Cesar Ruiz

NFL CAREER – An athletic, versatile and intelligent lineman, the club's first round draft pick in 2020 has settled into the right guard position on the Black and Gold offensive line. Ruiz has played in 89 career games with 83 starts, opening all 14 contests he appeared in during the 2025 campaign. The former Michigan standout has the flexibility to play across the offensive line, opening games at right guard, center and even seeing time at right tackle in his six seasons with New Orleans. After signing an extension at the start of the 2023 season, Ruiz will look to continue his consistent play and help lead the Saints offensive line in 2026 as one of its most tenured members.

NFL CAREER – An athletic, versatile and intelligent lineman, the club's first round draft pick in 2020 has settled into the right guard position on the Black and Gold offensive line. Ruiz has played in 89 career games with 83 starts, opening all 14 contests he appeared in during the 2025 campaign. The former Michigan standout has the flexibility to play across the offensive line, opening games at right guard, center and even seeing time at right tackle in his six seasons with New Orleans. After signing an extension at the start of the 2023 season, Ruiz will look to continue his consistent play and help lead the Saints offensive line in 2026 as one of its most tenured members.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed a four-year contract extension, 9/9/23; Placed on Injured Reserve, 12/20/22; Signed, 7/27/20; Selected in the first round (24th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

2025 – Started all 14 games he played in at RG…Blocked for rushing attack that gained 139 yards and a season-high three touchdowns at Tampa Bay, Dec. 7…Inactive for Week Five and 16 and 17 contests with an ankle injury. 2024 – Started all 13 games he appeared in at RG…Helped lead the Saints to nine straight scoring drives to start game, which tied a franchise record, marking the third time New Orleans has done it in any game and was the first by the club in a season opener vs. Carolina, Sept. 8...Blocked for a 190-yard rushing effort in 44-19 victory at Dallas, Sept. 15…Suffered knee injury that caused him to miss four contests, vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 22...Returned to lineup at L.A. Chargers, Oct. 27…Paved the way for rushing attack to run for season-high 214 yards, vs. Cleveland, Nov. 17. 2023 – Started all 16 games he played in at RG…At Green Bay, Sept. 24, left the game in second quarter (concussion protocol)…Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, inactive (concussion)…At New England, Oct. 8, returned to start and play in 50th career NFL game…At Houston, Oct. 15, started at RG and also saw action at RT after Ryan Ramczyk exited…At Indianapolis, Oct. 29, blocked for an offense that gained a season-high 511 total net yards, including 161 rushing yards…At Atlanta, Nov. 26, made 50th career start…Blocked for an offense that gained 154 yards rushing in season finale vs. Atlanta, 1/7/24. 2022 – Opened all 14 games he appeared in before being placed on Injured Reserve (Lisfranc), suffered late in team's win vs. Atlanta, Dec. 18, starting at RG for 13 games and at C at Tampa Bay, Dec. 5...Vs. Seattle, Oct. 9, blocked for an offense that gained 235 yards rushing with two 100-yard rushers (Taysom Hill and Alvin Kamara) and three rushing TDs…Moved to C in second quarter vs. Baltimore, Nov. 7, due to Erik McCoy's injury. 2021 – Only Saints offensive player to open all 17 games. After starting season-opening win over Green Bay, Sept. 12, at RG, moved to C for next four contests due to McCoy's injury, before returning to RG for final 12 games. 2020 – Played in 15 games with nine starts at RG and opened both postseason contests…Started vs. Atlanta, Nov. 22, blocking for an offense that gained 168 yards rushing…Started at Denver, Nov. 29, and blocked for an offense that rushed for 229 yards and four TDs…Started vs. Minnesota, Dec. 25, for an offense that rushed for a season-high 264 yards and club-record seven TDs, including an NFL record-tying six by RB Alvin Kamara.

COLLEGE – Started his final 31 games at Michigan during a 36-game career – five at RG and the last 26 at C…Opened all 13 games in 2019 and selected second-team All-Big Ten by conference coaches….Hailed as the Best Pass-Blocking center in the country by PFF College, with 447 snaps spent in pass protection and just eight pressures allowed and one over the final five games of the season…In 2018, earned All-Big Ten third-team (coaches), starting all 13 games at C…In 2017, played in ten games and made five starts at RG…Majored in Afro-American and African studies.

PERSONAL - Attended IMG (Bradenton, Fla.) Academy, where he helped lead his team to undefeated seasons in 2015 and 2016, the first NFL first round selection coming from the institution…In 2016, anchored an offensive line that helped produce 2,000 yards passing and 1,879 yards rushing in 11 games…Played in the 2017 Under Armour All-American Game…Consensus (247.com, ESPN, Scout, Rivals and PrepStar) four-star recruit and rated as the nation's top-rated center…Attended the 2016 "The Opening" in Beaverton, Oregon…Transferred to IMG from Camden (N.J.) HS, where he spent his first two years…During the 2022 holiday season made a surprise appearance at Rouses Market to provide shoppers with some assistance…In 2023, Ruiz and several teammates teamed up with prominent New Orleans chefs and NOCCA students for a cooking competition featuring Dairy Max products and meals…Played in the 2024 and 2025 Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournaments…In 2024 Ruiz enlisted several of his offensive line teammates to treat single mothers and their children to gifts for the holiday season in collaboration with the nonprofit "One Happy Mama"…Wore pained cleats promoting the nonprofit for the team's 2025 "My Cause My Cleats" game…In June, 2025, served as a guest analyst for two days on the NFL Network's "Good Morning Football"…In July, 2025, held his first annual bike giveaway for 150 youth in his hometown of Camden, earning NFLPA Offseason Community MVP…In 2025, hosted a holiday toy giveaway with Saints teammates at the New Orleans Women and Children's Center…Introduced to football at eight years old as a positive outlet after he tragically lost his father…Born June 14, 1999.