Tag: max unger

Former Saints Pro Bowl center Max Unger nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Saints Pro Bowl center Max Unger has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility:

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its list of 173 modern-era nominees for its 2024 class on Tuesday, and one former New Orleans Saints player was brought up as a first-time honoree in his first year of eligibility: Max Unger.

Unger, 37, retired on his own terms after the 2018 season having accomplished a lot in the NFL. Before joining the Saints in the landmark 2015 Jimmy Graham trade, Unger earned All-Pro recognition and two Pro Bowl trips with the Seattle Seahawks — with whom he also won a Super Bowl ring. He played at a high level in New Orleans and was selected for a third Pro Bowl appearance in 2018, his last year in the league before choosing to hang up his cleats.

So does he have a real chance at earning a bronze bust in Canton? Unger is a long shot. Just seven centers have been inducted to the Hall of Fame, and Pro Football Reference research found on average they’ve logged five All-Pro teams and eight Pro Bowl appearances. That’s a very high bar which Unger doesn’t quite meet.

He isn’t the only former Saints player on this year’s list of nominees, though. Unger’s old teammate Jahri Evans is returning for another shot after he reached the semifinalist stage last season. With Drew Brees eligible for Hall of Fame induction in 2026, there’s a good chance one of his former blockers will be waiting for him in Canton.

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Hawaii-born Saints center Max Unger encourages Maui wildfire relief

Hawaii-born Saints center Max Unger encouraged fans to support Maui wildfire relief efforts: ‘There’s a lot of people out there who are in dire, dire need of help’

Several former New Orleans Saints players are stepping up to support their home state — the Hawaiian island of Maui was recently ravaged by deadly wildfires, and guys like retired linebacker Manti Te’o and Pro Bowl center Max Unger doing their part to help relief efforts. Unger recently spoke about the situation and encouraged anyone with the means to help out to do so.

“It’s hard to read the articles and kind of follow it blow-by-blow, just because it’s so unthinkable,” Unger said on Seattle sports radio with hosts Brock Huard and Mike Salk. “I know that area pretty well. I haven’t spent a lot of time there but I know a handful of people who live there, people I played (football) with, it’s hard. You drive by there and realize it’s, for the most part, completely gone. It doesn’t compute with me.”

Unger acknowledged that something he’s cherished about life on the islands — he’s a fifth-generation Hawaiian, with long-running family ties on The Big Island — is the isolation and privacy from busy life on the American mainland, but that same partitioning becomes a challenge when emergency strikes. So he’s all the more grateful to see so many people reaching out to help.

He also spoke on the topic on another Seattle sports talk show with Dave Mahler and Dick Fain: “There’s just a lot of need right now, it’s just a call to anyone who’s got anything to spare. Donate to your favorite charity, I know there’s a lot there. There’s a lot of people out there who are in dire, dire need of help.”

The Saints got a good one in Unger, and odds are the Seahawks would love the chance at a do-over — they’re still searching for his replacement after cycling through nearly a dozen different centers since trading him to New Orleans back in 2015. Unger went on to win Pro Bowl recognition with the Saints before retiring on his own terms and going home to the islands.

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Seahawks still reeling from ‘Max Unger curse’ after 2015 Saints-Jimmy Graham trade

Fans have spent years debating whether the Saints or Seahawks won 2015’s Jimmy Graham trade, but Seattle is still hoping to break the ‘Max Unger curse’

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Who won the Jimmy Graham trade? That’s something New Orleans Saints fans and Seattle Seahawks faithful have spent eight years debating, after the Saints traded Graham and a fourth-round pick to the Seahawks in exchange for Max Unger and a first-rounder (which they botched, selecting an infamous draft bust in Stephone Anthony).

