Mickey Loomis didn’t just survive the 2025 NFL season - he thrived. And while the Saints’ 6-11 record might not scream “executive of the year,” the moves behind the scenes tell a much more compelling story.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a playoff team. Not yet.
But the foundation has been laid, and it’s hard to ignore Loomis’ fingerprints all over the Saints’ most promising developments. In his 24th season leading New Orleans’ football operations, Loomis quietly pieced together one of his most impactful years in recent memory - not with flashy splashes, but with calculated, forward-thinking decisions that have this franchise trending in the right direction.
Kellen Moore’s Arrival: A Calculated Gamble That’s Paying Off
The biggest swing Loomis took? Hiring Kellen Moore as head coach.
And while Moore’s rookie season on the sideline came with growing pains - the team started 1-8 - there was a steadiness to his approach that stood out. He built a cohesive staff, showed resilience through a brutal stretch, and made one particularly savvy hire: defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
Staley helped engineer a defensive turnaround that gave the Saints a fighting chance in several games down the stretch. Moore still has room to grow in terms of play-calling and in-game management, but the early signs suggest he’s a coach who learns quickly.
That matters. And Loomis saw it.
Free Agency Wins: Value Over Hype
Loomis didn’t chase headlines in free agency. Instead, he made smart, team-friendly decisions that paid off. Re-signing Chase Young and Juwan Johnson to affordable deals turned out to be masterstrokes - both players delivered career-best seasons.
Just as important were the players he let walk. Paulson Adebo, Payton Turner, Willie Gay Jr., and Lucas Patrick all found new homes, but none made a significant impact.
Adebo’s case is especially telling: a three-year, $54 million deal with the Giants ended in disappointment, as he graded out as the 74th-ranked cornerback by Pro Football Focus. That’s not just a miss for New York - it’s a win for New Orleans.
Loomis also added veteran safety Justin Reid, who helped stabilize the secondary. Not every move hit - Brandin Cooks didn’t pan out - but even there, Loomis managed to recover value by flipping Cooks in a trade, salvaging some return on investment.
Crisis Management: The Derek Carr Situation
Perhaps the most impressive chapter of Loomis’ 2025 season came off the field, when Derek Carr unexpectedly retired. It was abrupt, strange, and could’ve derailed the Saints’ entire offseason. Instead, Loomis handled the situation with poise and professionalism, negotiating a settlement that worked for everyone involved.
The twist? The Saints may have actually come out ahead.
Draft Day Brilliance: Shough and the Future
A week after resolving the Carr saga, Loomis oversaw a draft that could go down as a franchise-defining moment. The Saints landed quarterback Tyler Shough in the second round - a rare find at that spot - and left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., who projects as a long-term anchor on the offensive line. Add in Jonas Sanker, Quincy Riley, and Danny Stutsman, and you’ve got a class filled with future starters and contributors.
But make no mistake: Shough is the headline. Finding a quarterback with his potential outside of Round 1 is like striking gold. That single pick didn’t just fill a need - it accelerated the entire rebuild.
Trade Market Savvy: Quiet Wins With Big Impact
Loomis didn’t stop at the draft. He stayed active on the trade front and came away with several under-the-radar wins.
Swapping Khalen Saunders - a player the Saints were prepared to cut - for center Luke Fortner was a smart piece of business. And while acquiring wideout Devaughn Vele wasn’t cheap, he showed real chemistry with Shough before going down with an injury.
He’s shaping up to be a reliable third option in the Saints’ receiving corps.
To offset the draft capital spent on Vele, Loomis traded Rashid Shaheed to Seattle. That move hurt in the short term - Shaheed was a weapon in the return game and a dynamic threat on offense - but the extra fourth- and fifth-round picks could prove valuable as the Saints continue to reshape the roster.
Front Office Reinforcements: Building Behind the Scenes
Loomis also made quiet but meaningful upgrades to the front office, bringing in Randy Mueller and Thomas Dimitroff. These hires didn’t dominate headlines, but the impact has been felt in the team’s improved scouting and roster-building efforts. It’s the kind of move that shows Loomis isn’t just thinking about the next game - he’s thinking about the next five years.
A Veteran GM Still at the Top of His Game
There was a time not long ago when Saints fans were calling for change at the top. Loomis, nearing 70 and the longest-tenured GM in the league, was facing heat.
But he didn’t flinch. He stayed the course, made the tough calls, and trusted his vision.
Now, the results are starting to show. The Saints have a promising young quarterback, a head coach who’s growing into the role, and a roster that’s younger, deeper, and more balanced than it’s been in years.
Loomis didn’t hit on every move - no GM does. But he nailed the ones that matter most: coach and quarterback.
That’s how you build something sustainable. And that’s exactly what he’s doing.
After a rocky few years, the Saints are finally on the upswing. And Mickey Loomis? He’s still throwing heat.