Goodell Says NFL Comfort Level on Paris Game Is 'Very High' After Rubio Call, Will Attend Sunday

Since the Oct. 17 protests in Paris that drew more than half a million people over the cost of living and left burned cars and looted shops, the NFL has held to one position: the game goes on. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the NFL commissioner and the Secretary of State added specifics.

Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke at the close of the fall league meeting in New York. He said his comfort level with the Sunday game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints is "very high." He also said he is "leaving shortly" to attend in person.

What Goodell said

"We've made all the preparations. We've been in touch with all the appropriate authorities," 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."

He said he spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio "a couple of days ago." Goodell described the league as being involved "at the highest levels" with officials in France.

"We're guests in the country. We're going to be good guests," he said. "I'm confident they're going to do theirs."

Asked about the possibility of a late change of plans with unrest expected to build Saturday, Goodell said only: "We'll deal with that."

Rubio's assurance

Rubio confirmed the conversation to OutKick and Fox News Digital. "Our embassy feels the game will be fine," he said. "We have no indication the game will be impacted in any way."

Rubio will not attend. He said that has nothing to do with the unrest: "I was never planning to go anyways."

The statement covers the game, not the country. Rubio did not address the broader security picture in France, and the State Department's separate regional guidance has been aimed at Americans in the Middle East, not Europe.

What is on the ground

More than 2,000 people were arrested in Paris last weekend during protests over living costs and the state of French education, CNN reported. There were at least two deaths and reports of serious injuries.

Several French cities have since imposed curfews. French authorities have promised a "massive" police presence this weekend. A significant protest is expected Saturday, the day before kickoff.

The game is scheduled for Stade de France, the national stadium just outside the capital. It hosted major events during the 2024 Olympics.

The Saints have been in France since Monday after flying directly from the New York area following their game against the Giants. General manager Mickey Loomis said in Versailles that the team's plans have not been affected. Saints safety Justin Reid said he and other players are not worried.

The Steelers are scheduled to travel Thursday night.

Security and the strain on French police

Peter O'Reilly, the NFL's head of international affairs, said Tuesday that "all of our plans for the Paris game this weekend are moving forward as planned." He said the league has contingency plans for every game but has not seriously considered moving this one out of Stade de France.

O'Reilly said security around the game "will be heightened with local authorities." He acknowledged that making sure the NFL does not pull police resources away from the unrest is "a very important factor." His answer: "As we stand here right now, we feel confident that we would not have any impact on the broader resources needed."

That is the league's own assessment. French authorities have not publicly broken down how many officers are assigned to the game versus the protests.

Dissent inside the NFL family

Not everyone connected to the game is on board. Dani Watt, the wife of Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, publicly questioned how playing in Paris under these conditions makes sense. She is not an NFL decision-maker, and her comments carry no authority over the schedule. They show that concern has reached the players' households.

The league's counter is the argument Goodell made Wednesday: protests are common in France, the preparations are done, and the people in charge of security have not asked for a change.

The stakes for the league

The NFL is playing a record nine international games this season. The collective bargaining agreement with the players union allows up to 10 per season, and O'Reilly said the league is considering that many in 2027. A cancelled or relocated Paris game, or a security incident at the first NFL game in France, would land on that expansion push.

The next checkpoint is Saturday, when the large protest is expected in the French capital and elsewhere. Goodell's "We'll deal with that" is the only public indication of what the league would do if the situation changes before Sunday's kickoff.