The New York Jets have made a significant move to strengthen their struggling defence, confirming the signing of two-time Super Bowl champion Khalen Saunders.
The defensive lineman, recently released by the Jacksonville Jaguars, had become a free agent and was available to any team after clearing waivers.
From Cryptic Post to Jets Deal
Saunders' arrival in New York comes after a period of speculation that nearly saw him return to his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs. The rumours ignited last week when Saunders posted a cryptic message on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating: 'Boy i forgot how cold air felt omg'.
Fans quickly interpreted this as a hint that he was in Kansas City, leading to widespread belief a Chiefs reunion was imminent. However, Saunders addressed the speculation directly ten hours later with a follow-up post that read: 'Sorry yall, i tried. If only the fans were the front office. Maybe one day tho who knows.'
A Career Forged in Championship Success
Khalen Saunders is no stranger to success, having spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2019 to 2022. During his tenure, he appeared in 38 regular-season games and was part of the squad that secured Super Bowl victories.
His journey then took him to the New Orleans Saints in 2023, where he signed a three-year contract worth up to $14.5 million. His path continued to the Jacksonville Jaguars during 2025 training camp, but he was let go by the franchise after the trade deadline, making him a free agent prior to his Jets signing.
To celebrate his new chapter with the Jets, Saunders took to X on Monday with a distinctively New York flavour, posting: 'Now somebody get me a chopped cheese and a bev. Da ocky way'.
Family Ties to Pop Stardom
Beyond the gridiron, Saunders boasts a unique family connection to the world of pop music. He is the brother of Kameron Saunders, one of Taylor Swift's primary backup dancers on her record-breaking 'Eras Tour'.
Kameron has gained significant social media fame for his improvised ad-libs during Swift's performance of her hit song 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together'.
The signing represents a strategic acquisition for the Jets as they seek to stabilise their interior defensive line following a challenging start to the season, while Chiefs fans are left to wonder what might have been.
