This college football offseason has seen many familiar faces say farewell to the city of New Orleans. Besides quarterback Tanner Lee, perhaps the most noteworthy of those departures was former head coach Curtis Johnson.Before becoming a member of the Green Wave in 2012, Johnson was an assistant with the New Orleans Saints in the NFL, so seeing him leave must weigh a little heavier on the hearts of Louisianans.
With the recent announcement that Johnson had been hired again in the NFL, this time as a receivers coach with the Chicago Bears, Tulane fans must’ve thought about other Green Wave personnel that now find themselves on football’s grandest stage.
Kicker Cairo Santos spent his college career with Tulane before joining the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014. In his first two seasons with the Chiefs, Santos racked up 55 field goals and helped kick Kansas City to the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs this past January. Although not a Super Bowl champion (yet) Santos scored 129 points in 2015 (sixth in the NFL). Whatever comes next for the young, undrafted kicker, Tulane fans can watch knowing it all began in the Big Easy.
Another big Tulane football name that’s recently made a splash in the news is former Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte. Forte’s free agency status has the NFL world buzzing and, while most may think of his two pro bowls and NFL record for receptions by a running back in 2014, many overlook Forte’s start with the Wave. He left his mark on the university by setting several school records while rushing for over 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns.
During his time with Bears, he has helped guide them to the playoffs once en route to a trip to the NFC title game in 2010. While Forte’s future is currently a large question mark, his time with Tulane and Chicago certainly won’t be forgotten.
Wide receiver Ryan Grant was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 2014 NFL Draft and played his college ball with the Green Wave as well. Grant’s first professional touchdowns came just this last year as he helped propel the Redskins to the playoffs. He has been a solid player for the ‘Skins over the last two seasons and, although he hasn’t put up any phenomenal numbers yet, Grant is currently in the midst of a four-year contract that will undoubtedly see the two-time All-Conference-USA athlete do some very special things for Washington.
It must do the New Orleans faithful good to see alumni from their beloved Green Wave succeeding in the NFL (even if it does come at the despair of the Saints from time to time). They can watch knowing that these were once kids they came out every Saturday to see; young men who provided a spark to an often-overlooked college team.
Just as the Matt Fortes and Ryan Grants once strapped on cleats for the green and white, these current Green Wave athletes will do the same and maybe someday, a few of them will get to look down from their NFL perch and know it all started on the field in Tulane.
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