Signing with the New Orleans Saints holds more meaning for Justin Reid, a Louisiana-born product who's coming home for his eighth NFL season in 2025.
Coming off a successful three-year tenure in Kansas City, where he played in three consecutive Super Bowls and won two rings, the veteran safety is not only looking to bring a championship pedigree to the Saints but forge new memories that he very well knows will live on forever in New Orleans.
"You grew up watching the Saints," Reid said Friday during his introductory news conference, via the team's website. "Everyone remembers (when the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in) 2009, what that did for the entire state of Louisiana. I've got friends that have entire rooms enshrined to that moment.
"So every kid in Louisiana dreams about playing for the Saints. As you go through this journey, you don't know if it's going to happen or not, but I had an opportunity to make that dream come true."
Reid inked a three-year, $31.5 million contract to play for his home state's team. He's so far the biggest addition for a team that's heading into a transitional year under rookie head coach Kellen Moore, who had a hand in preventing Reid and the Chiefs from winning their third consecutive Super Bowl in February as the Eagles' offensive coordinator.
Reid is confident Moore is the missing piece for a New Orleans squad that has the pieces, including veteran quarterback Derek Carr, star running back Alvin Kamara and a respectable offensive line. As for the defense, which will be headed by new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, Reid believes he is an ideal addition for a unit that has flourished in the recent past.
"He runs a 3-4 defense but he mixes things up," Reid said of Staley's scheme. "I love that. Not everything is the same thing over and over. He allows guys to be versatile, and I see myself as a versatile player that can play in a lot of different positions and cause some problems for an offense. So, I'm excited to be a weapon for him and go execute the defense in his vision."
Reid's homecoming also features a reunion with Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu, who he spent the 2018 season with in Houston. The pairing figures to provide an instant impact to the back end of New Orleans' defense.
"We already have experience with each other," Reid said. "Tyrann is a savvy vet; every offense needs to know where he's at because he'll just show up and steal a ball some type of way. I see myself as a physical tone-setter. A guy who's going to come down the hallway with me, you're going to pay the toll for it. And we just complement each other really well; we have a strong line of communication, both cerebral players, can organize a defense. It's gonna be fun."
The Saints entered the offseason hindered by an unfavorable cap situation, but general manager Mickey Loomis has managed to keep a talented defensive roster on paper. Veteran leader Cameron Jordan revised his contract in order to return for his 15th season and the Saints re-signed Chase Young to keep delivering a pass rush that can provide the Reid-Mathieu tandem with opportunity. New Orleans, which returns most of its defense, including Demario Davis, Carl Grandersonand Kool-Aid McKinstry, also traded for run-stuffing nose tackle Davon Godchaux and added cornerback Isaac Yiadom.
Crystallizing the talent within a new scheme will take plenty of work this summer during training camp. Reid is motivated to become the influential addition that helps make it all work.
"I know what it means to this city to play for the Saints, and what having a winning organization means for everyone in Louisiana," Reid said. "And that's extremely motivating. Like, do everything we can to bring back that winning culture, because we have the talent. We have so much talent on this team and it's all just putting it together the right way, and guys believing in the system. And I believe."
