Khalen Saunders’ one-handed interception of Patrick Mahomes has a Taylor Swift twist

One of the vital fascinating tales through the 2019 NFL Draft season got here from Western Illinois.

The Leathernecks noticed their first participant invited to the Senior Bowl, the premier pre-draft collegiate all-star sport. That participant? Defensive lineman Khalen Saunders, who constructed a reputation for himself throughout his days on campus, and added to his legend through the pre-draft course of because of his unimaginable athleticism:

That athleticism was on show Monday evening towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the crew that drafted him within the third spherical again in 2019.

Regardless of beginning his profession with Kansas Metropolis, Saunders signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent in March of 2023.

Saunders and the remainder of the Saints took on the Chiefs on Monday Evening Soccer, and late within the third quarter, he was within the sport because the Chiefs had been knocking on the doorstep of the tip zone. Kansas Metropolis quarterback Patrick Mahomes focused JuJu Smith-Schuster on a brief throw, and the cross popped out of Smith-Schuster’s arms, and into the air.

That’s when Saunders’ athleticism took over:

Reacting to the throw Saunders broke in Smith-Schuster’s route, and snared the soccer out of the air one-handed for his first profession interception. Not content material to easily kneel down for a touchback, Saunders broke up area, flashing that athleticism on an unimaginable 37-yard return.

Right here is one other angle of the play:

Simply how athletic a play was this? In line with Subsequent Gen Stats Saunders hit a prime velocity of 15.79 miles per hour on his return, the third-fastest velocity by a ball service who weighs over 320 kilos since 2016:

Saunders’ massive second had some massive names across the sport going wild on social media.

(To Kyler Murray’s level, Saunders did play operating again in highschool).

Even when the story ended there, it will make for a storybook second, nonetheless, there may be a further layer to this play.

Saunders’ brother.

Kameron Saunders is knowledgeable dancer and choreographer, and amongst his many working credit is Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, the place he was one of many 15 backup dancers. Saunders is the solely backup dancer to have a talking function in The Eras Tour, and has turn into one thing of a fan favourite as he’ll ship one among his traces — “like ever,” when Swift sings “We Are By no means Ever Getting Again Collectively” — in both English or the native language if the tour is abroad:

Saunders additionally performed a job in one of many summer time’s most iconic moments from The Eras Tour. Through the tour’s cease in London, Swift was joined on stage by her companion — and present Chiefs tight finish — Travis Kelce.

Alongside them was Saunders:

Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty

Quick ahead to Monday evening, when the Saunders brothers had been within the constructing collectively:

That brings us to the ultimate layer of this whole weird sequence from Monday evening.

Saunders’ interception got here on 2nd and objective from the Saints’ 2-yard line. On first down, Mahomes threw a shovel cross to Kelce who was stopped simply shy of the tip zone, setting the stage for Saunders’ dramatic interception.

Who made the deal with on that play, stopping Kelce brief?

Saunders:

As knowledgeable sports activities author it’s my job to explain moments like this, however maybe J.J. Watt put it finest final evening:

Precisely.