NFL CAREER – Originally selected by the Chiefs in the third round (84th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Western Illinois, Khalen Saunders enters his seventh NFL season and third with New Orleans in 2024. The St. Louis native has appeared in 68 career regular season games with 32 starts, recording 181 tackles (82 solo), 6.5 sacks, six passes defensed, one interception and seven stops for loss. The seventh-year pro has also appeared in six postseason contests, posting eight tackles (six solo) and one sack as a member of Kansas City's Super Bowl LIV and LVII Championship teams. In 2024, Saunders appeared in 13 games with ten starts and totaled 43 tackles (18 solo), two sacks, three stops for loss, a 37-yard interception return and three pass breakups.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints (UFA-KC), 3/17/23; Placed on Injured Reserve by the Chiefs, 11/30/21; Activated from Injured Reserve by the Chiefs, 10/24/20; Placed on Injured Reserve by the Chiefs, 9/19/20; Signed by the Chiefs to a four-year contract, 6/4/19; Selected by the Chiefs in the third round (84th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.
2024 – Appeared in 13 games with ten starts, adding 43 tackles (18 solo), two sacks, three stops for loss, his first career interception and three passes defensed…Racked up seven tackles (two solo) and an interception in the red zone returned for 37 yards at Kansas City, Oct. 7…Recorded four stops (three solo) and a sack for a 10-yard loss at L.A. Chargers, Oct. 27…Posted four tackles and a QB hurry vs. Atlanta, Nov. 10…Added five tackles (career-high four solo) and a sack at N.Y. Giants, Dec. 8…Recorded four stops, a tackle for loss and two pass breakups at Green Bay, Dec. 23…Matched season-high of seven tackles (three solo) vs. Las Vegas, Dec. 29. 2023 – Started all 17 games he played in for the first time, posting career-high 57 tackles (24 solo), one pass breakup, two QB hurries, and a stop for a loss in first season with the Black and Gold…At Carolina, Sept. 18, recorded four tackles (three solo)…Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, recorded five assisted tackles…At New England, Oct. 8, recorded two tackles (one solo). Helped lead Saints defense to a 34-0 shutout where they gave up only 45 rushing yards on 18 attempts (2.5 avg.)…At Indianapolis, Oct. 29, started and saw action at FB in goal line package. Paved the way for a key fourth-quarter TD run by Taysom Hill…Vs. Chicago, Nov. 5, started and saw action at FB in the goal line package. Finished with five tackles (two solo), tying a season-high…Recorded five tackles at Atlanta, Nov. 26…Vs. Detroit, Dec. 3, started and rotated in at FB in 50th career NFL appearance, finishing with four tackles (one solo)...Vs. Carolina, Dec. 10, finished with five tackles (two solo). 2022 – Played in 16 games and posted 48 tackles, a career-high 3.5 sacks and one pass defense in final season in Kansas City. Also appeared in three postseason contests and posted five tackles and a sack as a member of the Super Bowl LVII Champions…At Indianapolis, Sept. 25, tallied a career-high eight tackles (three solo)…Vs. Tennessee, Nov. 6, recorded six tackles (three solo) and a 12-yard sack…Vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 13, posted two tackles (one solo) and a takedown of Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence…In the AFC Championship victory vs. Cincinnati, 1/29/23, Recorded a postseason career high three solo tackles…In Super Bowl LVII vs. Philadelphia, 2/12/23, tallied two tackles (one solo) and his first postseason sack, taking down Eagles QB Jalen Hurts for a one-yard loss as the Chiefs won 38-35. 2021 – Appeared in seven games for Chiefs and recorded eight tackles (two solo)…At Tennessee, Oct. 24, Posted four tackles (one solo)…Placed on Injured Reserve with a season-ending knee injury, Nov. 30. 2020 – Appeared in three regular season contests with one start, posting three solo tackles as the Chiefs advanced to Super Bowl LV. 2019 – Appeared in 12 regular season games with four starts as a rookie and recorded 22 tackles (13 solo), a sack and a pass defense. Appeared in all three postseason contests, tallying three tackles (two solo) as a member of the Super Bowl LIV Champions…In Super Bowl, LIV vs. San Francisco, 2/2/20, recorded one solo tackle as Kansas City won 31-20.
COLLEGE – Appeared in 46 games for Western Illinois, tallying 203 tackles (120 solo), 17.5 sacks for 113 yards lost, six passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in four seasons...Appeared in 11 games as a senior in 2018, recorded 72 tackles (42 solo), 6.5 sacks for 38 yards lost, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery…Became WIU's first-ever Senior Bowl participant and recorded the first sack of the 2019 game…Majored in math education.
PERSONAL – Lettered in football, wrestling and track & field at Parkway Central (Chesterfield, Mo.) HS…Earned All-Conference and All-State honors…Team placed second in state of Missouri during the 2013 season…Was a runner-up junior year in the state track meet in shot put…Older brother, Kameron, has been a choreographer and dancer on three of Taylor Swift's tours, including her most recent worldwide "Eras" jaunt, that stopped at the Caesars Superdome…Enjoys playing piano…For the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" games, has worn specially designed cleats to promote the National Kidney Foundation…Rode in the 2024 Krewe of Tucks Mardi Gras parade…Saunders and his mother, Kim Hamilton, spoke with local football moms during the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans Mom's Clinic presented by Barefoot Wine in December…Born on Aug. 9, 1996…First name pronounced: KAH-len.
