Saints Sign New Lease, Will Stay in New Orleans Through 2035
The New Orleans Saints are staying home. On Thursday, the franchise announced a new 10-year lease extension with the state of Louisiana that ensures the team will remain in the Caesars Superdome through at least the 2035 season.
A Deal Years in the Making
The agreement concludes a lengthy negotiation process that stretched across two state administrations and major events such as Hurricane Ida and the COVID-19 pandemic delayed it.
“Discussions about this agreement have spanned two administrations, a global pandemic and Hurricane Ida,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said. “Now today, I am totally happy that we will be sending a signed copy of this agreement to the NFL for their approval.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the agreement a victory for both sides: “This is what winning looks like.”
Keeping the Saints in the Superdome
The Superdome has been home to the Saints since opening on August 3, 1975. Under the new lease, the building will continue to serve as the team’s home while also benefiting from ongoing capital improvements.
“Each time, we formed a better partnership with a clearer vision for mutual success for both the state and the team,” Benson said. “But more importantly, for our fans. And today, I feel certain this is the case.”
Gov. Landry emphasized that the deal was necessary not only for the Saints but also for the Superdome itself.
“To me, this Superdome and the Saints are not two different things; they are actually one.” Landry said. “Think about what the Superdome would be without an NFL team. This was a deal that had to be done.”
Eyes on Another Super Bowl
While the Saints missed the initial deadline to bid on the 2031 Super Bowl, Benson made it clear the organization intends to pursue hosting another one soon.
“Once the NFL approves this lease extension – which I know they will – we will then be allowed to petition the NFL to bid on future Super Bowls,” she said.
The Superdome last hosted the Super Bowl on February 9, 2025 (Super Bowl LIX), following a $450 million renovation. Benson said she has already spoken with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about resuming talks to bring the game back to New Orleans in the near future.
More Than Just Football
Beyond Saints games, the lease ensures the Superdome continues to host premier events such as the Sugar Bowl, the New Orleans Bowl, major concerts, and other large-scale gatherings.
Gov. Landry credited Benson for her role in finalizing the deal, saying: “She is an unbelievable ambassador, not only for the city of New Orleans but for the state of Louisiana. She’s an icon in my opinion … I’ve never seen someone who works so tirelessly to promote both Louisiana and the city of New Orleans.”
With the deal done, fans in New Orleans can rest assured the Saints aren’t going anywhere anytime soon—and the city remains firmly in the running for another Super Bowl.
Dan Quinn Defends Struggling Marshon Lattimore Despite Commanders' Defensive Woes
He’s a four-time Pro Bowler who should be the shutdown cornerback for the Washington Commanders, but instead Marshon Lattimore has become a high-priced flop, a favorite target for other teams looking for easy completions or cheap yards gained via penalties.
So it’s surprising head coach Dan Quinn is still a believer in Lattimore. To the point where he’s defending the struggling eighth-year pro who cost the Commanders three picks in the 2025 NFL draft when they traded with the New Orleans Saints midway through last season.
Quinn told reporters on Wednesday, October 1, including JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports, he doesn’t “feel” like teams are going after Lattimore. Rather, Quinn is convinced the 29-year-old’s “playing better than perception, but the big mistakes get the headlines.”
That’s a bold and slightly baffling assessment of a player who has become a magnet for flags and frequent perpetrator of blown coverage assignments through four games this year. Lattimore is playing like anything but a Pro Bowler, but Quinn’s public show of faith is timely for a player needing a boost in confidence to return to his best.
Commanders Hoping Positive Reinforcement Works
Quinn offering positive reinforcement is the latest attempt by the Commanders to get Lattimore on track. General manager Adam Peters had hoped a full offseason would do the trick, but Lattimore is still struggling.
Those struggles are being manifested each week. Like when Lattimore was beaten for this long gain by Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London in Week 4.
Lattimore lose on the route, despite being flagged for holding. There’s no more vivid illustration of how he’s become a liability to Washington’s pass defense than Lattimore allowing a 105.2 passer rating, as well as 15.5 yards per reception, according to Pro Football Focus.
The worrying numbers owe a lot to Lattimore’s continued difficulty adjusting to the Commanders‘ schemes.
Marshon Lattimore a Weak Link in Coverage
Lattimore admitted to a certain timidity after he first joined the Commanders. It showed up most damagingly in one-on-one matchups, and unfortunately, the trend has continued in the new campaign.
Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. simply can’t trust Lattimore to play on an island against an opponent’s best receiver. Not when he’s floundering in man coverage, according to The Team 980’s Steve Suter.
The latter noted how the problem isn’t limited to Lattimore, with second-year pro Mike Sainristil also taking heat for a frailty in man-coverage situations. Yet, Lattimore is the marquee name on the back end, the player the Commanders traded for so they could count on a corner able to lockdown one side of the field.
Lattimore is still nowhere close to meriting that status, and he’s currently being outplayed by this year’s second-round pick, Trey Amos. As well as he’s playing, it’s a problem rookie Amos is making the most positive impact within an otherwise suspect secondary.
The Commanders need an established player like Lattimore to step up and become a leader by example. There’s no easy fix, but protecting Lattimore more often with safety help seems like a good place to start, at least until he gets his confidence back.
