Paris got the NFL’s first regular-season game on Sunday, Oct. 25, and the buildup looked every bit as polished as the city itself.
Before the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints even took the field at Stade de France, the scene was already loaded with star power, special uniforms and plenty of fashion. Aaron Rodgers drew eyes in the pregame coverage when the NFL shared video of the Steelers quarterback walking onto the field with his teammates, while French soccer star Paul Pogba added a crossover moment of his own by appearing inside the stadium before kickoff.
Pittsburgh made sure its debut in Paris came with a custom look. The Steelers wore white road jerseys with black Color Rush pants and black helmets, a combination created specifically for the occasion.
The jerseys carried a commemorative NFL Paris Game patch, and linebacker T.J. Watt’s No. 90 shirt included a small character graphic beneath that patch.
New Orleans leaned into the setting, too. The Saints wore black jerseys with a Paris Game patch and a gold-and-black emblem marking the franchise’s 60th season. That fit neatly with a team rooted in a city with French heritage and the fleur-de-lis woven into its identity.
Pogba showed up in a dark denim jacket with contrasting black sleeves, a black turtleneck, matching pants, a knit cap and small round sunglasses. He posed for photos in the stadium, turning the pregame into a true France-meets-American-football moment.
Cameron Jordan added more personality to the night. In a post shared by NFL France, the Saints defensive end showed off custom cleats made by a French fan, white shoes covered in colorful illustrations and Paris-themed artwork. He also appeared in another post eating a giant croissant on the field, a light touch that fit the setting.
One Saints player featured in NFL France’s coverage went with a sharp, tailored outfit: a long chocolate-brown overcoat over a white shirt and black tie, finished with a black knit cap, dark sunglasses and leather gloves. It had the kind of polish that would not look out of place during Paris Fashion Week.
The Steelers matched that energy in their own arrival video shared by NFL France, with players stepping through the stadium in suits, including one pinstriped look paired with a flat cap.
The game carried extra weight because France had never hosted a regular-season NFL matchup before. The league has taken games to London, Germany, Spain and other international spots, but this was a first for Paris. For fans in France, it meant a chance to see the NFL on home soil instead of traveling abroad.
The response online showed how much the moment landed. NFL France’s posts drew fire emojis, heart-eye reactions and plenty of praise for the uniforms and pregame details. One fan summed up the Saints’ commemorative look in a single word: “Iconique,” the French word for iconic.
The NFL also staged the event like a showcase, with a full pregame production and Nigerian superstar Burna Boy set to perform at halftime. Kickoff was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET, or 2:30 p.m. local time, with NFL Network carrying the game in the United States.
However the Steelers and Saints end up in the standings, the lead-up already gave Paris a memorable introduction to the NFL.
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