Saints release longtime special teams ace J.T. Gray

The New Orleans Saints released longtime special teams ace J.T. Gray on Monday, the team announced, a surprising move less than a week before the Saints open their season at home. The decision, disclosed during an afternoon press conference by head coach Kellen Moore and first reported on social media by beat reporter Nick Underhill, ends Gray's seven-year run with the franchise.

Moore described the cut as one of the hardest decisions he has made since arriving in New Orleans and thanked Gray for his leadership and professionalism. On behalf of the organization, Moore said the club was grateful for Gray's contributions on and off the field and wished him and his family the best moving forward. The team also announced it had signed defensive tackle Coziah Izzard to the practice squad.

Gray joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and became a fixture on special teams, serving as a captain for four seasons. He was named first-team All-Pro in 2021 and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2019 and 2024. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021. The 29-year-old played predominantly on special teams last season, taking roughly 84.3 percent of those snaps, according to reports.