The New Orleans Saints may be watching the playoffs from home this year, but their fingerprints are all over the divisional round. From sideline strategists to impact players, a number of former Saints made headlines this past weekend - and not just in small roles.
We're talking sacks, touchdowns, game-winning kicks, and even seismic special teams plays. Let’s take a closer look at how the black and gold left their mark on the postseason, even without suiting up for it themselves.
Sean Payton, Denver Broncos Head Coach
Let’s start with the headliner. Sean Payton has the Broncos on the doorstep of the Super Bowl.
In his third season in Denver, the former Saints head coach led his team to a dramatic 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, punching their ticket to the AFC Championship. That win didn’t come easy - and it won’t get any easier.
With starting quarterback Bo Nix now out for the season due to an ankle injury, Payton will lean on backup Jarrett Stidham when Denver faces the Patriots next weekend.
Still, this is vintage Payton: adapting, adjusting, and pushing the right buttons when it matters most. And let’s not forget - the Saints are still reaping the benefits of his move to Denver, having received a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-rounder in exchange for Payton and a 2024 third-round pick after he came out of retirement.
Malcolm Roach, Denver Broncos Defensive Tackle
Roach has always been a grinder - the kind of rotational defensive lineman who might not start but can absolutely flip a game when he’s on. That’s exactly what he did against Buffalo. The 27-year-old racked up 1.5 sacks and recovered a fumble in a game that saw the Bills cough up the ball more times than they’d like to remember.
Saints fans know Roach’s motor never stops, and Broncos fans are quickly learning the same. Cam Jordan even chimed in on social media: “My dawg ROACH went feral yesterday!”
Roach signed with Denver as a free agent in 2024 and earned a three-year extension worth up to $29.25 million by November. Safe to say, he's living up to the deal.
Wil Lutz, Denver Broncos Kicker
Talk about a redemption arc. After losing a training camp battle to rookie Blake Grupe in 2023, Wil Lutz found a new home in Denver - and he’s making the most of it. In Saturday’s win over Buffalo, Lutz was perfect, drilling all four of his field goal attempts, including a clutch 50-yarder in overtime to seal the win.
Lutz spent six seasons in New Orleans, and while his departure was tough for some fans to swallow, he’s proving he’s still got ice in his veins when the pressure’s on.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Denver Broncos Wide Receiver
Humphrey was never a go-to guy in New Orleans, but he’s always had a knack for making timely plays. That trend continued in Denver.
After a tough drop early in the game - one that CBS’s Jim Nantz didn’t let slide with a “Lil’ Jordan with a big drop” - Humphrey bounced back in a big way. He hauled in a 29-yard touchdown to give the Broncos a 17-10 lead in the first half, stepping up after injuries sidelined Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin.
It wasn’t a perfect game for Humphrey, but it was a resilient one - and it mattered.
Brandin Cooks, Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver
Cooks’ return to the postseason was nearly storybook. After requesting his release from the Saints post-trade deadline to chase a bigger opportunity, he found one in Buffalo. And late in Saturday’s game, he was on the verge of delivering a signature moment - until controversy struck.
Cooks appeared to secure a crucial catch that would’ve put the Bills in range for a game-winning field goal. But as he hit the ground, Denver’s Ja’Quan McMillian wrestled the ball away, and officials ruled it an interception.
Many felt Cooks was down by contact, but the call stood. It was a brutal twist in what could’ve been a defining playoff moment.
Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver
If you blinked, you might’ve missed it - but Rashid Shaheed wasted no time making his presence felt. The former Saint took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house in Seattle’s blowout win over the 49ers. That’s his third special teams touchdown since arriving in Seattle, and this one registered a seismic spike - literally - reminiscent of Marshawn Lynch’s legendary “Beast Quake” run back in 2011… also against the Saints.
New Orleans traded Shaheed to Seattle in exchange for fourth- and fifth-round picks, and so far, it’s been a win-win. But there’s no denying Shaheed has become a game-changer on the West Coast.
Sheldon Rankins, Houston Texans Defensive Tackle
Rankins didn’t replicate his fumble-return touchdown from the wild card round, but the veteran defensive tackle still made his presence felt. The former first-round pick, who spent five seasons in New Orleans, was part of a Texans front that held its own despite a rough outing from rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Rankins finished the day with four tackles and continued to be a steadying force on a defense that’s outperformed expectations all season long.
Dennis Allen, Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator
Say what you will about Dennis Allen’s run as a head coach, but when it comes to dialing up a defense, the man knows his stuff. Now calling plays for the Bears, Allen put together an aggressive, blitz-heavy game plan that disrupted MVP candidate Matthew Stafford and the Rams for most of Sunday’s game.
Chicago brought pressure from the slot, off the edge, and everywhere in between, keeping the Rams off balance. The Bears forced overtime, but ultimately fell 20-17 on a walk-off field goal. Still, Allen’s fingerprints were all over a defensive performance that nearly pulled off the upset.
D’Marco Jackson, Chicago Bears Linebacker
After being cut by the Saints this past summer, Jackson didn’t just catch on in Chicago - he thrived. Injuries at linebacker opened the door, and Jackson stepped through it with authority. He even earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors earlier this season.
Against the Rams, Jackson was back in the starting lineup and delivered again, recording seven tackles and flying around the field like a guy with something to prove. He’s turned a second chance into a legitimate role.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Chicago Bears Safety/Nickel
Gardner-Johnson reunited with Dennis Allen this season, and the partnership has rekindled some of the magic from their Saints days. The versatile defensive back has been a force in the slot, and that continued against the Rams.
He finished with four tackles and delivered a critical pass breakup on third down in overtime that prevented a potential touchdown. Unfortunately for him and the Bears, the Rams still managed to hit the game-winning field goal. But Gardner-Johnson’s impact was undeniable - and it’s clear he’s back to playing at a high level.
So no, the Saints didn’t make the playoffs. But that doesn’t mean they’ve been absent from the action.
From the sideline to the stat sheet, their former players and coaches have been front and center in some of the biggest moments of the postseason. The black and gold may not be chasing a ring this year, but their legacy is still shaping who gets one.