KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders made an impactful return to Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night, showcasing his skills against the Kansas City Chiefs, although it ended in a 26-13 loss for New Orleans.
In a crucial moment, Saunders thwarted Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on a crucial inside pass play during a first-and-goal situation at the New Orleans 2-yard line. On the following play, he made his first career interception when Patrick Mahomes’ pass deflected off JuJu Smith-Schuster and landed in his hands. Saunders returned it 37 yards, stirring excitement on the Saints’ sideline.
“Coming from playing here for four years, and all the respect in the world for Patrick, you got to take advantage of the mistakes they make. And just to be on the other end of the mistake that was made, man, that was special,” Saunders said. He expressed a wish for a victory but noted the team’s valuable lessons from the game.
Saunders’ return coincided with pop star Taylor Swift’s attendance, as she has been dating Kelce for over a year. The connection deepened as Saunders’ brother, Kameron, is one of Swift’s backup dancers, raising eyebrows among conspiracy theorists who speculate about potential NFL rigging. Recently, a picture of Kameron Saunders with Swift and Kelce surfaced during a London trip where Kelce performed with Swift.
A former third-round draft pick of the Chiefs in 2019, Saunders secured two Super Bowl rings in his initial four seasons with the team. He later signed with the Saints and faced his former team at Arrowhead for the first time.
His familiarity with the Chiefs’ plays likely aided him during Kelce’s reception. “I knew it was coming. I know that little ‘tight end flip,’” Saunders explained, emphasizing his experience against the Chiefs.
Reflecting on his interception return, the 324-pound tackle humorously acknowledged his lack of speed. “I was trying to get it home, man. Take it home. Those running back days flashed in my head…That’s 101 (yards). That’s a little ways to go,” he said, aiming to provide his team with favorable field position.
The Saints converted the turnover into a touchdown, narrowing the score to 16-13 early in the fourth quarter. However, the Chiefs responded with a touchdown and secured the game with a late field goal.
“We got to continue going forward,” Saunders stated. “This doesn’t do anything but guarantee that we won’t be any better than 14-3, and I believe that. I’ve been on teams that lost in Week 10 and didn’t lose no more. So stuff like that is always encouraging.”