{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Khalen Saunders | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | current_team = | number = | position = Defensive tackle | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|8|9}} | birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lb = 324 | high_school = Parkway Central<br>(Chesterfield, Missouri) | college = Western Illinois (2014–2018) | draftyear = 2019 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 84 | pastteams = * Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2022}}) * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2023}}–{{NFL Year|2024}}) * Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2025}}) * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2025}}) | status = | highlights = * 2× Super Bowl champion (LIV, LVII) * 2× First-team All-MVFC (2017–2018) | statleague = NFL | statseason = 2025 | statweek = | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 193 | statlabel2 = Sacks | statvalue2 = 7.5 | statlabel3 = Forced fumbles | statvalue3 = | statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue4 = | statlabel5 = Pass deflections | statvalue5 = 6 | statlabel6 = Interceptions | statvalue6 = 1 | pfr = SaunKh00 }}
'''Khalen Saunders''' (born August 9, 1996) is an American professional football defensive tackle. He played college football for the Western Illinois Leathernecks and was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Saunders has also played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints.
==College career== After playing high school football as a running back and a defensive lineman at Parkway Central High School, Saunders received only one Division I scholarship offer, from Western Illinois.<ref name="ESPN">{{Cite web |last=Rittenberg |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Rittenberg |date=April 20, 2019 |title=Backflips, basketball and a baby: The legend of Khalen Saunders |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2019/story/_/id/26553401/backflips-basketball-baby-legend-nfl-draft-prospect-khalen-saunders |access-date=April 27, 2019 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
During his career at Western Illinois, Saunders mainly played defensive line but also sporadically continued his career on the offensive side of the ball, recording a rushing and a receiving touchdown in his career.<ref name="ESPN"/> After his senior season, he became the first Leatherneck ever invited to the Senior Bowl,<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2019 |title=Saunders Represents Leathernecks as First-Ever Reese's Senior Bowl Invitee |url=https://goleathernecks.com/news/2019/1/21/football-saunders-represents-leathernecks-as-first-ever-reeses-senior-bowl-invitee.aspx |access-date=April 27, 2019 |website=Western Illinois Leathernecks}}</ref> and while playing in the contest, recorded the game's first sack on Will Grier, earning accolades from Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marino |first=Joe |date=February 15, 2019 |title=Khalen Saunders Does Rare Things |url=https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/khalen-saunders-does-rare-things |access-date=April 27, 2019 |website=The Draft Network |archive-date=April 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427021045/https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/khalen-saunders-does-rare-things |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ESPN" /> Saunders also picked up exposure over the offseason by having a video of him backflipping featured on prominent draft analyst Adam Schefter's Twitter account; the tweet amassed over 7,000 likes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Jory |date=January 22, 2019 |title=Viral, backflipping DT Khalen Saunders explains why he stayed at Senior Bowl as fiancée went into labor |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2019/01/22/senior-bowl-khalen-saunders-backflip-fiancee-labor-daughter/2653423002/ |access-date=April 27, 2019 |website=USA Today}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 0 3/8 | weight = 324 | dash = 5.01 | ten split = 1.73 | twenty split = 2.91 | shuttle = 4.62 | cone drill = 7.57 | vertical = 30.5 | broad ft = 8 | broad in = 5 | bench = 27 | arm span = 32 1/4 | hand span = 9 1/8 | wonderlic = | note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/khalen-saunders/32005341-5569-3939-9295-450ef4e2975c |title=Khalen Saunders Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=January 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1020952&DraftYear=2019 |title=Khalen Saunders, Western Illinois, DT, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=January 25, 2022}}</ref> }}
===Kansas City Chiefs=== Saunders was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round with the 84th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Swanson |first1=Kent |last2=Sweeney |first2=Pete |date=April 26, 2019 |title=NFL Draft results: Chiefs select Western Illinois DT Khalen Saunders at No. 84 |url=https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2019/4/26/18519213/nfl-draft-results-chiefs-select-western-illinois-dt-khalen-saunders-at-no-84 |access-date=March 21, 2021 |website=Arrowhead Pride}}</ref> Saunders won Super Bowl LIV when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31–20.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LIV – San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 2nd, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202002020kan.htm |access-date=March 21, 2021 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Saunders was placed on injured reserve on September 19, 2020 after suffering a dislocated elbow in Week 1.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldman |first=Charles |date=September 19, 2020 |title=Chiefs place DT Khalen Saunders on IR, elevate practice squad DT Braxton Hoyett |url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/19/kansas-city-chiefs-khalen-saunders-ir-braxton-hoyett-elevated/ |access-date=March 21, 2021 |website=Chiefs Wire |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> He was activated on October 24.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldman |first=Charles |date=October 24, 2020 |title=Chiefs make two roster moves on Saturday |url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2020/10/24/kansas-city-chiefs-khalen-saunders-alex-okafor-injured-reserve/ |access-date=March 21, 2021 |website=Chiefs Wire |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>
On November 30, 2021, Saunders was placed on injured reserve. He was activated on January 24, 2022.
