LATEST: Former New Orleans Saints, Jahri Evans fails to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame

Jahri Evans, renowned for his stellar performances as a right guard during his tenure with the New Orleans Saints, demonstrated his prowess over four seasons before earning recognition as an All-Pro for an impressive five consecutive years and securing Pro Bowl selections for six straight seasons. As a distinguished member of the Saints Hall of Fame and a prominent figure in the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team, Evans now awaits his eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which will require a minimum of three years following his retirement.

Despite being a finalist for the second consecutive year, Evans fell short in the voting for induction into this year’s Hall of Fame class, alongside cornerback Eric Allen, who spent three of his 14 years in the NFL with the Saints from 1995 to 1997. Both were among the 15 modern-era finalists considered for the Class of 2024.

During his tenure with the Saints from 2006 to 2016, Evans played a pivotal role in the team’s success, including their Super Bowl XLIV victory. As the second-most decorated offensive lineman in franchise history, trailing only Hall of Fame tackle Willie Roaf, Evans accumulated numerous accolades, including five All-Pro selections, four of which were first-team honors from 2009 to 2012, and six Pro Bowl appearances.

Roaf, a fellow Saints Hall of Famer and member of multiple All-Decade Teams, enjoyed a decorated career, earning All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl selections both in New Orleans and with the Kansas City Chiefs. Like Evans, Roaf has been recognized for his significant contributions to the Saints organization and was inducted into the Saints Ring of Honor.

Selected in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft from Bloomsburg University, Evans started every game of his remarkable 183-game career, which included a brief stint with the Green Bay Packers in 2017. Notably, he started all but two regular-season games during his 11 seasons with the Saints and played in all 10 playoff games during his tenure with the team.

Following his illustrious playing career, Evans transitioned to coaching, joining the Saints’ staff as a training camp intern in 2022 before assuming a full-time role as an offensive assistant in 2023, further cementing his legacy within the organization.