For many years now, American football has been trying to establish itself in the French sporting landscape. With the creation of the Paris Musketeers, the idea is to create a new gateway for future French players. Bringing in a franchise such as the Saints is therefore essential to the development of the sport.
John McKeon, the owner of Les Mousquetaires, was very enthusiastic when we spoke to him, given that flag football will be on the programme for the forthcoming Olympic Games.
Flashscore France: What's your view of flag football in France, now that it's on the programme for the 2028 Olympic Games?
John McKeon: "With the Musketeers, it's really important for us to introduce the sport to young people and new types of fans. At the moment, I think we're doing a good job of reaching out to NFL fans, people who already know the sport. But there's... There's obviously a large part of the French population that's passionate about sport and doesn't know about it. And I think flag football is an excellent way of introducing young people to the sport, its rules, its concepts and its athleticism.
"So it's very important for Musketeers to support flag initiatives here in France, because we see our future players, and maybe even our future fans, there. So we work closely with the federation, supporting their flag initiatives, but also trying to run some of our own flag initiatives in collaboration with the federation to encourage young people in the Paris community, but also across France. We're organising flag activities at half-time of all our matches this year, to give demonstrations, to show our public and the people who come to our matches that it's accessible."
FF: Are Les Mousquetaires the key to the future success of American football in France?
JM: "Yes, we would like to position ourselves in France as the highest level at which American football can be played in France. And that's what we are at the moment. We're also in discussions with the federation about players getting their diploma, learning flag football and playing in their local clubs. If they are interested in American football, they can join their American football teams.
"Today, all our players come from these systems. For example, 80% of our team is made up of French citizens who were trained in French clubs. They went on to play at universities in the United States or Canada, or in professional teams in Germany or other countries. And now they're playing for us here in France, back in their home countries, in front of their families and their own friends."
FF: The NBA is another American brand that has managed to develop in France. Do you think the NFL would be able to draw inspiration from it? Because you said that it would be a dream to organise an NFL match in Paris... What do you need to do to make this dream come true in the next few years?
JM: "I think that a partnership with the Saints is a sort of first step in that direction. We've been working together for six months now and this event is in a way one of the launch events for the Saints coming to France, settling here, mixing with the population to make themselves known. The NFL is such an important brand. You mentioned the Super Bowl, everyone knows it.
"Obviously, the Saints have their own prestige and the cultural exchange between the French colony that was New Orleans and the New Orleans of today. So they bring a lot more visibility and exposure to the project and the sport here, and you know, the legitimacy of this movement is real. And so, for me, the reason I got involved with the Musketeers and American football in Paris, France, is because I think it's inevitable that there will be professional American football here. And, in partnership with the Saints and the NFL, we will continue to develop American football here in Paris, France."