PARIS (AP) — Alvin Kamara wants the New Orleans Saints to become “a part of history” Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“It’s the first NFL game being played in France. It’s an opportunity for all of us,” the running back said. “I want to win so we’ll always have that to brag about.”
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) aims a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
New Orleans Saints players on the stand ahead of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona in Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (22) warms up during an NFL football practice session in Versailles near Paris, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) during an NFL football practice session in Versailles near Paris, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
New Orleans has a lot riding on its showdown with Pittsburgh at Stade de France. The Saints are the “home” team, have been here all week and have tried to enlist fans ahead of the historic game.
Plus, they need a win.
The Saints (2-4) responded to criticism from team owner Gayle Benson by beating the New York Giants 34-27 to halt a three-game skid, even though they nearly blew a late lead. They’d love to go into their bye week on back-to-back victories.
“We built a lot of momentum, a lot of confidence in what we’re able to do,” safety Justin Reid said of last week’s victory.
“The biggest thing for us is just making sure we can sustain that and make sure we can do it for four quarters,” he added. “When we start doing that, we’re going to be a tough team for anyone in the league to have to deal with.”
They’ll try to make it tough for Aaron Rodgers and a Steelers team looking for their third straight win. Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Baltimore were all at 4-2 in the AFC North entering Week 7.
The 42-year-old Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP, was sacked five times but led a fourth-quarter comeback in Pittsburgh’s 26-19 overtime win over Tampa Bay last week.
“Even at his age now, he still moves around the pocket well, throws a beautiful ball,” Reid said. “I feel like a lot of times it’s a chess match between the safety and the quarterback to try and disguise looks so he isn’t able to just undress a defense and pick you apart.”
Saints coach Kellen Moore served as Mike McCarthy’s offensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys from 2020-22.
The Steelers coach was asked about how that familiarity might factor into plans for Sunday.
“That’s all part of the game,” McCarthy said. “Frankly, I think it’s the fun part of the game. It’s part of the competition. ... They’re young in their program. They’re off to a good start. Some of the players, in my opinion, I think they fit the way he wants to play on offense. So, it’ll definitely be part of the challenge.”
The Steelers were scheduled to arrive Friday in the French capital, which has been hit by recent street protests that turned violent.
Steelers (4-2) vs. Saints (2-4) at Stade de France.
When/where to watch: 9:30 a.m. EDT, NFL Network.
Latest odds: Steelers by 3 1/2.
Against the spread: Steelers 4-2; Saints 3-3.
Last week: Steelers beat Tampa Bay 26-19; Saints beat Giants 34-27.
Last meeting: Steelers won 20-10 on Nov. 11, 2022, in Pittsburgh.
Series record: Saints lead 9-8
The Saints rush defense faces a tough challenge in slowing Steelers running back Jaylen Warren. New Orleans is allowing 138 rushing yards per game — 30th in the NFL. The 5-foot-8 Warren has rushed for 460 yards, which is seventh most in the league. He’s also an effective option for Rodgers out of the backfield, having caught 21 passes for 258 yards through six games.
— Saints are 0-3 at home this season; 2-1 away from New Orleans.
— The Steelers are 1-1 in regular-season international games. They beat the Minnesota Vikings last year in Dublin. The Saints are 2-1 abroad. They lost to the Vikings in London in 2022.
— Saints WR Chris Olave is second in the NFL with 580 receiving yards entering Week 7.
— Aaron Rodgers and Tyler Shough have both thrown 12 touchdown passes this season — tied for fourth in the NFL entering Week 7.
— Rodgers is up to 255 career games with a touchdown pass, including the playoffs. With two TD passes last week, he moved ahead of Peyton Manning (254). The Steelers QB is fourth on the list: Tom Brady (333 games), Brett Favre (271 games), Drew Brees (268 games).
— Pittsburgh's victory over Tampa Bay last week marked the 18th time since the 2020 season that the Steelers won after trailing entering the fourth quarter, tops in the NFL.
— The Steelers lead the NFL in yards after catch with 866, part of head coach Mike McCarthy's “throw short/run long” West Coast offense approach. Pittsburgh has had at least 120 yards after catch in each of its six games.
— Rodgers will make his 264th regular-season start, one away from tying Hall of Famer Peyton Manning for fourth most in NFL history.
— Steelers S Jalen Ramsey in last week’s win over the Buccaneers became the first defensive back since 2000 to have at least 10 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks in a game.
— Saints RB Alvin Kamara last week became the sixth player to reach at least 5,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards in his career. The others are Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk, Lenny Moore, Tiki Barber and Christian McCaffrey.
