What Happened to New Orleans Saints?

The New Orleans Saints have faced a period of significant change and struggle in recent years, particularly following the retirement of legendary quarterback Drew Brees. The 2024 NFL season proved to be a challenging one, with the team finishing with a disappointing 5-12 record. Head coach Dennis Allen was relieved of his duties following Week 9, and Darren Rizzi took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

A key turning point came on February 11, 2025, when the Saints hired Kellen Moore as their 19th head coach. Moore joined the Saints after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, where he had just won Super Bowl LIX. His arrival signaled a new direction for the franchise, which was grappling with an aging roster and significant salary cap issues.

The 2025 season, Moore's first at the helm, saw a slight improvement in record, finishing 6-11, but still resulted in the team missing the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Despite the overall record, the season was notable for the emergence of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, drafted 40th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Shough, who turned 26 early in his rookie season, took over as the starting quarterback after Spencer Rattler started the first eight games. He completed 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions in nine starts, and was voted NFL Rookie of the Year by fans. Wide receiver Chris Olave also earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2025.

As of March 9, 2026, the Saints are actively navigating the NFL free agency period and preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft. The team has been busy restructuring contracts, including those of Alvin Kamara, Juwan Johnson, Chase Young, and Justin Reed, to create cap space. However, they also saw the departure of long-time defensive leader Demario Davis, who signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the New York Jets. Defensive end Cameron Jordan's contract is also set to void, making him a free agent. The Saints have re-signed defensive tackle John Ridgeway to a two-year, $6.2 million deal and punter Ryan Wright to a four-year, $14 million deal. Positional needs for the 2026 offseason include offensive guard, cornerback, running back, linebacker, EDGE rusher, wide receiver, and nose tackle.

Ownership remains with Gayle Benson, who inherited the team after the death of her husband, Tom Benson, in 2018. In October 2025, the Saints and the state of Louisiana agreed to a new 10-year lease extension, keeping the team at the Caesars Superdome for at least another decade, with team options for an additional 20 years. The team's scouting department also won an award for their top 2025 draft class, indicating a positive outlook on their recent player acquisitions. The current status of the New Orleans Saints is one of cautious optimism, as they aim to build around their young quarterback and address roster deficiencies through free agency and the upcoming draft to end their playoff drought.