The NFL is often said to stand for Not For Long, and after a full-scale fan revolt, the New Orleans Saints announced around 1 a.m. Sunday that they have released their entire 2025 draft class — less than 24 hours after the final pick was made — citing “an immediate and overwhelming lack of fan approval.”
The nine rookies — including first-round tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas) and second-round quarterback Tyler Shough (Louisville) — were informed of their release via group text, along with a coupon for 10% off 2025-2026 Pelicans season tickets.
“We spent all Saturday trying to talk ourselves into it,” said General Manager Mickey Loomis following a series of emergency meetings that stretched deep into the night. “But after checking social media, local call-in shows, and one devastating livestream, we realized we had no choice.”
Fan outrage exploded Friday night when the Saints passed over Shedeur Sanders — the heavily hyped quarterback out of Colorado — in favor of Tyler Shough, who will turn 26 before Halloween. Critics immediately questioned whether the Saints had accidentally drafted a quarterbacks coach instead of a quarterback.
Head coach Kellen Moore, who praised the draft class for its “grit” and “high character,” was reportedly seen quietly erasing prospect grades off the draft board less than an hour after the final pick was made.
Despite some internal optimism around players like offensive tackle Kevin Banks Jr (Texas), running back Devin Neal (Kansas), and linebacker Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma), the coaching staff realized it would be impossible to move forward after gauging fan reactions, which included memes, profanity-laced voicemails, and at least one Change.org petition titled “Undo the Draft.”
Sources say all nine players have been offered alternative roles within the Saints organization, including sideline mist operator, tunnel fog machine technician, practice squad tackling dummy, and Mickey Loomis’s official gum fetcher.
With the 2025 draft class now gone, the Saints announced they will explore letting fans vote directly on next year’s picks — citing data that it “couldn’t possibly turn out worse.”
Meanwhile, fans expressed mixed emotions about the late-night decision. Said one longtime season ticket holder early Sunday morning:
“It’s like they’re finally starting to respect our time. We all knew where this was headed anyway — at least now we don’t have to pretend for six months.”
