Jahri Evans
COLLEGE: Bloomsburg
POSITION: Guard
BORN: August 12, 1983 in Philadelphia, Pa.
JOINED SAINTS: 2006
YEARS WITH SAINTS: 2006-2016
Jahri Evans' Career Background
Originally a fourth-round pick (108th overall) in 2006 out of Bloomsburg, Evans was voted to the Pro Bowl six times and was widely regarded as among the NFL's top offensive linemen, with the Saints finishing in the top 10 offensively in each of his 11 seasons, leading the league six times. From Evans' first Pro Bowl selection in 2009 through the end of his playing career after the 2017 campaign, no guard was selected to as many Pro Bowls and Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle Joe Thomas was the only offensive lineman to have been selected more (eight) to the league's all-star game. A powerful run blocker and polished in pass protection, Evans started all 169 games he appeared in for the Saints at right guard, ranked 12th on the club's all-time games played list. Evans' 169 games played as a Saint were the second-most games played by a Saints offensive lineman, behind only Stan Brock (186). During his final season in 2017, Evans signed with the Green Bay Packers, where he started all 14 games he appeared in at right guard and finished with 183 total career appearances, all starts. After serving a coaching internship in 2022 with the offensive line, in 2023, Evans will start his career as a full-time assistant coach on the Saints staff.
HONORS – 2024: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Finalist 2023: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Semifinalist; 2022: Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame; 2021: New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame; 2020: NFL 2010's All-Decade Team (Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors); 2016: Saints All-50th Team; 2014: Pro Bowl; 2013: Pro Bowl, Associated Press second-team All-Pro, USA Football All-Fundamentals Team; 2012: Pro Bowl (starter), AP first-team All-Pro; 2011: Pro Bowl (starter), AP first-team All-Pro; PFWA/Pro Football Weekly All-NFL and All-NFC; The Sporting News All-Pro; Madden Most Valuable Protectors of the Year (Offensive Line Award); Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award (Week Nine, Offensive Line); 2010: Pro Bowl (starter), AP first-team All-Pro; PFWA/Pro Football Weekly All-NFL and All-NFC; The Sporting News All-Pro, 100 Greatest Players (No. 42); Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award (Week Six, Offensive Line). 2009: Pro Bowl (starter), AP first-team All-Pro; PFWA/Pro Football Weekly All-NFL; The Sporting News All-Pro; Sports Illustrated (Peter King) All-Pro; Madden Most Valuable Protectors of the Year (Offensive Line Award); 2006: PFWA/Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie; Dallas Morning News All-Rookie.
2017 – Started all 14 games he appeared in at RG for the Green Bay Packers…At Dallas, Oct. 8, blocked for RB Aaron Jones who rushed for 125 yards…Vs. New Orleans, Oct. 22, blocked for Jones who rushed for 131 yards…At Pittsburgh, Nov. 26, blocked for QB Brett Hundley who passed for 245 yards and three touchdowns with a 134.3 passer rating…Vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 3, blocked for RB Jamaal Williams, who rushed for 113 yards and one TD
2016 – Made all 16 starts at RG for the NFL's top-ranked offense...In opener vs. Oakland, Sept. 11 and blocked for an offense that gained 507 total net yards…Vs. Carolina, Oct. 16, blocking for an offense that gained 523 total net yards and surrendered one sack…Vs. Seattle, Oct. 30, blocking for RB Tim Hightower, who rushed for 102 yards…At San Francisco, Nov. 6, blocked for an offense that gained a season-high 571 total net yards, including 248 on the ground, the 10th-highest single-game rushing total in team history at the time, 158 coming from RB Mark Ingram…Vs. Los Angeles Rams, Nov. 27, blocked for an offense that gained 555 total net yards, including 209 on the ground…At Arizona, Dec. 18, blocked for an offense that gained 488 total net yards, including 130 rushing...Vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 24, blocked for an offense that gained 123 yards on the ground.
2015 – Started 11-of-16 games at RG on the season, missing five games throughout the season with knee and ankle injuries…In the team's season opener at Arizona, Sept. 13, blocked for an offense that gained 408 total net yards…Inactive at Carolina, Sept. 27, vs. Dallas, Oct. 4, and at Philadelphia, Oct. 11…Vs. New YOrk Giants, Nov. 1, blocking for a unit that gained 608 total net yards and didn't surrender a sack…Declared inactive vs. Carolina, Dec. 6, and at Tampa Bay, Dec. 13, with an ankle injury…Started vs. Jacksonville, Dec. 27, playing in his 152nd career game, moving past G/T Jim Dombrowski for sole possession of 10th place on the club's all-time games played list. Blocked for a unit that gained 537 total net yards and surrendered only one sack…In the team's season finale at Atlanta, 1/3/16, blocked for a unit that gained 323 net yards passing and didn't surrender a sack.
2014 – Earned sixth-consecutive Pro Bowl nod after starting all 16 games, blocking for the NFL's top-ranked offense (411.4 ypg.) and helping QB Drew Brees capture league's passing yardage crown (tied for first) for the fifth time since 2006. Pro Bowl selections second among Saints offensive linemen behind Pro Football Hall of Fame T William Roaf (7) and tied for third in overall team history at the time with K Morten Andersen and LB Ricky Jackson, behind Brees (9) and Roaf…Blocked for an offense that totaled 443 total net yards, protecting Brees, who completed 80.6% of his passes (29-of-36) for 375 yards and three touchdowns in Monday Night Football victory at Chicago, Dec. 15…Helped protect Brees, who completed 19-of-27 passes (70.4%) for 257 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions at Pittsburgh, Nov. 30…Helped protect Brees, who threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns and blocked for Ingram, who rushed for a career-high 172 yards vs. Green Bay, Oct. 26.