But Seattle is still reeling from Unger’s departure. They’ve started games with eight different players snapping the ball in the years since they traded their Pro Bowl center away, which ESPN’s Brady Henderson chronicled in a great article last week, and yet another training camp competition is brewing for them this summer. Per Elias Sports Bureau research, the Seahawks are tied for the fifth-most starters at center since 2013, when injuries began to pile up for Unger in his last two years in Seattle:

  1. Justin Britt (54 games)
  2. Ethan Pocic (24)
  3. Max Unger (19)
  4. Austin Blythe (17)
  5. Patrick Lewis (13)
  6. Joey Hunt (10)
  7. Kyle Fuller (8)
  8. Drew Nowak (7)
  9. Lemuel Jeanpierre (6)
  10. Stephen Schilling (3)
  11. Damien Lewis (1)

Talk about a roller-coaster ride. Unger was great for the Saints, returning to Pro Bowl form and only missing a single game in four years with the black and gold; injuries did ultimately force him into a retirement, but not until he had played 10 seasons in the NFL and won a Super Bowl ring. Graham was also selected for a couple of Pro Bowls while in Seattle, though he never approached the heights he reached with New Orleans.

So where are these players now? Unger has since went home to his family’s ranch in Hawaii and shed a lot of weight to better mange his health after his playing career, while Graham is recovering from a cycling accident in Miami and preparing to sail around the world. Anthony went back to Clemson and began working as a defensive graduate assistant in 2022, while the Seahawks packaged the fourth-round pick they got from New Orleans in a draft-day trade up for Tyler Lockett, a three-time All-Pro wide receiver who is still playing for them at a high level. So who would you say won the trade? Let us know in the poll below:

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3 former Saints among first-year eligible candidates for Hall of Fame in 2024

The list of first-year eligible candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024 includes 3 former New Orleans Saints players:

Three former New Orleans Saints players are on the list of potential candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, including Super Bowl XLIV champion Jermon Bushrod. He’s joined by former Saints center Max Unger and running back Chris Ivory as players who will become eligible for induction next year.

Bushrod started 132 of the 153 games he played in the NFL, including the playoffs, predominately with the Saints (72 starts in 85 games) at left tackle. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2011 and 2012 with New Orleans before spending the second leg with the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins, returning to the Saints to close out his career in 2018.

Unger joined the Saints in a 2015 trade with the Seattle Seahawks and rarely missed a snap, starting all 67 games he played for New Orleans (including the postseason) and winning Pro Bowl recognition in 2018, his last year in the NFL. He totaled 142 games in the league between his time with the Saints and Seahawks, including the playoffs, earning three Pro Bowl nods and winning a Super Bowl title in 2013.

Ivory had the briefest Saints career of the bunch, only appearing in 26 games from 2010 to 2012 after being signed as an undrafted free agent by way of Washington State and Tiffin University in Ohio. But he made a quick impression with his powerful running style and big-play ability, which won him a nice contract extension with the New York Jets after being traded in 2013 (where he made the Pro Bowl a few years later). Ivory closed out his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.

To be frank, all three of these players are long-shots, and they probably won’t make it past the first rounds of discussion. A more realistic candidate is former Saints right guard Jahri Evans who was discussed as a semifinalist in this year’s cycle, and he’ll be in the mix again for the Class of 2023. His resume as a six-time Pro Bowler and four appearances on the All-Pro first team offense speaks for itself. We’ll see if Evans or any of Drew Brees’ former teammates get into the Hall of Fame before No. 9’s own candidacy is brought up in 2026.

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Seahawks: 6 free agent centers for Seattle to consider signing in 2022

Heading into the 2022 offseason, center should be a high priority for Seattle to try to improve.

Center is even more important than left tackle according to some analysts. That’s bad news for the Seahawks, who have been struggling to find a quality starter at this spot ever since they foolishly traded Max Unger to the Saints for Jimmy Graham back in 2015.

This past season the position finally hit rock bottom. Kyle Fuller began the year as the team’s starter and he bombed in just about every way possible, highlighted by earning the lowest Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade on the team. Eventually, Fuller was replaced by Ethan Pocic. While he proved a significant step up as a run blocker, Pocic wasn’t much better in pass protection.

