As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to fly to France for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints, one voice close to the team is publicly questioning why the NFL is pushing ahead despite ongoing civil unrest in Paris and other parts of the country.
Dani Watt, wife of Steelers defensive standout T.J. Watt, posted a message on her Instagram story asking, “Tell me how this one makes sense???” The comment came as reports described burned cars and looted stores in parts of France in recent days.
T.J. Watt and his teammates are scheduled to board a charter flight to France on Thursday ahead of the matchup against the Saints at Stade de France, a venue located roughly 20 miles from central Paris.
Dani Watt appears to be the first person connected to the NFL to publicly raise concerns about the game going forward as planned. No coach, player, or elected official in either Louisiana or Pennsylvania has spoken out in a similar way.
League Says Preparations Are on Track
The NFL has repeatedly affirmed this week that the game will proceed as scheduled. League officials have pointed to heightened security measures and contingency planning as evidence that the situation is under control.
Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive vice president for Club Business, International and League Events, was asked Tuesday about the league’s plans. He described the precautions the NFL has taken as it monitors the situation on the ground.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is reported to be traveling to Paris as preparations continue, and the Saints have already arrived in France, with safety described as a top priority for the organization.
Uncertainty Remains
Despite the league’s assurances, the situation in France has been described as unpredictable, with various protest groups active in recent days. No specific threat to the game has been reported, and the league is proceeding on the expectation that none will materialize.
Still, Dani Watt’s question — how does playing this game near ongoing unrest make sense — remains unanswered by anyone else associated with the NFL, the teams, or government officials in the two states whose teams are set to play.
