The New Orleans Saints will open training camp on July 22 with a new head coach, a new offensive system and an unsettled quarterback room that could define the franchise’s first season after Derek Carr’s retirement.
Key takeaways
- Kellen Moore begins his first NFL head-coaching job at age 36 after winning a Super Bowl as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator.
- Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener and second-round rookie Tyler Shough will compete for the starting quarterback role, with Hunter Dekkers also in camp.
- New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is installing a 3-4 front after the Saints spent roughly a decade operating in Dennis Allen’s defensive structure.
- New Orleans is one of three clubs, along with Cleveland and Tennessee, without a prime-time game on its 2025 schedule.
- The Saints’ preseason begins Aug. 10 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Saints Training Camp 2025: Moore begins a new era
All Saints players, including rookies and veterans, are scheduled to report July 22 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. The camp will provide the first extended look at Moore’s program following an offseason that brought sweeping change to New Orleans.
Moore arrives after overseeing the Eagles offense during their Super Bowl-winning campaign. His appointment marks a substantial shift for a franchise that moved from Sean Payton’s long tenure into the Dennis Allen years, with Allen’s defensive background shaping much of the club’s recent identity.
The transition has become more complicated following Carr’s May retirement. Moore must install his offense while also identifying a new starter at quarterback, leaving training camp as the first major test of how quickly the Saints can establish their direction under the league’s youngest head coach.
Quarterback race and defensive overhaul headline camp
Rattler enters camp with the most NFL starting experience among the leading candidates. He started six games as a rookie in 2024, although New Orleans did not win during either his starts or Haener’s start after the club turned to Haener later in Carr’s absence.
Haener remains in the mix, while Shough enters with considerable attention as the Saints’ second-round selection. The 25-year-old Louisville product spent seven years in college football and brings a notably powerful arm to the competition. Should he win the job and start the Sept. opener, Shough would become the first Saints rookie quarterback to open Week 1 since Archie Manning in 1971.
Undrafted rookie Hunter Dekkers will also seek a place in the quarterback picture. Every passer faces the added challenge of learning Moore’s new scheme, making practice repetitions and preseason action especially important in sorting out the depth chart.
On defense, Staley takes over a veteran group that still includes Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu. His 3-4 system will represent a meaningful adjustment after the Saints’ lengthy run in Allen’s preferred defensive setup.
The front has returning contributors in Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Bryan Bresee and Khalen Saunders, while veteran addition Davon Godchaux joins Jordan in the line rotation. Davis and Pete Werner, New Orleans’ top two tacklers last season, return at linebacker and will help guide rookie Danny Stutsman.
The secondary has also been reshaped. Isaac Yiadom was added for an outside cornerback role opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry, with Alontae Taylor expected to work at nickel. Safety Justin Reid arrives after three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, adding championship experience alongside Louisiana native Mathieu.
The Saints have recognizable talent at each level of the defense, but camp will determine how effectively those pieces fit Staley’s new approach.
Preseason schedule
| Week | Opponent | Date | Kickoff | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | at Los Angeles Chargers | Sunday, Aug. 10 | 4:05 p.m. ET | NFL Network |
| Week 2 | vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | Sunday, Aug. 17 | 1 p.m. ET | NFL Network |
| Week 3 | vs. Denver Broncos | Saturday, Aug. 23 | 1 p.m. ET | Not listed |
SEO Title: New Orleans Saints Training Camp 2025: Kellen Moore, QB Battle and Schedule
SEO Description: The Saints report July 22 as Kellen Moore begins his first season as head coach, with Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener competing at quarterback.
