The New Orleans Saints may be on the outside looking in for the fifth straight postseason, but that doesn’t mean Saints fans are without a rooting interest this weekend. The NFL Divisional Playoffs are set, and while the Saints won’t be suiting up, plenty of familiar faces from their past will be. Former players and coaches are scattered across the AFC playoff picture, and their impact is being felt in big ways.
Let’s take a closer look at the AFC teams still in the hunt - and the former Saints who are playing key roles in their postseason push.
Buffalo Bills
WR Brandin Cooks
OC Joe Brady
QB Coach Ronald Curry
OL Coach Aaron Kromer
Senior Defensive Assistant Ryan Nielsen
The Bills have quietly become a bit of a Saints reunion. Brandin Cooks, once a first-round pick for New Orleans, is now a veteran presence in Buffalo’s receiving corps. While he’s not the focal point of the offense anymore, his ability to stretch the field still matters in big moments.
But the real Saints influence in Buffalo is on the coaching staff. Joe Brady got his NFL start under Sean Payton as an offensive assistant, and after a historic college stint at LSU, he’s now steering the Bills’ offense as OC. His work with Josh Allen has been impressive - helping refine Allen’s decision-making while keeping the explosive elements of his game intact.
Ronald Curry, another former Saints assistant, is in his second season as Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach. He’s been instrumental in Allen’s continued development. Aaron Kromer, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Saints and even served as interim head coach during the 2012 season, is back in the mix as the Bills’ offensive line coach.
Then there’s Ryan Nielsen. Once a key piece of the Saints’ defensive line development, he’s now helping shape Buffalo’s front seven. His departure from New Orleans raised some eyebrows, and he’s proving why - Nielsen’s respected across the league for his ability to get the most out of his defensive linemen.
Houston Texans
DL Sheldon Rankins
DL Mario Edwards Jr. (IR)
Sheldon Rankins was once a first-round cornerstone for the Saints’ defense, and now he’s making noise in Houston. This season, he’s found his groove again - notching three sacks, five tackles for loss, and even scoring on a fumble return. And in last week’s wild-card win over Pittsburgh, Rankins came up huge, scooping another fumble and taking it to the house to help break the game wide open.
While Mario Edwards Jr. is on injured reserve, he’s another former Saint who spent time in New Orleans’ defensive rotation. His presence on the Texans' roster adds another layer to the Saints-Texans connection.
New England Patriots
OL Coach Doug Marrone
Doug Marrone’s NFL journey started in New Orleans, where he served as Sean Payton’s first offensive coordinator. That early Saints offense laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most explosive units of the era.
Marrone returned to the Saints in 2022 as the offensive line coach, though that second stint didn’t go nearly as well. Now with the Patriots, Marrone is back in the trenches, trying to stabilize a young offensive line in New England.
Denver Broncos
Players:
- WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- TE Adam Trautman
- FB Adam Prentice
- FB Michael Burton (IR)
- TE Lucas Krull (IR)
- DT Malcolm Roach
- DT Jordan Jackson
- DT Garrett Nelson (Practice Squad)
- WR A.T.
Perry (Practice Squad)
- OL Calvin Throckmorton (Practice Squad)
- K Wil Lutz
Coaches:
- Head Coach Sean Payton
- OC Joe Lombardi
- Run Game Coordinator/Assistant HC Zach Strief
- Senior Offensive Assistant Pete Carmichael
- Senior Defensive Assistant Joe Vitt
- Defensive QC Coach Todd Davis
- Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant HC Darren Rizzi
- Special Teams Assistant Marwan Maalouf
- Special Teams QC Coach Zach Line
- Offensive QC Coach Logan Kilgore
- Strength & Conditioning Coach Dan Dalrymple
This is where the Saints’ DNA is most visible. Sean Payton has essentially built a Saints West in Denver. After a legendary run in New Orleans that included a Super Bowl title and countless playoff appearances, Payton is now in his fourth season with the Broncos - and he’s got them back in the postseason for the second year in a row, this time as the AFC’s top seed.
It’s no surprise that so many of his former players and assistants have followed him. Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael, two of Payton’s most trusted offensive minds, are right there with him. Zach Strief - once a reliable right tackle and one of Payton’s early draft picks - is now helping shape the Broncos’ run game.
On the field, there’s a long list of familiar names. Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who got his start as an undrafted rookie in New Orleans, chipped in with nine catches, 101 yards, and a touchdown this season.
Adam Trautman has continued in his role as a blocking tight end, just as he did under Payton in New Orleans. Malcolm Roach, a key rotational piece on the Saints’ defensive line for four years, has carved out a similar role in Denver - and in 2025, he posted a career-high four sacks.
And then there’s Wil Lutz. The most accurate kicker in Saints history is still doing his thing in Denver. In 2025, he hit nearly 88% of his field goals and continues to be one of the most reliable legs in the league.
The coaching staff is loaded with more Saints connections. Joe Vitt, who’s been with Payton from the early days, remains a trusted voice. Darren Rizzi, one of the league’s top special teams minds, is also on board, along with former Saints fullback Zach Line and linebacker Todd Davis, both of whom have transitioned into coaching roles under Payton.
The Saints’ Legacy Lives On
Even though the Saints aren’t part of this year’s playoff bracket, their influence is all over the AFC side of the postseason. From key players making game-changing plays to coaches shaping game plans behind the scenes, New Orleans’ fingerprints are everywhere.
And at the center of it all is Sean Payton - the architect of the Saints’ golden era and now the man tasked with bringing that same magic to Denver. Whether it’s former draft picks, trusted assistants, or undrafted gems, Payton’s ability to build a culture and develop talent continues to show up - even if it’s no longer in black and gold.
So while Saints fans may not have their team in the hunt this January, they’ve still got plenty of reasons to watch - and more than a few familiar faces worth cheering for.