In 2022, Saunders helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35 with Saunders recording two tackles and a sack in the game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202302120phi.htm |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
===New Orleans Saints=== On March 17, 2023, Saunders signed a three-year, $14.5 million contract with the New Orleans Saints.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 17, 2023 |title=New Orleans Saints agree to terms with defensive tackle Khalen Saunders |url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/khalen-saunders-new-orleans-saints-defensive-tackle-roster-free-agency-2023 |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=NewOrleansSaints.com}}</ref>
In 2024, during the Saints' Week 5 game against the Chiefs, Saunders recorded the first interception of his career against Patrick Mahomes on a deflected pass in the end zone and returned the ball 37 yards.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DeArdo |first1=Bryan |title=LOOK: Saints DT Khalen Saunders makes incredible interception off Patrick Mahomes, rumbles for big return |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/look-saints-dt-khalen-saunders-makes-incredible-interception-off-patrick-mahomes-rumbles-for-big-return/ |access-date=8 October 2024 |work=CBSSports.com |date=8 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008041048/https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/look-saints-dt-khalen-saunders-makes-incredible-interception-off-patrick-mahomes-rumbles-for-big-return/ |archive-date=8 October 2024 |url-status=live |language=en |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Saints scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive, but ultimately lost the game 26–13.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chiefs 26-13 Saints (Oct 7, 2024) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401671687 |access-date=8 October 2024 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=8 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008041148/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401671687 |archive-date=8 October 2024 |url-status=live |language=en |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
===Jacksonville Jaguars=== On August 17, 2025, the Saints traded Saunders to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for center Luke Fortner.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Charean |title=Saints trade DT Khalen Saunders to the Jaguars for C Luke Fortner |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/saints-trade-dt-khalen-saunders-to-the-jaguars |website=NBCSports.com |publisher=NBCUniversal |access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref> He made two appearances for Jacksonville, recording three combined tackles. Saunders was waived on November 13.<ref>{{cite web |title=Khalen Saunders: Hits waivers |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/khalen-saunders-hits-waivers/ |website=CBS Sports |access-date=14 November 2025}}</ref>
===New York Jets=== On November 17, 2025, Saunders signed with the New York Jets.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weir |first1=Susanna |title=Jets Sign DL Khalen Saunders |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-khalen-saunders-11-17-2025 |website=NewYorkJets.com |access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>
==NFL career statistics== {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="2" |Legend |- | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;" | |Won the Super Bowl |- |'''Bold''' |Career high |}
=== Regular season === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" |Year ! rowspan="2" |Team ! colspan="2" |Games ! colspan="5" |Tackles ! colspan="6" |Interceptions ! colspan="2" |Fumbles |- !GP !GS !Cmb !Solo !Ast !Sck !TFL !PD !Int !Yds !Avg !Lng !TD !FF !FR |- !2019 ! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;" |KC |12 |4 |22 |13 |9 |1.0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- !2020 !KC |3 |1 |3 |3 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- !2021 !KC |7 |0 |8 |2 |6 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- !2022 ! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;" |KC |16 |0 |48 |22 |26 |'''3.5''' |'''3''' |1 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- !2023 !NO |'''17''' |'''17''' |'''57''' |'''24''' |'''33''' |0.0 |1 |1 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- !2024 !NO |13 |10 |43 |18 |25 |2.0 |'''3''' |'''3''' |'''1''' |'''37''' |'''37.0''' |'''37''' |0 |0 |0 |- ! rowspan="2" |2025 !JAX |2 |0 |3 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- !NYJ |7 |0 |9 |5 |4 |1.0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SaunKh00.htm Career] !77 !32 !193 !87 !106 !7.5 !8 !6 !1 !37 !37.0 !37 !0 !0 !0 |}
===Playoffs=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" |Year ! rowspan="2" |Team ! colspan="2" |Games ! colspan="5" |Tackles ! colspan="6" |Interceptions ! colspan="2" |Fumbles |- !GP !GS !Cmb !Solo !Ast !Sck !TFL !PD !Int !Yds !Avg !Lng !TD !FF !FR |- !2019 ! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;" |KC |'''3''' |0 |3 |2 |'''1''' |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- !2022 ! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;" |KC |'''3''' |0 |'''5''' |'''4''' |'''1''' |'''1.0''' |'''1''' |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SaunKh00.htm Career] !6 !0 !8 !6 !2 !1.0 !1 !0 !0 !0 !0.0 !0 !0 !0 !0 |}
==Personal life== Saunders has a daughter, who his then-fiancée gave birth to while he was preparing for the 2019 Senior Bowl.<ref name="ESPN"/>
Saunders has a brother, Kameron, a professional dancer and choreographer.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article277110188.html |title='You are amazing!' Taylor Swift backup dancer has ties to Kansas City Chiefs and UMKC |last=Gutierrez |first=Lisa |newspaper=The Kansas City Star |date=July 8, 2023 |access-date=October 30, 2023}}</ref> Kam performed as a dancer on Taylor Swift's The Eras tour. When it was made public that Kam was only able to get flight to the audition since his brother Khalen bought a plane ticket for him, Swifties donated over $20,000 to his charity. His foundation, The Original Element Foundation, focuses on Mentorship, Inclusion and Health and Wellness.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Darney |first=Caroline |date=December 24, 2025 |title=Khalen Saunders thanked Swifties' charity with perfect Eras Tour dance |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/pop-culture/2025/12/24/khalen-saunders-kam-taylor-swift-charity-tiktok/87908049007/ |access-date=January 22, 2026 |website=For The Win |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weller |first=Sophie |date=April 2, 2025 |title='Football Is For All' — Two-time Super Bowl champion Khalen Saunders sends powerful message with LGBTQ-friendly youth football camp |url=https://atozsports.com/nfl/khalen-saunders-hosting-lgbtq-friendly-youth-football-camp-this-summer/ |access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/players-roster/khalen-saunders/ New York Jets bio] *[https://goleathernecks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=17009 Western Illinois Leathernecks bio] *{{Twitter}}
{{Chiefs2019DraftPicks}} {{Super Bowl LIV}} {{Super Bowl LVII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saunders, Khalen}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:American football defensive tackles Category:Kansas City Chiefs players Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:New York Jets players Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players Category:Parkway Central High School alumni Category:Sportspeople from Chesterfield, Missouri Category:Players of American football from St. Louis County, Missouri Category:Western Illinois Leathernecks football players