Heading into the 2022 offseason, center should be a high priority for Seattle to try to improve. Fortunately, there are a number of good names that are about to become free agents. Here are six for the Seahawks to consider.

Max Unger on his replacements, anxieties of watching Saints games as a fan

Former New Orleans Saints center Max Unger has been impressed by Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz, but watching games is tough in retirement.

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Max Unger stepped away from the New Orleans Saints once he felt his body couldn’t hold up to much more punishment after a decade in the NFL, but he’s been as excited as anyone to see how the team went about replacing the three-time Pro Bowler.

Unger reflected on life in retirement and his new perspective of watching games as a fan in a teleconference call with New Orleans media, taking time to praise Erik McCoy — the top Saints draft pick in 2019 that stepped in to snap the ball to Drew Brees.

“The guy came in there and just played his butt off. I watched him quite a bit,” Unger said. “I talk to Dan (Roushar), our coach, off and on and he just had nothing but really good stuff to say about how Erik played. It was impressive. The guy came in, I think he started every game, right? At center, that’s hard to do especially in this offense and Drew coming into the huddle and calling the plays at about 100 miles an hour.”

And while McCoy may have turned in a strong rookie year’s performance, the Saints brought in some competition to start at center by picking Michigan prospect Cesar Ruiz in the first round. Having released veteran right guard Larry Warford, the Saints have set themselves up to get the most out of both players, though it’s unclear just yet who lines up at which spot.

It’s something Unger is eager to see play out, even if watching games from his couch has been more stressful than anticipated. He said that he’s chatted with other retired Saints linemen like Zach Strief and John Stinchcomb on how to ease into life after football, but too often he’s felt helpless seeing his former teammates go to work without him.

Unger explained, “It’s funny because you’re so familiar with what’s going on in the team and you know the plays being called. It’s really hard to watch the games, honestly, just because you know what personnel group is in, if they’re in the red zone you kind of know what’s going on and you’re so invested in the players and how they’re doing. When you do not know what is going on and you do not have any influence in the outcome of the game it is tough.”

Whether McCoy or Ruiz ends up in Unger’s old spot, it’s clear that he’ll be cheering them on. His experience in New Orleans obviously endeared the team and city to him. But hopefully future Saints games won’t make him feel quite so anxious.

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Look: Former Saints center Max Unger sheds 60 pounds in retirement

Max Unger started every game he played in 10 years with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks, and has dropped 60 pounds in retirement

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It’s not easy to maintain the bodies NFL offensive linemen work with every day. Between constant workouts and diets that reel in 5,000 calories at a minimum, more and more players have started looking forward to retirement as a time to cut back and drop the excess muscle mass their jobs demand.

One example is longtime Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, who transformed his body after retiring back in 2017. Prominent Baltimore Ravens guard Marshal Yanda lost 45 pounds in three months after hanging up his cleats earlier this offseason. And while he hasn’t documented his own weight loss journey on social media, retired New Orleans Saints center Max Unger has also worked his way down to 240 pounds from his 300-pound playing weight:

Unger spoke with the New Orleans media in a Monday teleconference call, where he talked about his adjustment to life after football. He was eager to get a more-manageable weight for the personal health benefits.

He also credited the player who replaced him, top 2019 draft pick Erik McCoy, and added that he’d chatted with Saints offensive line coach Dan Roushar a few times about the rookie’s progress. Whether or not McCoy holds onto the starting job with first-round prospect Cesar Ruiz pushing him, Unger’s confident that things are in good hands up front in New Orleans.

Acquired in a 2015 trade with the Seattle Seahawks, Unger started all 142 games he played professionally (including the playoffs; 67 of those games were with the Saints) before retiring in 2019, citing injuries that had worn down his body after a decade in the NFL. Having gone out on his own terms, he’s now happy to kick back and watch his former teams chase Super Bowl rings like any other fan.

