New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) and Saints linebacker Demario Davis (56) give a high-five during the second day of training camp practice at Crawford Field at University of California, Irvine, Calif., Thursday, July 25, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune) As they lined up for stretch prior to Friday’s practice, New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis and safety Tyrann Mathieu started to talk about their legacies.
Mathieu has a Super Bowl on his resume. Davis does not. But as they stood there, they agreed: It would be a shame if this core couldn’t deliver a Super Bowl for New Orleans.
Mathieu is from the city. Davis has adopted it as his own. They have to win one together, they said.
There were too many names, too much talent on the defense alone for it to not pay off. And there’s only so much time this aging defensive core realistically has left — themselves included. “We’re conscious of it,” Mathieu said.
This year’s training camp for the New Orleans Saints has been defined by urgency, particularly for those like Mathieu, Davis and Cam Jordan — all of whom are well past the age of 30. Jordan and Davis, two staples of New Orleans’ defense, are 35. Mathieu is 32.
All three have said they feel they have more football left to give, but the realities are that nothing is guaranteed. From the outside, the narrative around this Saints defense isn’t whether they can win the Super Bowl. Rather, the conversation has centered.