49ers–Saints Matchup Features Extensive Web of Past Connections
NEW ORLEANS – When theโค San Francisco 49ers โขand newโค Orleans Saints face off,โค the โฃgridiron will โคbe a โreunion of sorts, with a surprising numberโ of players and coaches sharing prior โaffiliations. The connections โspan multiple teamsโข and college programs, โadding an โขextra layer of intrigue to this pivotal NFC โcontest.
This game isn’tโ just about playoff positioning; it’s a โshowcase of how interconnected the NFL truly is. from coaching lineages to former teammates now on opposing sidelines,these โฃshared histories could subtly influence the game’sโค dynamics. The โคoutcome will have importentโข implications for both teams’ postseasonโข hopes, with the 49ersโข vying for NFC โWest dominance and the Saints battling for a โWild Cardโ spot.
San Francisco Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh and Newโค Orleansโค Bullocks were colleagues on the Jacksonvilleโข Jaguars coaching staff in 2016, both โขworking under Head Coach โGus Bradley. Further coaching ties exist with Saints Assistantโข Specialโข Teams Coach Kyle Wilber and 49ersโค staff,havingโ been together on theโข Greenโค Bay Packersโ staff in 2024.
On the field,โค several players have โขshared locker rooms or college fields. Saints tackle โXavier Truss and 49ers defensive end Robert โBealโ Jr. were georgia teammates. New Orleans โAssistantโข Defensive Backs Coach Robertโ Blanton and San Francisco Assistant Special teams Coach Colt Anderson were Buffalo Bills teammates from 2016-2017. Saints linebacker Demario Davis played under 49ers Linebackers Coach johny Holland when Holland was the inside linebackers coach for the โคCleveland Browns โคin 2016.
The connections extend โto recent seasons and teams. 49ers quarterback Mac Jones and Saints defensive tackle Davon Godchaux were New England patriots โขteammates, as were godchaux and 49ers center Jake Brendel in Miami from โ2017-2018. Jones, along with 49ers defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson โคand Saintsโ fullback โPatrick Fortner, wereโ Jacksonville Jaguars teammates in โ2024.
Additional player links include Saints defensive back Ugo Amadi and 49ers defensive end Sam โOkuayinonu, who played togetherโ for โthe Tennessee Titans โคinโ 2022. New Orleans cornerback Quincy Riley and San Francisco running backโข Isaac โฃGuerendoโ were Louisville teammates. Saints tight end Moliki Matavaoโข and 49ers running back Jordan James were Oregon teammates in 2022.
Saints tightโ end Foster Moreauโฃ played for 49ers Quarterbacks Coach Mickโ Lombardiโค when Lombardi was the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders fromโฃ 2022-2023.Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry โand 49ers running backโค Brian Robinson โคjr. wereโค Alabama teammates. A trio of Saints – running backs Velus Jones Jr. โขand Alvin Kamara, and โcornerback alontae Taylorโข – played alongside 49ers wide receiverโข Jauan Jennings โคat Tennessee.
Further collegiate connections include 49ers guard Dominick โPuni blocking for Saints running backโค Devin Neal atโข Kansas,โข and Saints linebacker Jaylan Ford, tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.,and defensive tackleโฃ Vernon Broughton โคplaying alongside 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins at Texas. Saints tight end Juwan Johnson and 49ersโ defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos were Penn State teammates.