Martin Emerson Jr. came on in relief and played the hero in the Saints' 34-27 win over the Giants, and the NFL took notice.
The Saints CB was named the NFC's Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts, which included 7 tackles, a pair of interceptions and four passes defensed. His performance helped the Saints jump out to 34-10 lead before the Giants made a furious rally to trim the margin.
"Every time they throw the ball, I want to come down with it," Emerson said after the game. "[Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley] was preaching all week that the secondary had to step up and have that ballhawking mentaity and get the ball back for our offense, impact the game. I’m happy that we did that.”
Emerson's stat line is made all the more impressive considering he didn't start the game, but played the entire second half after Kool-Aid McKinstry was removed from the game due to what the team described as a migraine. Emerson, a free agent acquisition this offseason, has rotated in for drives throughout the season to this point and also forced a fumble against the Vikings that was returned by Jonas Sanker for a touchdown.
A native of Pensacola, Florida, Emerson grew up a Saints fan and signed with New Orleans after spending his first four seasons with the Browns. He worked back from a torn Achilles that ended his 2025 season before it began and fought his way onto the Saints roster with a strong finish to the preseason.
“Playing corner in this league you’ve got to play phyiscal. … You’re just getting involved in the plays and just proud of him," head coach Kellen Moore said, "because he’s had to navigate an injury, rotation, you know, and you’re trying to find your groove, so to speak, and I thought he took advantage of those opportunities.”
Emerson is the first Saints player to win a weekly award since Kool-Aid McKinstry earned that honor in Week 5 of last year, also in a victory over the Giants when he hauled in a pair of interceptions.
