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According to Fox 8 New Orleans sports anchor Sean Fazende, the New Orleans Saints have signed free agent linebacker Manti Te’o. This will be Te’o’ssecond stint with New Orleans after he played there from 2017 to 2018.
Teo’o had been a free agent this entire season until now. The move comes as the Saints look to add depth to a position that lost two key players after both Kiko Alonso and A.J Klein went down with injury last week while also having two other linebackers, Alex Anzalone and Kaden Elliss on injured reserve.
After a successful collegiate career that saw the former Notre Dame linebacker win the Chuck Bednarik Award and finish runner-up in the 2012 Heisman race, Te’o was selected in the second round by the San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers.
Te’o would be a key contributor for the Chargers defense in his four years in San Diego recording 15 tackles for loss in 34 starts.
Suffering from injuries himself, Te’o played just three games in 2016 after suffering a torn achilles. Nonetheless, in the 2016 offseason, the former second-round pick signed a two year deal with the Saints.
In his two seasons with New Orleans, Te’o played in 21 games making 13 starts and recording 80 total tackles and seven TFLs. However, the former college star was dropped from the linebacker rotation half way through the 2018 season.
When healthy, Te’o is a solid contributor and having played two years in New Orleans, already knows and is comfortable with the system and defensive schemes.
The 10-2 Saints will also give Te’o the chance to make the playoffs for only the third time in his career and possibly win a ring.