the Steelers alumni there.
The three games that just were played on consecutive weeks in London were successful both on the field and as measured by attendance and television ratings. The league overall has played 45 regular season games in London, including the inaugural regular season game there between the Giants and Dolphins in 2007.
“The London success story really has led to our overall success in Europe,” says Commissioner Goodell. “It has enabled us to take international expansion to a broader platform. The games in London got the attention of the rest of the globe and helped change our entire structure. I really think London is at the heart of it.”
The Steelers-Saints game this Sunday will kick off at 2:30 PM (Paris Time). There has been civil unrest and protests in France in recent weeks with a reported 500,000 locals marching in demonstrations last weekend. While the protests mostly were peaceful, there was looting and fires set in both Paris and around the country with 2,000 protesters arrested. Their complaints range from the high economic cost of living to an alleged failing educational system.
“Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game in Paris this Sunday,” a league spokesman said. “We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites.”
We at NFL Alumni are proud of the role all of you played in helping to make professional football the most popular sport in this country. At the same time, we continue to make strides—step by step– outside the USA to show international audiences what a great sport we have.
