Monday marked the end of an era in New Orleans.
DeMario Davis’ eight-year career with the New Orleans Saints came to an end when he agreed to terms on a two-year, $22 million contract to join the New York Jets. In New York, Davis will reunite with Aaron Glenn, the Jets head coach who served as a Saints defensive assistant during Davis’ early tenure.
Davis leaves as one of the most respected, productive and decorated players in Saints history.
Few noticed when the unheralded linebacker from Brandon, Mississippi, signed with the Saints during free agency in 2018.
Eight years, two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro honor later, news of Davis’ departure sent resonated across New Orleans. When ESPN announced the agreement just past noon Monday, several fans crowded around the TV set at a local gym. One rubbed her eyes in a crying gesture. Their emotional reaction spoke to Davis’ impact on the city.
Davis led the Saints in tackles in each of his eight seasons, including last year when he recorded a career-high 143 stops, a figure that ranked 10th in the NFL.
Davis wasn’t just productive. He was uncommonly durable, a rock of reliability in the middle of the defense. He missed just one game because of injury in eight years. He was voted a team captain by his peers and called the defensive signals throughout his tenure.
Davis departure, however, was far from a surprise. The veteran linebacker hinted that his days in New Orleans could be numbered during media appearances after the season. And while Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said he wanted Davis back in 2026, it was readily apparent that it would come at the team’s asking price, not the other way around.
“New Orleans is home for me,” Davis said at Super Bowl LX last month. “…But the business has to play how the business plays out.”
The Saints prepared for Davis’ eventual departure by selecting Danny Stutsman in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The former Oklahoma standout showed flashes of potential during his limited playing time last season. He was groomed to become the defensive signal-caller during training camp.
Stutsman, though, will have big shoes to fill in trying to fill the leadership void created by Davis’ absence. Davis was the unquestioned alpha leader of the Saints’ locker room and one of organization’s ambassadors in the community. Through this Devoted Dreamers Foundation, he devoted countless hours to improving education and leadership for local kids. There’s a reason the Saints nominated him three times for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award and took Davis and his wife, Tamela, with them to France last summer to promote the team.
“Rare-air type leadership,” longtime defensive end Cam Jordan posted about Davis on social media on the eve of free agency Sunday.
It was notable when Drew Brees retired in 2020, he handed Davis the duties of leading the Saints during their pregame breakdown chant. It was a symbolic position -- but an important one. Since the Saints started the tradition in 2006, Brees and Davis have been the only players to lead the team by setting the tone for the game in the pregame huddle.
As the defensive captain and respected conscious of the locker room, Davis was the natural successor to Brees. There is no obvious choice on the roster to handle the duties in Davis’ absence.
The Saints will find someone to step into the role. Hopefully, they allow Davis to select his successor the way Brees did with him. It won’t be Davis’ words, though, that will be difficult to replace. It will be his actions.