Tag: Jahri Evans

Jahri Evans must wait another year for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to get it right

New Orleans Saints legend and Super Bowl 44 champion Jahri Evans was not selected for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The HOF has another year to get it right:

This is a shame: New Orleans Saints legend and Super Bowl XLIV champion Jahri Evans was not selected for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Evans, the longtime right guard for the Saints and their current assistant offensive line coach, will have to wait another year for the voters to get it right.

Evans wasn’t part of the Hall of Fame’s four-man Class of 2025, its smallest since 2005. Neither were New Orleans locals Eli Manning and Reggie Wayne. Those to be inducted are Sterling Sharpe, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, and Eric Allen, the Pro Bowl cornerback who spent three years with the Saints.

It would be a wonderful thing to see Evans rewarded for his hard work. When he retired, Evans had appeared in 169 games with the Saints — second-most among all offensive linemen in franchise history, trailing only the great Stan Brock (186). He went from being the 108th overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft to racking up accolades in his long career.

Evans was a six-time Pro Bowler and earned a spot on the Associated Press All-Pro teams five times (four on the first team, once on the second). He was also selected for the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and has a space in the prestigious Saints Ring of Honor at the Caesars Superdome.

If he can get in next year, he won’t be the only member of the Super Bowl XLIV-winning squad to do so. Quarterback Drew Brees will be eligible for induction with the Class of 2026, too, so their bronze busts may end up resting not too far from each other. It would be fitting that one of the men charged with keeping No. 9 clean would get to earn his place in pro football history alongside one of the greatest passers of all time.

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Will Jahri Evans finally get the call from the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Jahri Evans has gotten one step closer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame every year he’s been eligible. Will he finally get the call he’s been waiting for?

Jahri Evans has gotten one step closer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame every year he’s been eligible. The longtime New Orleans Saints right guard and Super Bowl XLIV champion has progressed from the semifinalist stage in 2023, his first year of eligibility, to the finalist level in 2024, his second. Will he finally get the call he’s been waiting for in Year 3?

There’s obviously support for Evans among voters. It helps that he was inducted to the Saints’ Ring of Honor this season, an exclusive group formed by several all-time greats already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Rickey Jackson, Willie Roaf, Morten Andersen, and Sam Mills. Legendary Saints quarterback Archie Manning is also in the Ring of Honor, along with late team owner Tom Benson and Evans’ Super Bowl-winning teammate Will Smith. It’s a prestigious group.

Evans was drafted out of Bloomsburg, a small school in Pennsylvania, which has sent only five other players to the NFL. He went from being drafted at No. 108 overall to starting all 169 games he played in the NFL, plus 10 playoff games and a Super Bowl. He won six Pro Bowl nods and was recognized on the All-Pro team four times, and has already been chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2010s Team.

We’ll be watching to see if Evans gets the respect he’s earned. He just might beat his teammate Drew Brees into enshrinement at Canton — Brees will be eligible for induction next year as part of the Class of 2026. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be announced during Thursday night’s NFL Honors program, broadcast at 8 p.m. CT on FOX and streamed on NFL+.

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Jahri Evans discusses Saints staff changes and coaching the Senior Bowl

Jahri Evans could become a Hall of Famer next week, but for now he’s busy representing the Saints as a coach at the Senior Bowl:

Jahri Evans is a busy man. The New Orleans Saints assistant offensive line coach is working at the Senior Bowl this week, and next week he’ll learn whether or not he’s going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Beyond that, he’ll have to see if the new Saints coaching staff has room for him. Evans was asked about the upcoming changes and the ongoing search for a head coach, which caught him by surprise.

“Oh, wow I wasn’t expecting that,” Evans told reporters after Senior Bowl practice on Tuesday. “Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about it, y’know I’m here trying to do as much as I can for these guys. Like I told them in the meeting, I’m here to sharpen the tools in their toolbox and add things to their toolbox. I think back home in New Orleans, that situation will handle itself, and when it does I’m pretty sure I have an opportunity to stay.”

When asked if he feels like the team will keep him around, Evans replied, “I hope so. I don’t know, this is my first go around with it. The team hasn’t had change in almost 20 years at the head position, right, so I think its a lot of people’s first go around with it in the building. I’m here now representing the Saints, and my job is to get my notes on these guys, help these guys be better. As long as I’m employed, I’ll still be working.”

