The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on May 15 the release of their 2026 National Football League regular season schedule, which includes the team’s first appearance in France and a historic Black Friday matchup.
This announcement is significant as it marks new milestones for the franchise, which has been active since 1933. The Steelers will play against the New Orleans Saints in Paris on Sunday, Oct. 25, marking the first NFL game ever played in France. The team previously participated in international games in London and Dublin.
“This will be the first time for a game in France,” said Steelers President Art Rooney II. “And so it’ll be a new experience for everybody. We’ll be playing in a historic stadium (Stade de France) and certainly in a historic city. It will be very interesting, certainly an honor to be part of the first game in France.” Rooney added that unlike their previous international experience in Ireland, where they had more control over ticket distribution and presentation, this event would differ as they are designated as the road team: “Unfortunately, we don’t have access to as many tickets we would have as the home team… but that comes with the territory when you’re the road team.” He also said preparations are ongoing regarding accommodations and practice facilities: “We’re just getting into the investigation and due diligence on where we will stay and where we will practice. There’s still some work to do on that front.”
Another notable fixture is their Week 12 game against Denver at Acrisure Stadium on Nov. 27—the team’s first-ever appearance on Black Friday. Rooney said about this scheduling novelty: “There is an appetite for NFL games, it seems, at all times of day and on all days of the week… I actually think that the day after Thanksgiving will be pretty well received, and I expect we’ll have a great show.” The league has previously held three Black Friday games since 2023.
Rooney also discussed other aspects of their schedule including opening at home—a rare occurrence for them—division matchups before and after their bye week, night games scheduled away from home, and two home games among their final four matches leading up to postseason play.
In terms of traditions tied to fan engagement—such as uniforms—Rooney confirmed: “We’ll wear our Throwbacks for one of the feature games… We’re still working through the schedule, and I’m sure we’ll be announcing that in the coming weeks.” The franchise’s history includes honoring figures like Terry Bradshaw and Joe Greene through its Hall of Honor program; these contributions are recognized by the official website. Additionally, Pittsburgh’s six Super Bowl championships remain a highlight according to the official website.
Looking ahead at broader implications for fans both locally and internationally—the upcoming Paris matchup underscores how franchises like Pittsburgh continue expanding global reach while maintaining longstanding community ties through events such as those hosted at Acrisure Stadium’s Hall of Honor Museum (official website).
