VERSAILLES, France — Chase Young was given 20 seconds.

A reporter asked the New Orleans Saints defensive end what he would say to the French about why they should become fans of the black and gold. And she jokingly issued a time limit so he could keep his answer brief. Young started to stammer.

“17…” Alvin Kamara said, counting down the seconds.

“10…” Cam Jordan added.

Next to him, Tyler Shough whispered some advice. Young threw his hands up and shrugged.

“We have fun,” Young said. “And we have a great culture.”

The sales pitch may not have been the most convincing. But when the franchise plays in the country’s first-ever NFL game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the people of France will have a chance to decide whether they’ll become Saints diehards — just like the rest of New Orleans.

The true answer could depend on how many more times they see the Saints after Sunday.

Saints owner Gayle Benson led efforts to have her franchise and the NFL play in Paris. But the looming question is whether Sunday’s spectacle becomes a one-off, a yearly occurrence or somewhere in between.

Do they want to become the Jacksonville Jaguars — a team that plays yearly in London — of Paris?

“I don't know about every year, but they know I want to come back," Benson said. "It's up to the NFL, but I made it very clear (to NFL commissioner) Roger (Goodell)."

The NFL sees France as an untapped market. Brett Gosper, the head of Europe and Asia-Pacific for the NFL, said the country is Europe’s third-biggest sporting market after the U.K. and Germany — both places the league has already expanded into with annual international games. The league’s internal research, Gosper said, shows that there are 12 million existing NFL fans in France, with 1.5 million of those described as “avid.”

Yet Gosper and other league officials have been far from definitive about France’s NFL future. The league would like the game to become a regular occurrence, but officials haven’t specified whether that means every year.

“We're here to stay, and we're here for the long term,” Gosper said. “And obviously the Saints have an important role to play in that.”

The Saints have exclusive international marketing rights in France as part of the league’s global markets program. But those terms notably do not grant exclusivity for playing overseas, NFL global head of major events and international games Jon Barker said.

The executive pointed to Spain as a similar example. The Miami Dolphins are one of three teams to hold the country’s international rights and played Madrid’s first-ever game in 2025, but the league scheduled a Falcons-Bengals game in the city this year (Nov. 8).

“There’s a natural fit for the Saints here,” Barker said. “Obviously the history of Louisiana and their connection to France … I certainly think they’re going to draw and attract a lot of fan base here. But I imagine all of our teams will draw and build fan bases here as well.”

Added Gosper: “I don't think they'll be alone here for long, but it's nice for them to have that window where they can really become France's team.”

For now, the Saints will be treated as such. Gosper and Barker said a goal for Sunday’s game is to feel like a Saints home game — since they are technically the home team — while also incorporating the uniqueness of the Paris setting. That means long-time Superdome public address announcer Mark Romig will retain his same duties this weekend.

With 20% of attendees traveling from the United States, according to the NFL, the league expects many to be rooting for New Orleans. Barker said international games no longer feel like a hodgepodge of fans in random jerseys — because that was often the only merchandise they could find.

So far, the Saints’ players have felt the country’s embrace. Running back Kendre Miller said “the people out here seem to love us.” And likewise, the players seem to be loving them back. Tyler Shough and a handful of other Saints warmly recalled attending Tuesday’s star-studded soccer game between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. Players have also had time to explore, with Alvin Kamara joking that Chris Olave spent $100,000 while shopping on this trip.

The reception has been warm enough that several players said they would gladly play in France every year.

“That’d be special,” quarterback Spencer Rattler said.

“Dope,” tackle Taliese Fuaga said.

“We’ve got the fleur de lis on,” linebacker Kaden Elliss said. “It’s only fitting.”

Hurdles remain before that happens. For one, the Saints would have to be willing to accept sacrificing one game at the Dome — an idea that general manager Mickey Loomis wasn’t keen on.

“I’d rather be the visitor than the home team,” he said.

The league would also have to check stadium availability and possibly find venues other than Stade de France, which needed to undergo changes to account for the logistics of an NFL game. Sunday’s game will also have to be successful enough to show there’s a French fanbase to tap into.

But it also takes a franchise — an owner — steadfast enough to lead the push to become a fixture in France. The Jaguars play in London as much as they do because owner Shad Khan, who also owns a London-based soccer team, saw an opportunity to create an entirely new value for his franchise.

“I would love to come here as often as possible,” Benson said.