New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead has seen a lot in his career, which started 10 years ago when he was a rookie asked to make the most daring play in Super Bowl history — “Ambush,” a surprise onside kick to begin the second half of Super Bowl XLIV.
Since then, Morstead has gone on to perform as one of the best punters in the game, giving the Saints a real asset on special teams and often pinning opposing offenses up against their own goal-line. Off of the field, he’s devoted himself to charitable efforts and getting involved in the New Orleans community, and raising his young family with his wife. At 33, he’s one of the respected voices in the Saints locker room with as even-keeled a perspective as anyone.
So it makes sense to seek him out for his thoughts on where the Saints go after two heartbreaking playoffs exits in as many years. Despite winning 26 of their last 36 games, the Saints are sometimes painted as a team struck by bad luck with the “Minnesota Miracle” in 2017 and the NFC championship game no-call in 2018. But for Morstead, it’s all about keeping your chin up and looking forward.
“You can’t rest on what you were, for what you want to be,” Morstead said to Garland Gillen of FOX 8 New Orleans. “As a team we have to go out and earn what we want to be this year. New team, new group, you don’t pick up where you left off.”
He has a point. The Saints may have been the top playoffs seed last year, but they’ve got to start from scratch just like every other team in 2019. With measured voices like Morstead’s in the locker room, they should be well-prepared to handle any more adversity that comes their way.
