NEED TO KNOW
- TJ Watt’s wife Dani questioned why the NFL is going through with its international game in Paris amid the city’s ongoing riots
- “Tell me how this makes sense???” Dani wrote in an Instagram Stories post
- The NFL said in a statement, “We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters”
TJ Watt’s wife, Dani, is questioning the NFL’s decision to proceed with its international game in Paris amid the city’s riots.
TJ, 32, and his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates are scheduled to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Stade de France, which also served as an Olympic venue in 2024.
In a post to her Instagram Stories on Monday, Oct. 19, Dani shared a graphic from CBS Pittsburgh that read, “The NFL says it is continuing forward with plans for the upcoming Steelers-Saints game amid unrest in Paris.”
Over the graphic, Dani, 28, wrote, “Tell me how this one makes sense???”
Credit: Dani Watt Instagram
According to Fox, the Saints arrived in Paris on Monday and are staying just outside the city center, on the outskirts of Versailles.
Riots have been taking place in Paris since mid-September when students and teachers at a school in the Parisian suburbs walked out demanding additional resources and staffing. Paris has since seen protests break out throughout the city as citizens call for a fairer cost of living, increased government action and significant change to the growing wealth divide.
On Oct. 19, a couple made headlines for enjoying their drinks and cigarettes at a Paris restaurant as fires roared behind them.
In a statement regarding the game’s safety, the NFL said, “Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday. 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.”
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The Saints said they’re working with the league to maintain security while in France. Saints exec Greg Bensel said in a statement, “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,” according to insider Adam Schefter.
Bensel added, “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.”
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