New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced that the team acquired offensive lineman Luke Fortner in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Here are five things to know about the Saints roster addition:
- Drafted in the third round (65th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Fortner spent three seasons with Jacksonville where he appeared in all 51 possible games including 34 starts.
- In the 2022 season, Fortner started two postseason contests at center, helping the Jaguars to a come-from-behind 31-30 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card game. The team would fall 27-20 to the eventual Super Bowl LVII Champion Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round.
- Fortner attended the University of Kentucky where he appeared in 55 games including 36 consecutive starts for the Wildcats at the right guard and center positions. He played alongside fellow Saints offensive lineman Landon Young during his time at Kentucky.
- While at Kentucky, Fortner teamed up with other engineering students and a team of Toyota Manufacturing engineers, to help create a specially-built push cart vehicle through a project called Lift Them Up. In what has become a gameday tradition, the vehicle provides a Kentucky Children's Hospital patient the chance to accompany the team on the Cat Walk at Kroger Field. Fortner was the first to push the cart during its debut on Aug. 31, 2019 during the Wildcats game against the Toledo Rockets.
- The Sylvania, Ohio native attended Sylvania Northview High School where he earned all-region and all-state honors playing tackle, guard and center. He also played center for the basketball team.
New Orleans Saints announced the club traded for center Luke Fortner. Check out Fortner in action with the Jacksonville Jaguars during his NFL career.
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) walks off the field after a NFL preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, August 9, 2025, Jacksonville,Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) walks onto the field during a NFL football scrimmage, Friday, August 1, 2025, in Jacksonville,Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) walks off the field after a NFL football training camp, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Jacksonville,Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner performs a drill during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) works out during a team NFL football practice, Monday, May 19, 2025, in Jacksonville,Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) leaves the field after an NFL preseason football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Chiefs 26-13. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) performs a drill during the team's NFL football training camp, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) practices during an NFL training camp, Friday, July. 26, 2024, in Jacksonville,Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) drops back to block during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Ravens won 23 - 7. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) plays against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) in action during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) runs on the field during player introductions before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) sets the play against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov 26, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) in action during an NFL football game against Houston Texans, Sunday, Nov 26, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) in action during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Titans 34-14. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) drops back to block during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in New Orleans. The Jaguars won 31-24. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) blocks New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (90) during an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in New Orleans. The Jaguars won 31-24. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) in action during an NFL pre-season football game against the Miami Dolphins, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Dolphins 31-18. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) lines up on the line of scrimmage during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 27-20. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) sets to snap the ball during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 27-20. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Luke Fortner (79) waits to snap the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL divisional round playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Jaguars 27-20. (Greg Trott via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) walks off of the field against the New York Jets during an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jaguars defeated the Jets, 19-3. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) prepares to snap the football during an NFL game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 19-3. (Kara Durrette via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Luke Fortner (79) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jaguars defeated the Cowboys 40-34 in overtime. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner (79) lines up against the Tennessee Titans before snapping the football during an NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tenn. The Jaguars defeated the Titans 36-22. (Kara Durrette via AP)
