The National Football League announced today that New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month. It is the first time he has won the conference honor since the final month of his rookie campaign in 2020.

Young, 6 feet 5, 264 pounds, was originally selected second overall in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders out of Ohio State and signed with the Saints as an unrestricted free agent in 2024. In 72 career games with 44 starts, the 2020 Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year has recorded 169 tackles (110 solo), 32 sacks, 39 stops for a loss, 16 pass breakups, nine forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries, including two returned for touchdowns.

The Hyattsville, Md., native earned the conference's top defensive honor after standout performances over the final five games of the 2025 season, totaling 19 tackles, five sacks (third in the NFL during December/January), six tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries as the Saints closed the season with a 4-1 record. In New Orleans' Week 17 victory at the Tennessee Titans, Young had a strip sack of Titans quarterback Cam Ward that he recovered for a touchdown.

After missing the first five games of the season due to a calf injury, Young started the final 12 games of the 2025 season and was a standout on the Black and Gold defensive line, recording 38 tackles (22 solo), a career-high 10 sacks, a career-high 11 stops for a loss, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries (tied for first in the NFL).