When it comes down to it, this quote sounds like he has the opportunity to stay, which is an enormous positive as he has been a great addition to the staff and may be worth looking at for a promotion in the near future. Of all the assistants and positional coaches on the team, there are a few who are worthy of staying, and Evans is no doubt one of them.

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Saints assistant coach Jahri Evans assigned OL group for Senior Bowl

New Orleans Saints assistant coach Jahri Evans will be working with the American Team offensive line at this year’s Senior Bowl, including three LSU Tigers stars:

New Orleans Saints legend and current offensive assistant Jahri Evans is getting a nice opportunity to be an offensive line coach at the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Earlier today, the Senior Bowls announced the group of players that he will be coaching and they could end up being some intriguing names to keep an eye on in the 2025 NFL draft for the Saints. Many New Orleans fans will already recognize a few of the names from their college days.

Evans will be coaching the American Team offensive line, which includes Kansas Jayhawks tackle Logan Brown, Missouri Tigers tackle Armand Membou and then a trio of former LSU Tigers stars: Garrett Dellinger, Miles Frazier and Emery Jones.

The most interesting player to watch during the week of practices will be Jones. He entered the year with hopes of being drafted in the top-10, but struggled statistically to the point that he could now be a Day 2 pick.

He still has all of the tools needed to play in the league and at a high level. His game might project more to a guard spot, though, which teams will get a chance to look at during practice.

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Sean Payton gives positive outlook on Quinn Meinerz’s Pro Bowl snub

Quinn Meinerz was snubbed by Pro Bowl voters this season, but Broncos coach Sean Payton believes they will make up for it down the road.

Despite being one of the best guards in football and earning first-team All-Pro recognition from the Associated Press in 2024, Denver Broncos lineman Quinn Meinerz was not voted to the Pro Bowl.

Earlier this month, Broncos coach Sean Payton suggested there would be a positive long-term outlook for Meinerz after the Pro Bowl snub.

“Here’s what happens: I’ve told Quinn this,” Payton said on Jan. 3. “I said the same thing to Jahri Evans. Jahri’s up for the Hall of Fame this year, he’s a finalist. [He was] an elite guard — elite — and he didn’t make it Year 2 — I’m not sure what year it was.

“I called him in, and I said, ‘You’re going to get slighted a year or two in the early part of your career, and then you’re going to have two that you really shouldn’t have gotten in that you get on the back end.’ The same thing will happen with Quinn.”

Evans went on to earn five All-Pro nods and six Pro Bowl selections during his time with the New Orleans Saints. A Super Bowl champion and a member of the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team, Evans is now a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Meinerz is a first-alternate for this year’s Pro Bowl, and he’s still only 26 years old. Payton believes the guard will have a long career ahead of him with many Pro Bowl selections in the future.

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Former Chiefs players named finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Former Kansas City #Chiefs players named finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 | @EdEastonJr

The latest finalists to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will include two former Kansas City Chiefs defensive standouts. Jared Allen and Terrell Suggs are among the 15 finalists announced for next year’s class on Saturday.

Allen was drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft and spent the first four years of his career in Kansas City. In his final year with the Chiefs, he made the Pro Bowl and became a first-team All-Pro with 15.5 sacks. He would later succeed with the Minnesota Vikings, becoming a three-time first-team All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler over the next five seasons.

Suggs was acquired by the Chiefs toward the end of the 2019 season, serving as an additional piece on the journey to Super Bowl LIV. The 37-year-old played a significant role in the postseason, playing in most of the snaps and winning his second title after successful All-Pro seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

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The other finalists were Eli Manning, Luke Kuechly, Marshal Yanda, Steve Smith, Eric Allen, Antonio Gates, Jahri Evans, Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, Willie Anderson, Adam Vinatieri, Darren Woodson, and Fred Taylor.

Saints’ Super Bowl champ named Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist again for 2025

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that New Orleans Saints legend Jahri Evans is among their finalists for the Class of 2025. Is the third time the charm?

Here’s some good news for Jahri Evans. The New Orleans Saints legend and Super Bowl XLIV champion has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, the HOF announced Saturday.

