Rick Gosselin’s annual rankings for the 2023 NFL season place the New Orleans Saints special team’s unit in second place.

“This was the fifth Top 5 finish for the Saints and their coach Darren Rizzi in the last six seasons,” Gosselin stated. “New Orleans finished in the Top 10 in 13 categories, either leading or sharing the lead in five of them and ending in second in two others. In addition to leading the league in punt coverage yards allowed (a magnificent 5.6 yards), New Orleans also blocked two punts.”

This season, the Saints bravely decided to start rookies at both of their kicking spots, and they were rewarded when both of them helped the special team’s unit return to its typical caliber. Blake Grupe, the team’s top scorer with 130 points, broke the rookie record for the Saints with 30 field goals at the end of the season. Punter Lou Hedley played a vital role in the league low 5.6 yards return yards per punt and also ended tied for eighth in the NFL with 31 punts downed inside the opponent 20-yard line.

The special team’s unit was also bolstered by wide receiver/return specialist Rashid Shaheed who finished the season as the Associated Press First Team All-Pro punt returner as well as being named to the NFC Pro Bowl team as a returner in his second NFL season. The Saints finished the 2022 season ranked 20th in Gosselin’s rankings, a far cry from their typical top five finishes.