Saints_Football Jahri Evans, center, looks on during training camp in Metairie on Saturday, July 30, 2022. (Photo by Brett Duke, | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate) A fourth-round draft pick who went to a school you’ve probably never heard of on an academic scholarship instead of an athletic one wasn’t supposed to be this good. But as proved, it doesn’t really matter where you come from.
Talent inevitably wins out, which is how Evans ascended from tiny Division II Bloomsburg University into the rafters of the Superdome. Evans will go into the New Orleans Saints’ Ring of Honor when the Saints host the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 17.
“It’s a huge honor,” Evans said. “The only thing I kept thinking about is when my children come to that game this year, they’ll see Daddy’s name up there.” Evans’ inclusion in the Ring of Honor had to be a no-brainer for those in the organization who make the decision.
Simply put, the former guard who played for the Saints from 2006-2016 was one of the best in the NFL at his position. He was so good, in fact, that you could make a strong argument that Evans should have been in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday for his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction instead of at Saints' training camp for his duties as assistant offensive line coach. Evans was a finalist for this year’s induction class but didn’t quite make the cut.
His day of putting on a gold jacket probably will come some day. But for now, Evans can stick his ch.