NFL CAREER â Selected by the Saints in the second round (60th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft, Pete Werner has become a mainstay in the New Orleans defense, appearing in 56 games with 48 starts, posting 323 tackles (205 solo), five pass breakups, one interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Werner turned in another productive campaign in year four, posting 92 tackles (54 solo) and one pass breakup, while starting all 13 games he appeared in.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS â Signed to a four-year contract, 6/8/21; Selected by Saints in the second round (60th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.
2024 â Started all 13 games he played in, posting 92 tackles (54 solo) and one pass breakups, his second consecutive campaign with at least 90 stopsâŠFinished with two tackles (one solo) vs. Carolina, Sept. 8âŠRecorded eight tackles (five solo) at Dallas, Sept. 15âŠFinished with five tackles (three solo) vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 22âŠMade second career start at MLB in place of the injured Demario Davis and played on special teams, recording six tackles (three solo) at Atlanta, Sept. 29âŠMissed next three contests (groin/hamstring injuries)âŠTied for team lead with nine tackles (seven solo), including two stops for loss at Los Angeles Chargers, Oct. 27âŠFinished with a team-high eight tackles (five solo), including a stop for loss at Carolina, Nov. 3âŠStarted at WLB in his 50th career NFL contest, recording five tackles (four solo) with a pass breakup vs. Atlanta, Nov. 10...Finished with six tackles (three solo), vs. Cleveland, Nov. 17âŠRecorded eight tackles (seven solo) vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 1âŠFinished with six tackles (five solo) at N.Y. Giants, Dec. 8âŠMade seven tackles (two solo) vs. Washington, Dec. 15âŠFinished with nine tackles (two solo) at Green Bay, Dec. 23âŠRecorded season-high 13 tackles (seven solo), which tied a career-best vs. Las Vegas, Dec. 29...Performance marked eighth double-digit tackle game of career Inactive for season finale at Tampa Bay (concussion). 2023 â Started all 16 games he played in at WLB, posting career-best 93 tackles (career-high 60 solo), one interception, two fumble recoveries (tied for team lead) and two pass breakupsâŠRecorded eight tackles (three solo) and a half-sack in the season-opening win vs Tennessee, Sept. 10âŠPosted a season-best 11 stops (seven solo) at Green Bay, Sept. 24âŠVs Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, added eight tackles (five solo)âŠRecorded first career interception, three tackles, and one pass breakup in shutout win at New England, Oct. 8âŠIn win vs Chicago, Nov. 5, had a key fumble recovery to seal the game in the fourth quarter, adding three solo tacklesâŠAt Atlanta, Nov. 26, recorded eight tackles (seven solo)âŠRecorded two solo stops and a fumble recovery vs Carolina, Dec. 10âŠPosted five tackles (two solo), including season-high two stops for loss at L.A. Rams, Dec. 21âŠAdded nine tackles (season-best eight solo) and a stop for loss in win at Tampa Bay, Dec. 31âŠIn finale win vs Atlanta, 1/7/24, posted four stops (two solo). 2022 â Played in 12 games with 11 starts (did not open finale) at WLB, recording 79 tackles, (55 solo), three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a special teams stop, as New Orleans ranked fifth in total defense. Despite missing five contests, ranked third on the team in tacklesâŠIn season-opening win at Atlanta, Sept. 11, started and played on special teams and tallied 12 tackles (career-high 11 solo), a stop for loss, his first-career forced fumble and one coverage stopâŠVs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 18, recorded eight tackles (six solo) and one pass breakupâŠAt Carolina, Sept. 25, led team with ten tackles (six solo)âŠVs. Seattle, Oct. 9, posted seven tackles (four solo) and a forced fumble on the first play from scrimmage of third quarterâŠAt Arizona, Oct. 20, led team with seven tackles (three solo), two stops for loss and one pass breakupâŠVs. Las Vegas, Oct. 30, led team with 11 tackles (seven solo), including a stop on the last play of the contest at the Saints four-yard line to preserve a 24-0 shutout victory, adding one pass breakup. Third double-digit tackle total of the seasonâŠVs. Atlanta, Dec. 18, returned to the field after missing four games (ankle) and had four tackles (three solo)âŠAt Cleveland, Dec. 24, declared inactive (hamstring)âŠAt Philadelphia, 1/1/23, started and played on special teams, downing a punt at the Eagles four-yard lineâŠVs. Carolina, 1/8/23, recorded two assisted tackles. 