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New Orleans Saints 2010s All-Decade Team: Offense

The 2010 New Orleans Saints’ All-Decade Team is headlined by Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Marques Colston, Michael Thomas, and Terron Armstead.

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The New Orleans Saints saw a period of mostly sustained success throughout the last decade, with a few hiccups along the way during four seasons of 7-9 futility. However, the offense always maintained its dominance, as it ranked top-10 in total offense in nine of the last ten years. Even during those 7-9 seasons, New Orleans boasted an elite offense, and the efforts of Drew Brees and company were all that kept those teams competitive.

With so many key playmakers to choose from throughout the last decade, it was difficult to decide who would make the cut. Let us know what you think we got right, and what you would change.

Now, here is the offensive-side of the Saints All-Decade Team for the 2010s:

Quarterback

First team: Drew Brees

Easiest choice in the entire All-Decade team. Brees has averaged 4,677 yards passing per season this decade. Four of his five record-setting 5,000-plus yards passing seasons came in this decade, with two of them occurring during a 7-9 season, proving he had to shoulder the work.

On top of his otherworldly passing yards, Brees has been a record-breaking machine in the 2010s. During that time, Brees has 29 NFL records including all-time leader in career passing yards, all-time leader in career passing touchdowns and all-time leader in percentage completion. Now, he is looking to add one more achievement to the decade list: another Super Bowl win in Miami.

Second team: Teddy Bridgewater

Other options for the second team could have included Chase Daniel, Taysom Hill,  or Luke McCown. None of these options stepped in and helped save a season from sure disaster after Brees went down in Week 2 of the 2019 NFL season like Bridgewater did. Plus, could Bridgewater be the 2020s All-Decade first team quarterback in ten years? Stay tuned.

Running back

First team: Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara

A Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama, Ingram was selected by New Orleans in the 2011 draft. For eight seasons the running back roamed the New Orleans back field, with the 2014-18 seasons being his most productive. After Pierre Thomas’ departure from the team after the 2014 season, Ingram’s role increased dramatically. He soon posted back-to-back seasons of 1000-plus rushing yards in 2016 and 2017.

Not only was Ingram’s production a reason why he landed on this list, but also his leadership in the locker room with the younger players. Despite his veteran status, he was able to form a phenomenal relationship and friendship with current Saints running back Alvin Kamara during his rookie and sophomore campaigns. That leadership Ingram helped provide turned Kamara into one of the most feared backs in the league.

Kamara in his three seasons with the Saints has already eclipsed Thomas’ decade total with 2,408 yards of rushing, and has added another 2,068 yards of receiving. Kamara’s arrival also coincided with the resurgence of New Orleans as an annual Super Bowl contender. No coincidence there.

Second team: Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles

The second team came down to two running backs: Pierre Thomas. In the five seasons Thomas spent in New Orleans during this decade, his best season saw him rush for 562 yards in the 2011 season, and had 2,075 yards of total rushing in this decade. Couple his rushing production and his prolific role in the passing game, Thomas was just edged out by Kamara for first team honors.

Wide Receiver

First Team: Michael Thomas, Marques Colston

Since arriving in New Orleans by way of a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Thomas has set the league on fire. In all four seasons, he has recorded over 1000 receiving yards, and in three of them has had over 100 receptions. In 2019, Thomas led the league in receiving yards with 1725 yards, and set the record for most receptions in a single NFL season with 149.

The Saints offense has run through Thomas in the last four seasons like no other player in recent history. His production is possibly the best explanation for why New Orleans is in the position they are in this year despite losing Brees in Week 2.

The Quiet Storm was easily the best Saints receiver in the 2000s, and his production during the 2010s still warrants him a place on this list. Colston’s best production came when Brees had to throw the ball for 5,000 yards every single season in order to make up for the lack of a defense during the 7-9 seasons. The one advantage Colston does have over Thomas in this list is his touchdown production. However, it was not enough to claim the top spot.

