Football is finally back! The New Orleans Saints have officially wrapped up their first week of training camp, ending a six month hiatus and marking the unofficial start of the 2026 season. Excitement is building as the fans have gotten their first look at the 2026 team.
Many experts across the league have expressed optomism about the Saints in 2026, after the team's strong finish to last year and the major roster upgrades made throughout the offseason. General manager Mickey Loomis is well aware of the growing hype surrounding the squad, but he's making sure those outside expectations don't become a distraction.
"There's alot of optomism out there, which we like," Loomis said. "We like expectations. I want our guys and I want us to have expectations. But we can't let the expectations interfere with the process. We're counting on some young players, some core players, from the last two drafts to get better. We just are."
If the Saints stay focused, the expectations will take care of themselves
The outlook on the New Orleans Saints shifted dramatically after the team’s strong finish to the 2025 season. They shocked the league with by winning five out of their final nine games.
What once appeared to be a lengthy rebuild rapidly accelerated into optimism leading into the offseason. The Saints were aggressive in the offseason, making upgrades around the roster. Now they enter 2026 believing this is the year they can potentially compete for something meaningful.
The media has pumped the Saints up this offseason expecting another leap in 2026. Loomis is aware of the noise and he also understands they mean nothing if the team loses sight of the process. New Orleans still has plenty to prove before it can be viewed as a legitimate contender.
The Saints haven’t reached the playoffs in five seasons, and while their roster is more talented, there are many new faces who must build chemistry. It is important for those upgrades to translate on the field if they want to win games.
If the Saints take the same approach as their general manager, the outside expectations will handle themselves. The Saints need to focus on improving daily, building chemistry, and believing in the formula throughout the season. If they handle the process the right way, the praise and lofty expectations surrounding them could become reality a few months down the line.
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