Aaron Rodgers is unhappy that the Steelers waited until Thursday night to travel to Paris for their game against the Saints, saying he would have preferred more time to adjust to the time difference. The Saints arrived Tuesday, while Pittsburgh stuck to its preplanned schedule despite unrest in Paris. Rodgers also sees the NFL expanding its international slate, driven largely by the league’s financial ambitions.

By the Numbers
  • Rodgers is set to become the first NFL quarterback to play international games in three straight seasons, in three different countries.
  • Teams that traveled later in the week for European games this season are 3-0.
  • The Steelers left Thursday night and arrived Friday; the Saints left Monday night and arrived Tuesday.
Yes, But

Rodgers favors arriving earlier to acclimate, but the benefits of either travel schedule are disputed. Later-arriving teams have won all three European games this season, and both teams kept their travel plans despite the unrest in Paris.

State of Play
  • The Steelers canceled a fan event as a precaution; otherwise, both teams’ preparations have proceeded normally.
  • Rodgers expects the NFL to expand its international footprint, potentially to 16 sites worldwide.
What's Next

Rodgers is expected to retire, ending his run of international games. The NFL, meanwhile, is likely to keep adding overseas destinations as it pursues global growth and revenue.

Bottom Line

For Rodgers, the dispute is about more than a flight schedule: he questions whether late travel is truly advantageous. The league’s international ambitions are growing, but players and teams still have to adapt to the logistics on the ground.