Khalen Saunders, the New Orleans Saints’ defensive lineman, is often self-deprecating when he says that he has the least musical talent in his family. His elder brother Kameron, a professional dancer, tours with pop sensation Taylor Swift. His other relatives and siblings are also very active in the industry. They hold various positions, such as Minister of music for AME Churches St. Louis or other roles.
Game Highlights – Saunders’ Show Stopper
Saunders, former Kansas City Chiefs (2019-2022), stole all the attention when he intercepted Patrick Mahomes’ pass in the third quarter. Saunders intercepted a pass intended for wide-receiver JuJu Smith Schuster. He then ran 36 yards out of the zone before being tackled.
Saunders replied modestly:
“I just tried to keep them from the end zone.”
That’s what [Dennis Allen] always preaches – defend every blade of grass. That was all I thought. “They say good things will happen if you’re at the ball. I was just there.”
Impressive Stats: Next Generation Stats Recognition
Saunders’ extraordinary performance was not overlooked. Saunders weighed 324 pounds and clocked 15.79 miles per hours on his return. This impressive speed places him third among ball carriers of his size in 2016. The Saints’ win probabilities increased from 5.1% to 15.0% after the interception.
Saunders has been an athlete since his high school days, when he was a runningback. He gained internet fame by demonstrating his backflip abilities in 2019. In his college biography, he mentions his interest in piano and tumbling. In the previous year he played occasionally on offense for the Saints as a wingback in goal line packages.
Saunders expressed his admiration for Mahomes as he reflected on the stunning interception he made, but also expressed his happiness that a rare mistake by the quarterback had been capitalized on.
Saunders said:
“Being at the receiving end was a special experience for me.”
