New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced that the club has agreed to terms with free agent defensive end Jonathan Bullard. Here are five things to know about the Saints roster addition:
- Bullard is a nine-year NFL veteran who has played in 116 games with 53 starts over the course of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears. He has racked up 221 career tackles (132 solo), 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
- Bullard completed 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings where he started all 17 games. He tallied 41 tackles including a career-high seven tackles for loss. He also added 1.0 sack and three passes defensed.
- The defensive end reunites with Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Staley worked as the Chicago Bears outside linebackers coach during Bullard's second and third professional seasons in 2017 and 2018.
- Drafted in the third round (72nd overall) by the Bears in the 2016 NFL Draft, Bullard joined Chicago out of Florida where he played 49 games over four seasons and tallied 169 tackles (86 solo), 11 sacks and five passes defensed. He was a unanimous First Team All-SEC selection in his senior season in 2015 after accruing 66 tackles and 6.5 sacks, tied for the team lead. His 17.5 tackles for loss that season was the most by a Gator since 1999.
- Bullard attended Crest Senior High School in his hometown of Shelby, N.C. In his senior season with the Chargers, he notched 82 tackles and 16 sacks, helping lead Crest to a 12-4 record where the team finished as the NCHSAA Class 3AA runner-up.
New Orleans Saints announced the club has agreed to terms with free agent defensive end Jonathon Bullard to a one-year contract. Check out Bullard in action with the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and Chicago Bears during his NFL career.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) gets set on defense against the Detroit Lions during a NFL football game, Sunday, October. 20, 2024 in Minneapolis. The Lions defeated the Vikings, 31-29.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) runs around the edge as Denver Broncos offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs (71) blocks during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Denver. The Broncos won 21-20.
Minnesota Vikings tackle Jonathan Bullard (90) looks into the backfield during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams defeated the Vikings 30-20.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) lines up on the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. The Lions defeated the Vikings 31-9.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) awaits the snap of the football during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Minneapolis. The Chiefs won 27-20.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) runs during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 22-17.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) rushes in on defense against the Detroit Lions during a NFL football game, Sunday, October. 20, 2024 in Minneapolis. The Lions defeated the Vikings, 31-29.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) lines up for the play during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard reacts after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 23-17.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) runs during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. The Vikings defeated the Falcons 42-21.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) and Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Abraham Lucas (72) get set during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024 in Seattle. The Vikings defeated the Seahawks 27-24.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) runs during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. The Vikings defeated the Falcons 42-21.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) reacts after a defensive stop on fourth down during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Minneapolis. The Chargers won 28-24.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) runs off the field during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars 12-7.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard moves across the field after a play against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 27-25.
Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard gets set on defense against the Las Vegas Raiders during a NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 24-23.
Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard (90) walks off the field following an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Chicago Bears defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) lines up in a three-point stance during an NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, August 19, 2017 in Glendale, Ariz. The Bears defeated the Cardinals 24-23.
Chicago Bears defensive Jonathan Bullard (90) looks into the backfield during an NFL Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Seahawks 24-17.
Chicago Bears defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) lines up in a three-point stance during an NFL Week 16 game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Bears defeated the 49ers 14-9.
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Deion Jones (45) and defensive end Jonathan Bullard (99) tackle New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden (25) during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, in Atlanta. New England won 25-0.
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Jonathan Bullard (99) in coverage during an NFL football game against the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. The Atlanta Falcons won 27-20.
Arizona Cardinals defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) in action during against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Tampa, Fla.
