‘I Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here’: Jordyn Tyson Reveals Why He Loves the New Orleans Saints
METAIRIE, La. – For Jordyn Tyson, the road to the Caesars Superdome was never a straight line. It was a path marred by torn ligaments, fractured bones, and the kind of setbacks that would have made a lesser athlete quit.
But when the New Orleans Saints selected the Arizona State wide receiver with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the tears streaming down his face weren’t just about the moment. They were the culmination of a promise he kept to himself and the explanation for why he already feels a profound love for his new home in New Orleans.
Speaking from the draft stage in Pittsburgh through teary eyes, and later to Saints media, the 21-year-old wideout didn’t talk about his 40-yard dash time or his NIL valuation. He talked about faith, family, and finding a franchise that looks at scars as badges of honor.
“The Lord said it’s going to be hard. You have to persevere. Life is not easy,” Tyson said, reflecting on his journey . “Keep going, boy. You’ve got it. You’re strong.”
That grit is the cornerstone of his love affair with the Saints.
“They believed in me when a lot of people had questions,” Tyson revealed. “I told them, ‘I might get hurt, but you’re never going to question my heart.'”
A History of Resilience
The “questions” surrounding Tyson are well-documented. Despite being called “the most complete” receiver in the draft by one Big 12 defensive coach, his medical chart is lengthy .
As a freshman at Colorado in 2022, he suffered a catastrophic knee injury, tearing his ACL, MCL, and PCL . After transferring to Arizona State, he broke his collarbone in 2024, causing him to miss the Big 12 Championship and the College Football Playoff . In his final 2025 season, hamstring issues in both legs limited him to just nine games .
Yet, through each surgery and rehab session, Tyson says he felt a pull toward the culture of the Saints—a team known in the NFL for its resilience through adversity.
“I wasn’t supposed to be here,” Tyson admitted flatly. “I’m not supposed to be here without God blessing me with an amazing family. We’re a close-knit family. We’re going to pour everything into the Saints” .
Kellen Moore’s ‘Football Junkie’
The connection between player and team became official on Thursday night, but the foundation was laid during pre-draft visits. New Orleans head coach Kellen Moore, known for his cerebral approach to offense, saw something in Tyson that went beyond the highlight reels.
“You felt the football junkie in him,” Moore said after the pick. “He’s got a really smart head to him as far as football acumen and awareness about what’s going on in this league” .
Tyson returned that admiration, explaining that Moore’s vision for the offense made him fall in love with the Saints’ organization.
“He sees me as a weapon, not just a wideout,” Tyson said. “I was short in high school. I could only play slot. When I grew, I took that slot route-running ability to the outside. Coach Moore sees that. He sees that I can play inside, outside, in the backfield. He’s going to move me around to kill defenses” .
Moore praised Tyson’s “versatility, the way he attacks the football, the way he can separate at the line of scrimmage” . For Tyson, that schematic freedom is a dream. For the Saints, it is a necessity.
The Brotherly Blueprint
Tyson’s love for New Orleans is also an extension of his love for his family, specifically his older brother, Jaylon.
In a stroke of cinematic fortune, as the Saints’ front office was dialing Jordyn’s phone to welcome him to the NFL, Jaylon Tyson—a first-round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2024 NBA Draft—was on the court against the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Playoffs.
“My brother hit a 3 right after the Saints called me,” Jordyn beamed. “It was like a dream come true. It’s amazing just having a brother that’s playing in the NBA and me playing in the NFL. He was the blueprint for me” .
That sibling rivalry and support has driven Jordyn to adopt a professional mindset that the Saints hope will finally put his injury woes to rest. Tyson revealed that he is revamping his entire lifestyle to ensure durability.
“My hips were tight. I would just overcompensate for the tightness,” Tyson explained, diagnosing his own hamstring issues. “I’ve got a good team behind me now. I’m going to have a chef, a nutritionist, and a masseuse. I’m going to give myself the best opportunity to stay on the field” .
Joining Olave and Shough
While the love for the city and the coaching staff is there, Tyson is equally excited about the talent already in the building. He joins a receiver room headlined by Chris Olave, a second-team All-Pro selection in 2025.
Tyson revealed that he met Olave during a visit to New Orleans, and the two hit it off instantly. Rather than viewing each other as rivals for targets, Tyson sees a partnership that terrifies defensive coordinators.
“It’s going to be amazing to take pressure off each other, make our jobs easier,” Tyson said. “I feel like us, one-on-one? Shoot, it’s going to get ugly” .
For a Saints team that desperately needed a second premium target alongside Olave to support second-year quarterback Tyler Shough, Tyson represents the missing piece. The Athletic’s draft analysts noted that Tyson “gives Tyler Shough a bigger target” and that the duo could finally allow New Orleans to “get a proper evaluation on Shough” in his sophomore season .
‘Work Works’
As the first round concluded and the reality set in, Tyson’s message to the Who Dat Nation was simple.
He isn’t coming to New Orleans to be the No. 8 pick. He isn’t coming to cash a check. He is coming to work.
“I keep getting better,” Tyson said. “I just want to continue on that track. Work works” .
He credits former NFL star receiver Hines Ward, his coach at Arizona State, for teaching him how to practice and prepare like a professional . Now, he brings that blue-collar attitude to a blue-collar city.
“In high school, I was 5-foot-4 with no work ethic,” Tyson recalled. “Now? I’m 6-foot-2, I’ve got the drive, and I’ve got a city behind me that loves a fighter. That’s why I love New Orleans. They fight. I fight. It’s a perfect match” .
