Steelers owner Art Rooney II says the NFL will have heightened security in Paris, but 'they don't seem to be concerned'

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Oct 22, 2026

Published in Football

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PARIS — Art Rooney II seemed chipper Thursday for a man less than six hours removed from an overnight flight from New York, where he had spent the previous two days attending the NFL’s fall owners meeting.

The Steelers’ president had just finished a morning swim and was planning to meet friends for lunch near the Latin Quarter. He said he had no concerns about safety — at least not now — despite protests and civil unrest in the French capital.

However, the issue had been a topic discussed among NFL owners in New York.

“They don’t seem to be concerned about it,” said Rooney, relaxing in the lobby of the team’s hotel. “I mean, it’s definitely heightened security, and they’re staying in touch with all the security people over here. The security people over here think everything is going to be fine.”

Rooney said canceling the game was never an option for the league, which is playing its first-ever game in Paris. The league will have increased security for the game and at the hotels for the Steelers and New Orleans Saints.

Nonetheless, the tense social climate has drawn national and international attention in part because of safety concerns for fans traveling to the game.

“The whole city has extra security here at this point,” Rooney said. “I don’t know exactly what the extra measures are being taken for us. I just came past the Arc de Triomphe, and police cars were sort of ringing the whole thing.”

The Steelers are staying a 15-minute walk from the French landmark. Their hotel is just off the Avenue de Champs-Elysees, one of the most famous streets in the world.

Last weekend, more than 800,000 people reportedly took part in demonstrations throughout Paris. The protests, spurred by soaring living costs and by student unrest over underfunded schools, included marches, followed by rioting and looting.

In the past four days, there have been no visible protests throughout Paris. France’s largest city has been as calm as the River Seine.

“I haven’t seen anything,” Rooney said. “There was a report there was going to be some kind of demonstration (Thursday), but I haven’t seen anything.”

Needless to say, this has been a different experience for the Steelers than last year, when they played the first-ever regular-season game in Ireland.

As the visiting team, they are not hosting the many different events they did in Dublin — where the Rooney family has strong ties given their Irish heritage. This year, it’s about the Saints and the French heritage of New Orleans.

Still, the Steelers brought an extra plane to Paris for all their staffers and sponsors. And Rooney will be part of a luncheon Friday hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron.

Last year, Rooney and other members of the Steelers organization — including former players Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey and Ike Taylor — attended a luncheon at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Ireland.

Rooney’s father, Dan, the late Steelers chairman, served as the U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009-12.

“My sister is coming over. She’s in Dublin right now, and I texted her and said, ‘Well, it’s Irish weather over here,’ ” Rooney said. “She texted back, ‘Well, it’s beautiful and sunny here in Dublin.’ ”

This is the third time the Steelers are part of an international regular-season game. In addition to last year’s Dublin game against the Minnesota Vikings, they also played the Vikings in London in September 2013.

The NFL is playing a record nine international games in 2026 and likely more in the future. What is the endgame?

“Look, it’s a long-term kind of effort,” Rooney said. “It’s not going to be immediate results or quick results. I think you have to build fanbases over here. I think the games we’ve had the last few years, Dublin and London, the attendance is great. I think we’re getting there.”

Rooney said 30% of last year’s attendance in Dublin was U.S.-based. He is not sure what will happen Sunday at Stade de France, which seats approximately 80,000.

The percentage could be down if fans decide not to travel to Paris because of the social unrest.

“I don’t know if we’ll have that for this game,” Rooney said. “We’re just starting in France. It’ll be interesting to see the reaction to the game and the attendance.”

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