WELCOME TO NEW ORLEANS SAINTS FOOTBALL: Nation’s No. 1 Player, 7-Foot-9 Luke McCown, Stuns NFL World by Re-Signing with the Saints Over 49ers, Eagles, and Chiefs
May 30, 2025 – New Orleans, LA — In one of the most jaw-dropping moments in NFL offseason history, Luke McCown, the 7-foot-9, 420-pound phenomenon and the consensus No. 1 player in all of football, has officially re-signed with the New Orleans Saints, turning down historic offers from the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Kansas City Chiefs.
The announcement came via a short video posted to McCown’s social media accounts, where the towering superstar stood in front of the Caesars Superdome and declared,
“I never left. New Orleans is my home. Let’s finish what we started — Who Dat forever.”
The decision sent tremors through NFL front offices, as three Super Bowl-caliber franchises had aggressively pursued McCown, hoping to lure him away with record-breaking contracts, ownership shares, and personal branding empires. But in the end, McCown chose loyalty over legacy.
THE DEAL
According to league sources, McCown’s new contract with the Saints is worth $815 million over six years, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history, surpassing even top-tier quarterbacks.
Key features of the deal include:
- $540 million guaranteed
- A co-branded apparel and footwear line titled “Heightened Hustle”
- Partial ownership in a Saints-themed sports complex to be built in downtown New Orleans
- Special gameday fan experiences in “The McCown Tower,” a newly named section of the Superdome
- An annual community impact budget of $10 million under McCown’s control for city programs, education, and youth sports
THE RECRUITING WAR
McCown had reportedly been the subject of the most competitive recruitment campaign in NFL history.
- The 49ers were ready to pair him with Nick Bosa and offered a fully guaranteed $900 million deal.
- The Eagles, led by Jalen Hurts, proposed an elite leadership role and a lifetime luxury estate in Philadelphia.
- The Chiefs, with Patrick Mahomes at the helm, pitched McCown as the “missing dynasty piece” and included a personal brand deal with Adidas and Netflix for his own documentary series.
All three franchises had cleared cap space, aligned their defensive schemes, and prepared unprecedented offers — but McCown said no to all of it.
WHY NEW ORLEANS?
In a powerful press conference on Friday, McCown explained the reasoning behind his decision.
“This city believed in me when I was just a giant kid with a dream. The people here embraced me not just as a player but as family. I owe them everything. We’re not done — not even close.”
The Louisiana native’s connection to New Orleans runs deep. Drafted by the Saints three years ago, McCown has become a fan favorite not just because of his size and skill, but because of his tireless off-field work — building youth centers, mentoring student-athletes, and leading hurricane recovery efforts.
FRANCHISE REACTION
Saints Head Coach Dennis Allen called McCown’s re-signing “the greatest moment in franchise history since the Super Bowl.”
“There are generational players — and then there’s Luke McCown. He changes games. He changes lives. And now he’s staying right where he belongs.”
GM Mickey Loomis added,
“We made it clear to Luke: whatever it takes to keep you here, we’ll do it. This isn’t just football. This is a movement.”
THE NFL’S MOST UNIQUE SUPERSTAR
At 7 feet 9 inches tall, McCown is the tallest athlete in NFL history. He plays both defensive tackle and goal-line tight end, leading the league last season with 27 sacks, 5 touchdowns, and 19 tipped passes at the line of scrimmage.
His unmatched presence forces teams to re-draw their entire game plans every week.
Analysts have called him a “walking mismatch” and a “once-in-a-century prototype.”
A CITY CELEBRATES
The news sparked wild celebrations across New Orleans. Fans flooded Bourbon Street, Saints flags flew from balconies, and a city-wide block party has been planned for the weekend, with “McCown Mania” already trending nationally.
One fan at the Superdome said,
“You don’t replace a guy like Luke. You build your entire future around him. And we just locked him up for six more years.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
With McCown staying, the Saints become instant Super Bowl contenders. Surrounded by rising stars and now anchored by their one-of-a-kind defensive beast, expectations in New Orleans have never been higher.
Luke McCown had one final message:
“We’ve been close. Now we go all the way. Time to bring the Lombardi back to the Big Easy.”
And with the 7-foot-9 titan back in black and gold, the rest of the NFL has been put on notice.
The Saints are coming.