Jake Haener is getting a fresh start - and this time, it’s with the reigning champs.
The former Saints quarterback has signed a futures deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, giving him a shot to carve out a role in one of the NFL’s most dynamic quarterback rooms. It’s a notable move for Haener, a 2023 fourth-round pick out of Fresno State, who’s looking to reset his career after a rocky start in New Orleans.
Haener spent most of last season on the Saints’ practice squad, never quite breaking through to the active roster until the final game of the year. That late-season elevation came only because backup Spencer Rattler was sidelined with a finger injury. And while head coach Kellen Moore had initially included Haener in the competition for the starting job, he eventually fell behind both Rattler and Tyler Shough on the depth chart.
It’s been a winding road for Haener since draft day. The Saints clearly saw something in him - enough to trade up and grab him in the fourth round.
They liked his toughness, his quick processing, and the way he carried himself in the huddle. And by all accounts, he was a strong performer in practice.
But that potential didn’t translate into meaningful playing time. Haener started just one game in a Saints uniform, a December 2024 outing that ended with him benched at halftime in favor of Rattler.
His rookie year was also marred by a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Now, he heads to Kansas City, where he’ll enter a quarterback room that’s suddenly a little more uncertain than usual. Patrick Mahomes is still the franchise cornerstone, but he’s coming off a torn ACL, and his status for the start of next season remains unclear. That opens the door - at least a crack - for someone like Haener to make an impression.
He’ll be competing with Chris Oladokun and Gardner Minshew, though Minshew is set to hit free agency in March. That could leave a backup job up for grabs, and Haener will be in the mix to claim it.
This isn’t just a depth signing. Futures deals are about potential, and the Chiefs clearly see something worth developing. For Haener, it’s a chance to learn behind the league’s gold standard at quarterback - and maybe, just maybe, find a foothold in the NFL after a turbulent start.