The 2026 season is on the verge of kicking off, and for the New Orleans Saints, this year’s beginning represents a chance to get the team’s new era into high gear.
It’s been five years since the Saints have made it to the NFL’s postseason.
During those five seasons, the Saints have seen nine starting quarterbacks, three head coaches, three offensive playcallers and have compiled a record of 36-49 while being outscored by 129 points over the stretch.
There is a plethora of nuance and context behind those numbers, but they are indeed the numbers that surmise the era of Saints football the team and fans would like to see come to an end.
The hiring of head coach Kellen Moore represented a large shift for the franchise who finally turned from trying to retain its past success and was instead investing towards a new future.
With second-year quarterback Tyler Shough now firmly implanted as the team’s starter after taking over in the middle of the Saints’ Week 9 matchup last year, he has already brought excitement and promise for the franchise’s next iteration.
A pair of strong draft classes in 2025 and 2026 are each also symbolic of new beginnings. Both classes have the chance to provide franchise cornerstones to help lead the way for a team looking to return to contention.
New Orleans faces a challenging start to the season with games against the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens to open the year.
But if New Orleans can navigate the first two weeks, no matter the results, the potential is massive with a weaker schedule ahead. The Saints can quickly turn things around even after a slow start to pursue their first NFC South win since 2020.
This season represents new potential for New Orleans. It’s a season that must be seen as a turning point for the franchise rather than a continuation.
