Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. The Steelers won 20-10. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center and current ESPN NFL analyst Jason Kelce will join veteran play-by-play commentator Dave Pasch and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner in the both this fall for NFL Network.
The trio will call the Steelers-Saints game in Paris on Oct. 25, according to an ESPN press release. Kickoff will be at 2:30 p.m. French time, 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.
Kelce will serve as a color commentator along with Warner.
The 2026 NFL Paris Game will be held at the Stade de France, which was built in 1998 and is France’s largest stadium. The Stade de France is primarily the home venue for the French national football team and the French national rugby union team.
Steelers president Art Rooney II is honored to have his club play in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in France.
“We’re honored to represent the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL in the League’s first-ever game in Paris this upcoming season,” Rooney said. “Playing the New Orleans Saints in such a historic setting is a great opportunity to showcase the NFL’s global growth and to connect with fans around the world. It’s an exciting moment for our organization and for Steelers Nation everywhere.”
This would mark the second season in a row that the Steelers play overseas after downing the Minnesota Vikings at Dublin’s Croke Park. The Steelers have also played an international game in London, facing the Vikings at Wembley Stadium in 2013.
The Saints have marketing rights in France. Of course, Louisiana’s relationship with France has a long history.
The Saints logo is a stylized lily known as the fleur-de-lis, symbolizing the city’s deep French heritage, aristocracy, and the Catholic history of New Orleans.
“It is a privilege for the New Orleans Saints to take part in the NFL’s first regular season game in France,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said. “Louisiana’s relationship with France is centuries deep, and this game represents another meaningful step in strengthening those cultural and economic ties. The Saints are also proud partner with the NFL’s flag football initiatives in France, which have grown rapidly and now engage thousands of young athletes. We are thankful to Commissioner Roger Goodell, Ambassador Charles Kushner, and our colleagues in the French Government, including Ambassador of France to the United States Laurent Bili and Consul General of France Samuel Ducroquet, for their collaboration and commitment to making this historic occasion possible.”
According to Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune and NOLA.com, the Green Bay Packers were also a candidate to be the Saints’ Paris opponent, but New Orleans didn’t want to lose a home game against a key NFC opponent that could have major playoff implications. So the NFL went with the Steelers instead.
Mentioned In This Article:Dave Pasch Jason Kelce Kurt Warner New Orleans Saints NFL Network Paris Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers Steelers News