NFL Paris Game Features Unique National Anthem, Divides Fans Amidst Unrest

The NFL's international game in Paris between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints featured a unique pregame performance of the U.S. national anthem by the eight-piece brass ensemble, The Soul Rebels. The jazz-style rendition, performed at the Stade de France, generated a mixed response from viewers watching the contest.

The performance coincided with the team's connection to New Orleans, a city known for its rich brass band tradition. The Soul Rebels also released a song titled 'Saints in Paris' in anticipation of the game and were scheduled to perform after each quarter. This was not their first major NFL performance, as they also played at the pre-game festivities for Super Bowl LIX in 2025.

Online reactions to the anthem varied, with some praising the performance as a fitting touch for a Paris game, with one user on X commenting, "A New Orleans brass band doing the anthem in Paris is a perfect touch, The Soul Rebels delivered." Others expressed less enthusiasm, with one user stating, "We might have a new worst national anthem," accompanied by a crying-laughing emoji.

The game itself proceeded amidst ongoing civil unrest in France. On the day prior to the NFL game, an estimated 110,000 protesters, including students, workers, farmers, and various political groups, marched and clashed with police in Paris. This unrest led to the rescheduling of a Saturday match involving Paris Saint-Germain, a prominent soccer team. President Donald Trump had previously voiced concerns about the NFL proceeding with the Paris game as scheduled due to the situation in the country.