The NFL announced today that New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry has been named the Week Five NFC Defensive Player of the Week, the first conference weekly honor for a Saints player in 2025 and the first defensive honor for a Saint since the 2023 campaign.
McKinstry, 5-11, 199, New Orleans' second round selection (41st overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Alabama, spearheaded a standout Saints defensive effort in a 26-14 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday, where he accounted for two of the team's five takeaways with interceptions on two successive possessions, the first two of his career.
The Pinson, Ala. native had an impact on all three Giants possessions of the third quarter, also successfully breaking up a third down attempt by QB Jaxson Dart on New York's final possession of the contest. McKinstry finished the contest with four tackles (three solo), two picks and three pass breakups as part of a performance where the Black and Gold surrendered only 199 net passing yards.
In 2025, McKinstry has opened every contest and has posted 20 tackles (17 solo), two interceptions and four pass breakups. In two seasons, he has played in 20 games with 14 starts with totals of 61 tackles (48 solo), three stops for a loss, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups and one special teams stop.