AP Sports writer Will Graves contributed from Pittsburgh.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) aims a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
New Orleans Saints players on the stand ahead of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona in Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (22) warms up during an NFL football practice session in Versailles near Paris, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) during an NFL football practice session in Versailles near Paris, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday accused LeBron James of disrespecting the United States after the NBA star appeared to continue his warmups while the national anthem was performed before Philadelphia’s season opener on Tuesday.
“I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” Trump said of James in a social media post sharing the video. “LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”
James appeared to practice a golf swing and jump shot as “The Star-Spangled Banner” was performed Tuesday at New York's Madison Square Garden. James, starting his first season with Philadelphia, was lined up alongside teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem.
Trump and James have been critical of each other for years, occasionally trading public swipes.
“It must be a slow news day at the office,” James said. “Slow news day at the office.”
The 41-year-old James, in his record 24th NBA season, had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the biggest comeback win of his career, 114-106 over the Cavaliers in Philadelphia's home opener on Thursday night. The Sixers rallied from a 29-point deficit.
James put his arms behind his back and bowed his head while Boyz II Men sang the anthem ahead of the game. James was introduced to a roaring ovation from the crowd of roughly 20,000.
Coach Nick Nurse had talked at length since training camp opened about the Sixers' need to tune out outside distractions. Hours before their home opener, the Sixers had to deal with one from the president.
“I think that goes right in with other outside noise we've already had,” Nurse said before the game. “I keep saying the same thing. All I really care about is getting to the practice floor, getting them in the film room, getting them to the game floor. The focus that they've had and the intent and all the stuff like that has been outstanding.”
Trump, speaking Thursday night at a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, reiterated his complaint.
“And what about LeBron James? Did you see that deal?” Trump said. 'No, he’s doing, during the national anthem he’s practicing his golf swing. I said what the hell is that. It’s a big scandal kind of a story. I don’t understand it.”
Here are some of the more notable times James became entangled with the president or politics:
James was with Cleveland in 2017 when he made a statement with his shoes — one black, one white, with the word “equality” in capital gold letters on the back of each.
Then, after the game, James made a statement about Trump, saying: “This is a beautiful country and we’re never going to let one person dictate how beautiful and how powerful we are.”
James had called Trump “ a bum ” on Twitter and also said earlier that season of the president: “He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the president of the United States for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement. He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me more sick than anything.”
James showed determination to speak out on social issues and the nation’s political climate after Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized the four-time NBA champion for his 2018 comments about social issues.
“We will definitely not shut up and dribble,” James said. “I will definitely not do that. I mean too much to society. I mean too much to the youth. I mean too much to so many kids that feel like they don’t have a way out and they need someone to help lead them out of the situation they’re in.”
James referenced Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Jackie Robinson as athletes who previously spoke up for equality and change with no concerns about the consequences or any rewards.
“We know it’s bigger than us,” James said.
James said in 2019 that former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey “was either misinformed or not really educated on the situation” regarding the potential consequences of his actions when he tweeted in support of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests.
“Yes, we do have freedom of speech,” James said. “But at times, there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you’re not thinking about others, when you only think about yourself. I don’t want to get into a word or sentence feud with Daryl Morey, but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand, and he spoke.”
Morey deleted the tweet, but it nonetheless sparked a rift with the Chinese government, which severed ties with the NBA for several years.
James was named The Associated Press’ Male Athlete of the Year in 2020 in large part for leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship and helping to persuade many people who had never voted — at the peak of the Black Lives Matter movement — to head to the polls.
“I still know what I do on the floor and obviously, I give everything to the game,” James said. “But I can make a greater impact off the floor right now, more than I can on the floor. And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play the game of basketball. But there’s so many more things that I can do off the floor to help cultivate people, inspire people, bring people together, empower them.”
AC Milan striker and former LA Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimovic blasted socially conscious athletes in a 2021 interview. Ibrahimovic called it “a mistake” for James and other athletes to get involved in political causes, saying they should “just do what you do best, because it doesn’t look good.”
James, naturally, rejected the criticism.
“I would never shut up about things that are wrong,” James said.
Associated Press writers Collin Binkley in Washington and Darlene Superville in Sioux City, Iowa, contributed to this report.
See AP’s full NBA coverage here
Philadelphia 76ers' LeBron James tosses chalk into the air before an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' LeBron James warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' LeBron James stands before an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' LeBron James tosses chalk into the air before an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' LeBron James tosses chalk into the air before an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) drives as New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James, left, passes New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges after the 76ers defeated the Knicks 106-100 in an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