Second team: Brandin Cooks, Lance Moore

Cooks is quite possibly the fastest wide receiver to ever play in the Black and Gold. The wideout played for New Orleans from 2014-2016, and during his last two seasons, he put up some solid numbers. Over three seasons, Cooks averaged over 953 yards per season, and nearly seven touchdowns.

Tight end

First team: Jimmy Graham

Graham helped revolutionize the tight end position when he arrived in New Orleans in 2010. For five years Graham was one of the most potent weapons in league, with his best being the 2011 season which ended in a heart breaker in San Francisco during the NFC Divisional Round. That year alone the tight end compiled 1310 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. His five-year stint with the Saints ended when he was shipped to the Seattle Seahawks for center Max Unger and a first-round pick.

Second team: Benjamin Watson

Tight end has been a revolving door for the Saints throughout much of the last decade. Only two names stand out that could possibly make the second team, Watson and Josh Hill. Watson wins out because in 63 games played, Watson has over 1,587 yards and 12 touchdowns. Couple those stats with his veteran leadership, and helping to reshape the locker room has helped put New Orleans back on track after some rough seasons.

Offensive tackle:

First Team: Terron Armstead, Zach Strief

Armstead has steadily been one of the best offensive linemen in Saints franchise history. Since 2013, Armstead has locked down the starting left tackle job, and was voted to a Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2019 as well as a second team All-Pro in 2018. His only downfall has been his career-long issues with injuries.

Despite never making a Pro Bowl or being named All-Pro, Strief was one the best right tackles in the NFL. While Ryan Ramczyk may soon overtake Strief as the best right tackle to ever wear the Black and Gold, the All-Decade honor deservedly belongs to Strief.

Second Team: Ryan Ramczyk, Jermon Bushrod

Ramczyk only made the second team solely due to the fact he is in his third season. In 2019, Ramczyk held the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler, Nick Bosa and Shaquil Barrett in check. If he continues his current pace, he can easily surpass anyone on this list as one of the best Saints offensive linemen of all time.

Offensive guard:

First Team: Jahri Evans, Larry Warford

Evans was drafted in 2006 in the fourth round, and surprisingly became the immediate starter that following season. As one of the best draft picks in franchise history, Evans stacked up six Pro Bowl nods, four first-team All-Pro selections (2009-2012) and second-team All-Pro in 2013. Other than the quarterback position, this was this easiest selection for the All-Decade team.

Warford joined the Saints via free agency in 2017, and instantly solidified the right guard position. A Pro Bowler in 2017 and 2018, Warford has helped propel New Orleans’ offensive line to one of the strongest and most talented in the league.

Second Team: Carl Nicks, Andrus Peat

Nicks has a case over Warford in the first team, but Warford barely edged him out in part due to superior, sustained play. Nicks was a part of the 2009 Super Bowl run, and made the Pro Bowl in 2010 and 2011. But he left the Saints in 2013 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and retired early in 2014. His contributions to New Orleans in the early part of this decade cannot be dismissed, and earned him a spot on this list.

Center

First Team: Max Unger, Brian De La Puente

Unger came to New Orleans by way of the blockbuster trade that sent Jimmy Graham to Seattle. In hindsight, this is one of the best trades New Orleans has pulled off in recent memory as Graham went on to Seattle and his decline began rapidly soon after. Unger however, would go one to become one of the best centers to ever play with Brees, and was rewarded with a Pro Bowl selection in 2018, the first of his career.

There is a huge drop off between Unger and De La Puente, but he held down the fort between the time Olin Kreutz surprisingly retired in 2011 until Unger arrived in 2015. De La Puente was there during the time Brees and the offense were shattering records, and the offensive line was potent, so that says something.

Second Team: Erik McCoy

McCoy was selected by New Orleans with their first pick in the 2019 NFL draft which came in the second round. As a rookie, he instantly took over the position from Unger, and is in the conversation for Rookie of the Year honors. His poise, maturity and skill will help him land on this list again in 2020.

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