New Orleans Saints executive vice president / general manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has terminated the contract of playmaker Thomas Morstead.
Morstead, 6-4, 235 pounds, has spent the past twelve seasons in Black and Gold after being selected from the SMU in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He has been a team captain since 2013 and makes a major contribution on the field with the organization and with the local community.
Morstead has appeared in 190 regular-season games, fourth in the team record books and 692 times for 32,190 yards for an average score of 46.5 and a net 41.6 points, second in the NFL record books since the statistics were first recorded in 1976. his points ended up within the 20-meter line, equaling the 33rd highest total since the stat was recorded in 1976 and the most in club record books. Morstead served as the club’s primary kick – off specialist from 2009-14 and 259 of his 532 careers were in the final zone for setbacks (48.7%). His most famous kick-kick work took place as a rookie in Super Bowl XLIV, when he successfully executed a kick on the leg at the start of the second half that was repaired by New Orleans and led to a attack, nicknamed ‘Ambush’. Morstead was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2012, when he was also a consensus All-Pro. During his career, he was selected as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week five times.
Morstead also appeared in 15 post-season games for New Orleans, finishing second in club record books and beating 54 times for 2,405 yards with an average score of 44.5 and a net 41.0 with 19 falling within the 20s.
In 2020, Morstead appeared for the 11th time in his 12-year career in all 16 games in the regular season and 62 times for 2,674 yards with an average score of 43.1, 41.7 net, with 23 inside-out 20-yard. He was named the NFC Special Team’s Player of the Week after the season-winning victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he hit six points for 264 yards with a 44.0 gross / net, five inside-20 and also successfully hit a kickoff that was fucked by Tampa Bay and retrieved by New Orleans to bring about a touchdown.
Off the field, Morstead and his wife Lauren have made extensive contributions to the Gulf South community, leaving a lasting legacy through their 2012 “What You Give Will Grow” foundation. The team’s nomination for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in In 2013, Morstead focuses the majority of his efforts in the region on cancer-related and child-related initiatives, as well as helping the needy during holiday periods, as well as when natural disasters hit the region. .
“Thomas Morstead has been the epitome of the perfect pro since the day we selected him in the 2009 NFL draft,” Loomis said. “He was a remarkable player and an excellent leader in the locker room and eight-time team captain. His work in the community was nothing short of remarkable. We know it was very difficult as we approached the start of the NFL calendar year. “decisions have to be made and it definitely falls into this category. We appreciate the dedication and professionalism that Thomas has brought to our organization from the moment he joined our team, and wish him and his family the best.”
“Thomas has been a very important part of the New Orleans Saints organization and our community since 2009,” said Saints head coach Sean Payton. “It was an honor to coach him and to see his growth as a player and as a person. He has been an excellent leader and mentor to many younger players throughout his career and his Pro Bowl level from year to year. -out was remarkable. I know that Thomas will be very successful in the future and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to coach him. ‘