The Jacksonville Jaguars used an NFL protection rule to stop the Pittsburgh Steelers from playing in London this season.
Jacksonville holds home-field advantage for this AFC matchup on the 2026 regular-season schedule.
“According to multiple sources, the Jaguars ‘protected’ their home game against the Steelers,” Gerry Dulac reported.
The game will likely be played in Jacksonville and not in the capital of England.
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Nate Boerkircher’s GF Reaction to $8M Jaguars Contract Goes Viral (Watch) (Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images)
The decision ties directly to the Jaguars’ shrinking stadium capacity and the Steelers’ massive traveling fan base.
EverBank Stadium is undergoing a $1.4 billion renovation that cuts seating by 50% this season.
Only the lower bowl will remain open, leaving roughly 42,000 to 43,000 available seats for home games.
“They don’t want to give up a game against the Steelers because they know it’s guaranteed to be a sellout,” Dulac wrote.
Steelers fans gobble up seats in opposing stadiums, which makes this matchup a guaranteed revenue game for Jacksonville.
Jacksonville will host two consecutive games in London this fall, one at Wembley Stadium and one at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The franchise has played 14 games in London since 2013, posting a 7-7 record in those games.
Pittsburgh traveled to Dublin last season and defeated the Minnesota Vikings 24-21 at Croke Park in Ireland.
That victory marked the first regular-season NFL game in Ireland and showcased the Steelers’ strong international appeal.
The NFL had considered sending Pittsburgh back overseas as the visiting team against Jacksonville in London this year.
But the Jaguars refused to risk turning their own home game into a Steelers crowd takeover in London.
Steelers fan base forces shift in NFL home game protection strategy
Steelers Nation ranks among the NFL’s most dominant traveling forces with an average home attendance of 66,301.
Pittsburgh also holds the third-largest digital footprint at 6.2% across web search, website traffic, YouTube, Instagram, and Reddit.
The NFL allows teams with international games to safeguard two home matchups from being moved overseas.
Jacksonville used this provision specifically for the Steelers game because a London crowd could tilt heavily toward Pittsburgh.
A Wembley Stadium packed with black-and-gold supporters would strip the Jaguars of home advantage.
The San Francisco 49ers applied the same strategy to protect their home game against the Denver Broncos.
The 2026 NFL season features a record nine international games across seven countries, including Germany and Brazil.
Pittsburgh could still travel internationally this season since road games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain possibilities.
EverBank Stadium renovations are scheduled for completion by 2028, and the Jaguars will temporarily relocate to Orlando in 2027.
The franchise will play in Orlando during the final year of the renovation project before returning to the updated venue.
The potential reduction in protected home games could change how teams approach this strategy in future seasons.