NFL CAREER – Selected by the Saints in the second round (60th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft, Pete Werner has become a mainstay in the New Orleans defense, appearing in 43 games with 35 starts, posting 231 tackles (151 solo), four passes defensed, one interception and two forced fumbles. Werner is coming off his most statistically productive campaign in year three, posting a career-high 93 tackles (career-high 60 solo) and tying for the team lead with his first two fumble recoveries, while starting all 16 games he appeared in. Werner will continue to provide stability for the defensive unit.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to a four-year contract, 6/8/21; Selected by Saints in the second round (60th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.
2023 – Started all 16 games he played in at WLB, posting career-best 93 tackles (career-high 60 solo), one interception, two fumble recoveries (tied for team lead) and two passes defensed…Recorded eight tackles (three solo) and a half-sack in the season-opening win vs Tennessee, Sept. 10…Posted a season-best 11 stops (seven solo) at Green Bay, Sept. 24. Performance marked the seventh double-digit tackle game of his career…Vs Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, added eight tackles (five solo)…Recorded first career interception, three tackles, and one pass defense in shutout victory at New England, Oct. 8…In win vs Chicago, Nov. 5, had a key fumble recovery to seal the game in fourth quarter, adding three solo tackles…At Atlanta, Nov. 26, recorded eight tackles (seven solo)…Recorded two solo stops and one fumble recovery vs Carolina, Dec. 10…Posted five tackles (two solo), including season-high two stops for loss at L.A. Rams, Dec. 21…Added nine tackles (season-best eight solo) and a stop for loss in win at Tampa Bay, Dec. 31…In finale win vs Atlanta, 1/7/24, posted four stops (two solo). 2022 – Played in 12 games with 11 starts (did not open finale) at WLB, recording 79 tackles, (55 solo), three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a special teams stop, as New Orleans ranked fifth in total defense. Despite missing five contests, ranked third on the team in tackles…In opening win at Atlanta, Sept. 11, started and played on special teams and tallied 12 tackles (career-high 11 solo), a stop for loss, his first-career forced fumble and one coverage stop…Vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 18, recorded eight tackles (six solo) and one pass defense…At Carolina, Sept. 25, led the team with ten tackles (six solo)…Vs. Seattle, Oct. 9, posted seven tackles (four solo) and one forced fumble on the first play from scrimmage of the third quarter…At Arizona, Oct. 20, led team with seven tackles (three solo), two stops for loss and a pass breakup…Vs. Las Vegas, Oct. 30, led team with 11 tackles (seven solo), including a stop on the last play of the contest at the Saints four-yard line to preserve a 24-0 shutout win, adding one pass defense. Third double-digit tackle total of 2022…Vs. Atlanta, Dec. 18, returned after missing four games (ankle) and had with four tackles (three solo)…At Cleveland, Dec. 24, inactive (hamstring)…At Philadelphia, 1/1/23, started and saw action on special teams, downing a punt at the Eagles four-yard line…Vs. Carolina, 1/8/23, recorded two assisted tackles. 2021 – Played in 15 games with eight starts at WLB, posting 59 tackles (37 solo) and three special teams stops…In opening win vs. Green Bay (played in Jacksonville, Fla. due to Hurricane Ida), Sept. 12, made debut on special teams…Inactive (hamstring) at Carolina, Sept. 19…At New England, Sept. 26, made first career NFL start and also played on special teams, finishing with two defensive tackles (one solo)…Started and had ten tackles (six solo) with a quarterback hit, vs. N.Y. Giants, Oct. 3...At Washington, Oct. 10, started and led the team with career-high 13 tackles (eight solo)…Started and recorded six tackles (five solo), at Seattle, Oct. 25…Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 31, started and recorded four tackles (three solo) with a stop for loss…Rotated at WLB and on special teams, recorded two tackles (one solo) with a stop for loss and recorded two assisted coverage stops, vs. Atlanta, Nov. 7…Rotated in at WLB and on special teams and finished with a solo tackle and a coverage stop, at Tampa Bay, Dec. 19…Vs. Miami. Dec. 27, Started and led Saints defense with ten tackles…Rotated at WLB and special teams and finished with two tackles (one solo), vs. Carolina, 1/2/22.
COLLEGE – As senior, voted by Big Ten coaches as first-team All-Conference and also was a Butkus Award semifinalist, starting all eight games during an abbreviated Big Ten season, recording 54 tackles (28 solo), 2.5 stops for loss, a sack, two forced fumbles and one pass defense as the Buckeyes reached the College Football Playoff championship game…In 2019, started all 14 games for CFP semifinalists and second on Buckeyes with 64 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss for -11 yards, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten…As sophomore, started 13 of 14 games for Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion Buckeyes and recorded 58 tackles (38 solo), a career-high 7.5 stops for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and seven passes defensed…Lettered as true freshman, playing in 11 games and contributing nine tackles, most on special teams…Real estate and urban analysis major and was three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
PERSONAL – Rivals, 247Sports and Scout four-star prospect as a standout OLB at Indianapolis Cathedral HS…Ranked among the Top 300 players nationally by both Scout and 247Sports and among the Top 20 outside linebackers…A first-team Associated Press Class 6A all-state pick as a senior for a team that went 7-5 and advanced to the regional finals…Missed three games due to injury, but recorded 64 tackles, including 17 stops for loss and eight sacks…Finished third for Indianapolis Star Mr. Football honors and earned the Star's state's top linebacker award…Rated No. 1 OLB in Midwest by Scout and PrepStar all-Midwest region honoree…Father, Greg, starred in both football and baseball at DePauw University, is a member of its Athletics Hall of Fame, played two years in the NFL with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles and has an orthodontist practice…Older brother, Dan, played football at Harvard from 2016-18…In October, 2023 Werner and several of his Saints teammates joined Ochsner oncology patients and their supporters for a dinner at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center…Provided moral support to New Orleans area military in the Saints/Dudley DeBosier Battle of the Branches seven-on-seven Flag Football Tournament in 2022 and 2023 for Salute to Service Month at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Military members from the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy formed teams that competed in a round-robin tournament, while also engaging in individual and team challenges like Tug-A-War, 40 Yard Dash, Long Ball Throw, Pushup Challenge, and Field Goal Kicking…Team nominee for 2023 NFL Salute to Service Award which recognizes players, coaches, staff, and alumni with commitment to honoring and supporting military and veteran communities…Participated in NFL's My Cause, My Cleats initiative to promote the Uniform Funding Foundation (TUFF), which serves thousands of youth athletes through uniform donations, college enrichment tours, skills camps…Participated in 2023 and 2024 Zurich Classic Celebrity Shootout for Charity, winning 10,000 dollars as a member of the winning team in both years, which he has donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Louisiana…Annual participant in the Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournaments at Chateau Country Club and on the Mississippi Coast…Wants to become involved in commercial real estate after his playing career.
