[Chase Young](/team/players-roster/chase-young/) didn't need an introduction to, or an in-depth conversation with, the new coaching staff.
Before Kellen Moore was hired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, and prior to him adding Brandon Staley and Jay Rodgers to the staff as defensive coordinator and edge rushers coach, respectively, Young already had been in talks to return to the Saints and already knew what his decision would be.
In his first season in New Orleans, the defensive end found a comfort zone that he hadn't yet experienced in the NFL. He loved the organization, the team had reciprocal feelings, and the union was made complete courtesy of a three-year contract extension that was announced Tuesday.
"Honestly, it was just how I felt being in the building," Young said Thursday. "The new coaches that we have now, I didn't have those guys just yet. It was just off the mere fact that I just loved being in New Orleans, enjoyed my teammates. My family liked it; that was really kind of a priority for me.
"I'd say I enjoyed my time. I enjoyed my teammates, enjoyed New Orleans, enjoyed our fan base. It was just a real cool environment, something I wanted to be a part of."
Young, who signed with the Saints as an unrestricted free agent in the 2024 offseason, had 5.5 sacks, a career-high 21 quarterback hits, 31 tackles, eight tackles for loss, a forced fumble and three pass breakups.
He played in all 17 games after having neck surgery in the offseason.
"A lot of people don't really understand, after I got my surgery, I had to sit down for three-and-a-half months," he said. "Like, do nothing. Like, bump on a log. I had a month to prepare for training camp."
What Young displayed in camp, and during the regular season, was that the skills that led to him becoming the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for Washington in 2020 remain intact even though he had limited offseason work.
Signing with the Saints in '24 was an opportunity for Young to show that he still can be a force after neck surgery and a torn ACL, in 2021.
"I feel like in football it's always betting on yourself, every year it's betting on yourself," he said. "Through injuries and ups and downs, you're always betting on yourself. I feel like every year that you go to those games and you strap your helmet up, every year it's betting on yourself. You've just got to be built for it. You've got to be strong mentally."
New Orleans' stability factored significantly, and Young said he liked conversations with Staley and Rodgers.
"I talked to Coach Staley (on Wednesday), talked to Coach Rodgers the other day," he said. "Loving what I'm hearing, the plan and how we're going to be on the edge, how we're going to be able to fly."
Young has played in a 3-4 defense before, as a rookie with the Commanders, and that has been Staley's preferred base alignment. And he said last year's 4-3 defense carried some 3-4 principles.
"You can argue last year our 4-3 (defense), when we went to a different package, that's basically a 3-4," he said. "It's kind of the same thing, it's just who's on the edge."
For Young, he believes he's on the edge of becoming a dominant force.
Asked if his best years are still to come, he said, "Oh yeah. Oh yeah."
After agreeing to terms Tuesday, he called Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis on Wednesday.
"Just had to thank him for believing in me," Young said.
And helping provide an atmosphere that Young feels comfortable with.
"This is where I wanted to be," he said. "My family loved it, I loved it. Just the culture down here, I love playing with this group of guys. I feel like I mix right in with them. I had a lot of fun all year despite what was going on in football."
**PETTIS BACK, TOO:** Receiver [Dante Pettis](/team/players-roster/dante-pettis/) signed a one-year contract extension to return to New Orleans.
Pettis appeared in the final eight games of 2024 and caught 12 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, and caught a two-point conversion. He also returned seven punts for 120 yards and three kickoffs for 96 yards.
"I've been on a few teams and I feel like you can kind of get a grasp of how good an organization is, even if you come in the middle of the season," Pettis said. "I could tell that this is a really good organization from top to bottom, so there really wasn't much for me to consider.
"I felt comfortable with Kellen Moore coming in, Dub (Keith Williams) was still the receiver coach and all the guys in the locker room. It was really an easy decision for me."