2021 â Appeared in 15 games with eight starts at WLB, posting 59 tackles (37 solo) and three special teams stopsâŠIn the season-opening win vs. Green Bay (played in Jacksonville, Fl. due to Hurricane Ida), Sept. 12, made his regular season debut on special teamsâŠInactive (hamstring) at Carolina, Sept. 19âŠAt New England, Sept. 26, made his first career NFL start and also played on special teams, finishing with two defensive tackles (one solo)âŠStarted and had ten tackles (six solo) with one QB hit, vs. N.Y. Giants, Oct. 3...At Washington, Oct. 10, started and led the team with a career-high 13 tackles (eight solo)âŠStarted and finished with six tackles (five solo), at Seattle, Oct. 25âŠVs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 31, started and recorded four tackles (three solo) with a stop for lossâŠRotated at WLB and on special teams, recorded two tackles (one solo) with a stop for loss and two assisted coverage stops, vs. Atlanta, Nov. 7âŠRotated in at WLB and on special teams and finished with one solo tackle and one coverage stop, at Tampa Bay, Dec. 19âŠVs. Miami. Dec. 27, Started and led defense with ten tacklesâŠRotated at WLB and special teams and finished with two tackles (one solo), vs. Carolina, 1/2/22.
COLLEGE â As senior, voted by Big Ten coaches as first-team All-Conference and also was a Butkus Award semifinalist, starting all eight games during an abbreviated Big Ten season, recording 54 tackles (28 solo), 2.5 stops for loss, a sack, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup as the Buckeyes reached the College Football Playoff championship gameâŠIn 2019, started all 14 games for CFP semifinalists and second on Buckeyes with 64 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries, earning honorable mention All-Big TenâŠAs sophomore, started 13 of 14 games for Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion Buckeyes and recorded 58 tackles (38 solo), a career-high 7.5 stops for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and seven pass breakupsâŠLettered as a true freshman, playing in 11 games and contributing nine tackles, most on special teamsâŠReal estate and urban analysis major and was three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
PERSONAL â Rivals, 247Sports and Scout four-star prospect as a standout OLB at Indianapolis Cathedral HSâŠRanked among the Top 300 players nationally by both Scout and 247Sports and among the Top 20 outside linebackersâŠA first-team Associated Press Class 6A all-state pick as a senior for a team that went 7-5 and advanced to the regional finalsâŠMissed three games due to injury, but recorded 64 tackles, including 17 stops for loss and eight sacksâŠFinished third for Indianapolis Star Mr. Football honors and earned the Star's state's top linebacker awardâŠRated No. 1 OLB in Midwest by Scout and PrepStar all-Midwest region honoreeâŠFather, Greg, starred in both football and baseball at DePauw University, is a member of its Athletics Hall of Fame, played two years in the NFL with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles and has an orthodontist practiceâŠOlder brother, Dan, played football at Harvard from 2016-18âŠIn October, 2023 Werner and several of his Saints teammates joined Ochsner oncology patients and their supporters for a dinner at the Ochsner Sports Performance CenterâŠProvided moral support to New Orleans military in the Saints/Dudley DeBosier Battle of the Branches seven-on-seven Flag Football Tournament in 2022 and 2023 for Salute to Service Month at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Military members from the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy formed teams that competed in a round-robin tournament, while also engaging in individual and team challenges like Tug-A-War, 40 Yard Dash, Long Ball Throw, Pushup Challenge, and Field Goal KickingâŠTeam nominee for 2023 NFL Salute to Service AwardâŠParticipated in the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats initiative to promote the Uniform Funding Foundation (TUFF), which serves thousands of youth athletes through uniform donations, college enrichment tours and skills campsâŠParticipated in 2023, 2024 and 2025 Zurich Classic Celebrity Shootout for Charity, winning 10,000 dollars as a member of the winning team his first three years, which he has donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Metro LouisianaâŠAnnual participant in Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournaments at Chateau Country Club and on the Mississippi CoastâŠVisited with team partners at the 2025 Saints Partner Party presented by COXâŠIn June met with visitors and veterans at the National World War II MuseumâŠWants to become involved in commercial real estate following playing career.
