New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent running back Ty Chandler.
Chandler, 5-11, 205, is a four-year NFL veteran who was originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round (169th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft out of the University of North Carolina. In 40 career regular season games with four starts for the Vikings, Chandler has carried 181 times for 710 yards (3.9 avg.) with three touchdowns, caught 30 passes for 212 yards, and returned 15 kickoffs for 386 yards (25.7 avg.).
In 2025, Chandler played in three games, returning to action in Week 17 after being sidelined for 14 games with a knee injury, carrying 17 times for 47 yards, catching three passes for 11 yards and returning three kickoffs for 84 yards (28.0 avg.).
The Nashville, Tenn. native played five collegiate seasons at Tennessee (2017-20) and North Carolina (2021). During his final season in Chapel Hill, he played in all 13 games for the Tar Heels, finishing the season with 1,092 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns and added 15 receptions for 216 yards with one receiving touchdown. At Tennessee, he played in 45 games (25 starts) and totaled 2,015 rushing yards. A threat in the return game, Chandler also posted 3,245 all-purpose yards, which ranked fifth in UT history and his 724 career kickoff return yards ranked 14th in school history when he departed Knoxville.
The New Orleans Saints announced that the club has agreed to terms with running back Ty Chandler. Check out Chandler in action with the Minnesota Vikings during his NFL career.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) runs up field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in St. Paul, Minn.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Vikings defeated the Giants 28-6.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) rushes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) is pursued by Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Detroit.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler carries the ball against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Detroit.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) carries the ball during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) carries against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) runs a route during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) runs from Green Bay Packers safety Kitan Oladapo during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) runs with the football during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) before an NFL football wild card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) warms up before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) runs with the football during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Minneapolis.