This is the second time he’s made it to the finalist stage. Evans was a semifinalist in his first year of eligibility, and he’s now twice advanced further. Evans currently works for the Saints as an assistant offensive line coach after ending his illustrious career as a player back in 2017. He won five All-Pro nods from 2009 to 2013 and was a six-time Pro Bowler from 2009 to 2014.

Not bad for a former fourth-round draft pick out of Bloomsburg, a Division II school in Pennsylvania.

Evans was also admitted to the Saints’ prestigious Ring of Honor this season, which could help give him a boost in the eyes of voters when they gather for the final round. When he learned he was being recognized with that honor, Evans delivered an emotional two-minute speech to the team at training camp. Here’s hoping he can share a longer reflection at Canton next summer.

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Saints Super Bowl champ named Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist yet again

Jahri Evans made the cut as a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame again this year. Is the third time the charm for the Super Bowl 44 champ?

They say third time is the charm. That’s the hope for New Orleans Saints legendary offensive lineman Jahri Evans. The Pro Football Hall of Fame released their annual list of semifinalists, and Evans was one of the 25 players who made the cut.

This isn’t unfamiliar territory for him. Evans has been a part of the semifinalists for each of the last three years, but hasn’t made the final cut. He has gotten closer on each attempt.

If the trend continues, this is the year Evans will be immortalized in Canton, Ohio. Evans was a semifinalist on his first attempt. Last year, he made his way into the group of finalists. Maybe adding the Saints Ring of Honor to his resume can swing things in his favor.

Three years feels like a long time until you look at the length of time other semifinalists have waited. Torry Holt is on his 11th attempt to go from semifinalist to enshrined in Canton.

Some of the first-time semifinalists who will make it tougher on Evans are Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning and Adam Vinatieri.

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Saints legends present for Jahri Evans’ Ring of Honor ceremony

Drew Brees, Carl Nicks and Jermon Bushrod were some of the Saints legends in the building for Jahri Evans’ Ring of Honor enshrinement:

Jahri Evans is entering the New Orleans Saints Ring of Honor when the team takes on the Cleveland Browns. Evans is one of the greatest offensive linemen in team history, and could be on his way to being immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Evans was a part of that historic 2006 draft class and played an integral part in the Saints’ Super Bowl run. To celebrate his enshrinement, a few players from that Super Bowl team are in attendance. It was also the annual “Legends Weekend” for former Saints players, so many of them were in the building, too.

Drew Brees, Carl Nicks and Jermon Bushrod were all on the sidelines ahead of Sunday’s matchup. The trio of Bushrod, Evans and Nicks played a big part in protecting Drew Brees through his early run in New Orleans. Evans and Nicks were particularly important on the interior due to Brees’ height.

The quartet spent four years together from 2008 to 2011. The group has now reunited to celebrate Evans being remembered forever in Saints history.

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Saints announce plans for Jahri Evans to go into their Ring of Honor

The Saints announced plans for Jahri Evans to go into their Ring of Honor during this week’s game. It’s another boost to his Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy:

New Orleans Saints fans attending this week’s game with the Cleveland  Browns are in for a treat. The Saints will induct Super Bowl XLIV champion Jahri Evans into their Ring of Honor on Sunday, Nov. 17, during a halftime ceremony at the Caesars Superdome. Kickoff is set for Noon CT/1 p.m. ET.

Additionally, many of Evans’ former teammates  are  expected to be in  attendance as part of the Saints’ yearly  “Legends Weekend” event. Evans started at right guard during the most successful period in team history, and he currently works for the Saints as an assistant offensive line coach. He shared a passionate message to his players when he got the news during training camp, and was quoted with a longer statement in an official release from the team.

“It is exciting to have been selected to be part of such an elite group,” Evans told NewOrleansSaints.com. “I am grateful to Mrs. Benson, Mickey Loomis for selecting me for this honor. I would also like to thank my coaches and teammates for the role they played in my development and success, as well as our fans that gave us such great energy on gameday and inspired us to reach the heights of winning the Super Bowl.”

Evans will be just the eighth member of the team’s Ring of Honor, joining owner Tom Benson, quarterback Archie Manning, and defensive end Will Smith as well as several Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees: offensive tackle Willie Roaf, kicker Morten Andersen, linebackers Rickey Jackson and Sam Mills. This recognition is another boost to Evans’ own Hall of Fame candidacy after he reached the finalist stage last year. Maybe this time he gets over that last hurdle.

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