Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS, La. — The New Orleans Saints have released kicker Blake Grupe.
Sources have confirmed Mike Garafolo of NFL Network’s report for LouisianaSports.Net.
The move is one that has been in the cards since the former Notre Dame kicker missed two of his three field goal attempts in the Saints’ 24-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
His 69.2% field goal percentage is the lowest for a New Orleans Saints kicker since 1970 among those with at least 25 attempts through Week 12.
He opened the season with three consecutive games with a missed attempt, but head coach Kellen Moore and the coaching staff chose to let Grupe try to kick himself out of the rut. After a two-for-two outing in Week 4, he missed another pair the following week.
At that point, it felt likely that the team would change course to practice squad kicker Charlie Smyth, but they did not.
Grupe then went 8/11 over the next six weeks, prompting the team to release the team captain and sign free agent kicker Cade York.
Grupe earned his job as the Saints kicker in 2023 after beating out now-Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz in training camp. Lutz was traded to the Broncos that offseason. Since then, Grupe made 79.8% of his field goal attempts, including going 60/71 within 50 yards and just 15/23 on kicks of 50 or more.
The performance in 2025 was a surprise as he missed just one kick during training camp. Unfortunately, however, the game day performances did not live up to that potential. Grupe will now head to waivers with the hopes of landing elsewhere for his next opportunity.
