The NFL announced today that New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month.
Young recorded 19 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, two fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown, and a forced fumble in the months of December and January. Young became the third player since 2000 to record at least 15 tackles, five sacks, two fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown, in the last five games of a season. Young was one of four players to record at least five sacks over the last five weeks of the season.
This marks the first time that Young has won the conference honor since the last month of his rookie campaign in 2020, and he is the first Saints player to win Player of the Month honors since Blake Gillikin (October 2021) and the first Defensive Player of the Month since Cam Jordan (November 2020).
After missing the first 5 games due to a calf injury, Young returned in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2025, he recorded 38 tackles (22 solo), a career-high ten sacks, a career-high 11 stops for a loss, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries (Tied for first in the NFL) through 12 games starting.