2013 – Started 14 regular season games and both postseason contests. Was named an Associated Press second-team All-Pro and voted to Pro Bowl for fifth consecutive season. Evans and Ben Grubbs were the second Saints guard tandem selected to the Pro Bowl (Evans/Carl Nicks, 2010-11). Blocked for an offense ranked fourth in the NFL (399.4 ypg.)…Dressed, but did not play in Week 3 vs. Arizona, Sept. 22, breaking a streak of 114 consecutive starts to open career, the longest by a Saint and second-longest games started streak in club history at the time…Inactive (ankle) at Atlanta, Nov. 21…Vs. Dallas, Nov. 10, blocked for an offense that set an NFL record with 40 first downs and a team record with 625 total net yards.
2012 – Started all 16 games for seventh consecutive season…Consensus first-team All-Pro and voted to Pro Bowl as starter for fourth straight year.…Part of an offensive line that gave up only 26 sacks, tied for third fewest in the NFL, giving up only 11 takedowns in the last eight games…Blocked for an offense that finished ranked second in the NFL in net yards per game (410.9) and third in points scored (461).
2011 – Started all 16 regular season games for sixth consecutive season and both playoff contests…Named a consensus first-team All-Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl as starter for third straight year…Part of an offensive line that relinquished only 24 sacks during the 2011 season, tied for second-fewest in the NFL, giving up only five in the last eight games…Blocked for an offense that set what was a NFL single-season record with 7,474 yards, capturing Madden Protectors Award for the second time in three years, in recognition of the line's performance…An integral part of a line that helped the Saints finish with a team-record 547 points.
2010 – Started all 16 regular season games for the fifth consecutive season and NFC Wild Card Playoff at Seattle…Part of one of only two NFL offensive lines to start all 16 regular season games…Consensus first-team All-Pro, and voted to Pro Bowl as starter for second straight year…Evans and Nicks were the first Saints guard duo to be selected to the Pro Bowl in club record books…Evans' run and pass blocking helped Saints average 372.5 yards per game, NFL's sixth-highest figure…Part of a line that surrendered only 26 sacks, fifth-lowest in the league.
2009 – Started all 16 regular season games and all three postseason contests…Unanimous first-team All-Pro selection, and voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time…The Saints also had 348 first downs and gained an NFL-best 6,461 yards, at that time both the second-highest totals in the club's history…The line's blocking for the NFL's sixth-ranked rushing offense enabled the Saints to set a team record averaging 4.5 yards per carry, league's seventh-highest total…Key part of a unit that allowed 20 sacks, fourth-least in the league. In three postseason contests, the front only allowed Brees to be dropped for a loss twice.
2008 – Part of a line that allowed a club-low 13 sacks. The blocking by Evans and the line allowed Saints to finish first in NFL with 463 points and 6,571 yards. Started all 16 games for third straight season.
2007 – Continued solid play blocking for an offense ranked third in NFL. Started all 16 games.
2006 – Evans emerged as one of the Saints offensive line's most consistent performers in training camp and was moved into the starting lineup early in the preseason. Started all 16 regular season games and both playoff contests. First Saints offensive lineman to start every game as a rookie since Roaf (1993). First Saints guard to start every game as a rookie since Edelman (1982). First Saints rookie to start all 16 games since DE Darren Howard (2000)…Recovered a fumble vs. Philadelphia, Oct. 15.
Attended Frankford (Philadelphia, Pa.) HS…In 2009, established a full Board of Governors scholarship at Bloomsburg for in-state minority students enrolled at BU's Master of Science in clinical athletic training program…Didn't play football before high school…Suffered fractured leg playing basketball before senior year and missed entire season…Concentrated on academics, ended up graduating 10th in class, and attended Bloomsburg on academic scholarship…He and his line teammates sponsored holiday bike giveaways in 2009 and 2010…Participated with teammates in the 2013 United Way Hope for the Holidays campaign to raise money to construct and rehabilitate housing for those impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Isaac…During his playing career, annually held a youth football and cheerleading camp in his hometown since 2007…In 2013, attended the NFL Franchising Boot Camp at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan…Served as a part-owner of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul franchise, currently investing in several businesses as well as co-hosting a weekly radio show…Born Aug. 22, 1983 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Jahri Evans' College Career
A finalist for the Division II Gene Upshaw Offensive Player of the Year Award in each of his final two seasons…Anchored the Bloomsburg offensive line at LT after taking over as the starter as a sophomore in 2003…As a junior in 2004, had 88 knockdowns with 10 TD-resulting blocks…A reserve in 2002 and redshirted in 2001…Is a member of Bloomsburg's Athletic Hall of Fame…Graduated with a bachelor's degree in exercise science.
Jahri Evans' Career Honors
Super Bowl champion - XLIV
1st Team All-Pro - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
2nd Team All-Pro - 2013
Pro Bowl - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
New Orleans Saints 50th Anniversary Team
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
