Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry had the best game of his young career in a 26-14 win over the Giants in Week 5, and the NFL took notice.
The second-year cornerback landed the NFC's Defensive Player of the Week award for the effort, the first Saints defensive player to land the honor since Paulson Adebo in 2023.
"I thought we got premium playmaking from that entire group," Saints DC Brandon Staley said on WWL Radio this week, "and I think to do it without [Justin Reid] ... I think was really critical for our guys and a big confidence booster."
McKinstry finished the game with four tackles, two interceptions -- the first two of his career -- and another three passes defended. The effort was part of an elite larger effort that forced five turnovers on five consecutive possessions. The Giants opened the game with back-to-back touchdown drives and didn't score again for the remainder of the game, ending with a turnover on downs on their final possession.
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“I think he’s getting better each and every week, I was so fired up for him," Saints head coach Kellen Moore told WWL Radio this week. "Two interceptions, he hadn’t had an interception in the NFL yet, he had been close. Those are big-time plays. Those are big-time opportunities to make a statement, gain some confidence, gain some swagger and certainly that – I think that’s what is gonna come out of this for Kool-Aid.”
MckInstry becomes the fourth Saints defender to win the award over the past decade, along with Adebo, Marshon Lattimore (2021) and PJ Williams (2018).
He's joined by Panthers RB Rico Dowdle and 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro on the NFL side, while Texans QB CJ Stroud, Broncos LB Nik Bonnito and Titans WR Chimere Dike took down the awards on the AFC side.