Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS, La. — After a season of struggling to find consistency at kicker the New Orleans Saints have signed a new option.
Per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, the Saints have signed former LSU kicker Cade York. The kicker is set to head to the practice squad first.
The McKinney, Tex. native has spent time professionally with the Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders and, most recently, with the Cincinnati Bengals. Over his career, he converted 73.3% of his attempts including making 81.8% with the Bengals in 2024.
New Orleans hosted York and formerly suspended kicker Justin Tucker for tryouts on Tuesday, but have ultimately decided upon York, a fourth-round pick in 2022.
The former Tiger will represent a fresh start for the Saints at the position with kicker Blake Grupe being released.
Cade York in for the #Saints to the practice squad. Blake Grupe is being released, source says. https://t.co/EGaIdYH36c
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 25, 2025
Grupe made only 69.2% of his kick attempts this year, which is the lowest in Saints history since 1970 among kickers with at least 25 attempts through the first 12 weeks of a season.
New Orleans still has International Player Program participant Charlie Smyth on its practice squad, as well. But the signing of York seems to indicate the team isn’t ready to turn things over to him just yet, unless the two will compete for the role ahead of the Saints’ Week 13 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
