The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-10 in the first NFL Paris Game at the Stade de France on Sunday, drawing a crowd of 78,488 spectators. The matchup combined a tightly contested defensive battle on the field with a vibrant cross-cultural atmosphere outside the stadium.
International Crowds Pack the Stade de France
Arrivals at Gare du Nord and the surrounding approaches to the Stade de France featured fans clad in jerseys from franchises across the league, ranging from Tom Brady to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, according to on-the-ground reporting. Attendance heavily featured American travelers making the trip alongside significant contingents of European fans traveling from Spain, Italy, and Germany to watch the Steelers fill the 78,488-seat venue to capacity.
The audience also included prominent NFL figures such as Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl winner Jason Kelce. Pre-game ceremonies featured the Soul Rebels brass band from New Orleans performing the American national anthem alongside Franco-Canadian singer Nina Tonji delivering the French anthem, accompanied by red, white, and blue pyrotechnics launched from the stadium roof.
The Battle of the Tribunes and Stadium Atmosphere
While the Saints held the designation of the home team, complete with their Who Dat
chant echoing through the venue, the crowd dynamics leaned heavily toward Pittsburgh. Steelers supporters filled the stands with their traditional yellow Terrible Towels, locally dubbed the Torchon Terrible,
which coach Mike McCarthy praised after the final whistle. The music was phenomenal and the fans excellents, on ne se lasse jamais de voir nos Terrible Towels voler, surtout dans les moments clés du match,
McCarthy said of the atmosphere.
Sound systems operated at concert levels, occasionally pushing toward saturation to replicate the high-energy environments typical of American sports venues. New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough described the environment as exceptional, noting the energetic yet polite nature of the international audience. To assist first-time spectators, stadium screens displayed penalty explanations in both French and English, while the scoreboard maintained a traditional feel without the television broadcast’s yellow first-down lines.
Aaron Rodgers Leads Steelers Past Saints
On the field, the two franchises traded early blows before settling into a defensive rhythm. The first half produced the game’s most explosive offensive highlight when quarterback Aaron Rodgers connected with wide receiver DK Metcalf on a deep pass. By halftime, Pittsburgh held a 13-10 advantage, highlighted by Rodgers surpassing Peyton Manning to enter the NFL podium alone with his 540th passing touchdown.
The second half saw scoring dry up as the weather cooled and both defenses tightened. The Saints struggled with execution errors that stalled potential comebacks, while the Steelers relied on clock management and a crucial rushing conversion by the 42-year-old Rodgers to pick up necessary yardage. A scoreless third quarter gave way to a quiet 3-0 final frame, bringing the final score to 16-10.
During the halftime intermission, artist performances by Burna Boy and Yseult took place before a partially filled stadium amid reported technical sound issues. Despite minor operational hiccups—including American fans noting stadium food stands running out of burgers—players, coaches, and league executives deemed the international venture a success.
League leadership confirmed during the week that the NFL plans to return to Paris, with scheduling pointing toward 2027 as the league continues its global expansion efforts.
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