Dani Watt had a blunt question for the NFL after the league said it would keep the Steelers-Saints game on the books in Paris.
France was rocked by widespread riots this weekend, with more than 550,000 people taking to the streets to protest the high cost of living and low-quality public services. CNBC reported that around 2,400 people were arrested, dozens of shops were damaged or looted, and over 1,000 police officers were injured. Even with that backdrop, the NFL said it was moving ahead with its first game in Paris, a decision that drew pushback from fans and celebrities alike.
On Monday, T.J. Watt’s wife shared a CBS Pittsburgh post on her Instagram story carrying the headline: “The NFL says it is continuing forward with plans for the upcoming Steelers-Saints game amid unrest in Paris.” Watt added her own reaction, writing:
“Tell me how this makes sense???”
The league had already addressed concerns a day earlier. On Sunday, ESPN analyst Adam Schefter posted the NFL’s statement on X, in which the league said:
“We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates. There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites.”
The Saints arrived in Paris on Monday ahead of the Week 7 matchup, and the game has continued to stir debate. Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy also criticized the NFL’s choice to stick with the plan.
Not everyone was on Watt’s side, though. Saints executive Greg Bensel backed the league’s approach in a statement Schefter shared on Sunday, saying:
“We concur with the NFL’s statement and are planning to play the game. In addition to working closely with the NFL, we have also maintained daily security updates with our security partners in France. Members of our football operations staff and internal security team have been on the ground in France for the past few days, and there has been no disruption or impact at any of our team sites.”
On the field, the Steelers enter the trip at 4-2 after beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. The Saints are 2-4 after their win over the New York Giants.
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