Saints Rookie Linebacker with 36 Tackles Earns Starting Spot – Kellen Moore Calls Him a “Tackling Machine” Ready to Prove New Orleans’ Worth

Rookie linebacker talent with 36 tackles – likened by head coach Kellen Moore to a “tackling machine” – promoted to the starting lineup: “It’s time to show them my power and prove that the Saints are always worthy.”

October 25, 2025 | Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

A new wave of energy is running through the New Orleans Saints defense. After weeks of steady progress and eye-catching performances, rookie linebacker Danny Stutsman — dubbed the team’s emerging “tackling machine” — is reportedly in line to make his first career start this weekend, marking a major step in his young NFL journey.

In just a few short weeks since his debut, Stutsman has made an immediate impact with 36 total tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 interception — the best start by a Saints defensive rookie in over a decade. In the matchup against the Chicago Bears, he ranked second on the team in run-defense tackles (6), trailing only captain Demario Davis (8) — an impressive mark for a player who has only entered games as a rotational substitute across his first four appearances.

Sources within the Saints organization indicate that head coach Kellen Moore is seriously considering giving Stutsman the starting nod, especially as Pete Werner continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

“He plays fearless football,” Moore said. “Danny brings the kind of energy our defense needs — disciplined, intense, and ready for every challenge. He’s earned the right to be in that conversation.”

Stutsman, a former defensive captain at Oklahoma, led the Big 12 in tackles for two consecutive seasons (with over 200 combined in just 24 games). He’s also been open about his admiration for Jonathan Vilma, the legendary linebacker who helped lead the Saints to their 2009 Super Bowl title.

“I grew up watching Jonathan Vilma dominate games — he was everything you’d want in a leader,” Stutsman said. “Being mentioned alongside him is an honor, but now it’s time to write my own story.”

Inside the locker room, teammates describe Stutsman as a natural leader — the kind of player who shows up early, stays late, and never shies away from physical battles on the practice field.

“It’s time,” Stutsman said after Friday’s walkthrough. “I’ve waited for this, I’ve worked for this. If that opportunity comes, I’ll take it — and help this team prove that the Saints will always deserve respect.”

If he does get the call to start this weekend, all eyes at Caesars Superdome will be on No. 28 — the rookie who could mark the beginning of a new defensive chapter in New Orleans, and perhaps the next name in the proud linebacker legacy once defined by Jonathan Vilma.