The New Orleans Saints have signed defensive end Chris Rumph II to a one-year contract, the club announced Monday.
Rumph joins the Saints after spending his first three NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The move reunites Rumph with New Orleans defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Staley served as the Chargers head coach from 2021 through 2023, overlapping with Rumph's tenure in Los Angeles.
Rumph appeared in 37 games for the Chargers, primarily in a rotational role. He recorded 29 tackles, 3.0 sacks, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery.
Injuries affected Rumph in recent seasons. He suffered a foot fracture late in the 2023 season and missed the entire 2024 campaign after being placed on injured reserve in August.
Rumph played college football at Duke, where he earned All-ACC honors twice. His college career included 125 tackles, 34.0 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks over 36 games.
His father, also named Chris Rumph, has had a long coaching career, including stops in the NFL and currently coaching the defensive line at Clemson.
The addition of Rumph provides the Saints with a player familiar with Staley's defensive system, potentially helping others learn the playbook. He joins a defensive end group that includes Chase Young and Carl Granderson, and will compete for snaps with players like Isaiah Foskey and seventh-round draft pick Fadil Diggs.
Rumph is one of several former Chargers players the Saints have added who previously played under Staley in Los Angeles, including offensive lineman Will Clapp.
