Cameron Jordan
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive End | California | 14 |
EXCELLENCE ON THE FIELD
Cameron Jordan was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft as the 24th overall pick. In 2023, after battling an ankle injury suffered in the middle of the season, Jordan still managed to start all 17 games, registering 43 tackles (20 solo), two sacks, three tackles for loss, three passes defensed, and a fumble recovery. Jordan has been selected to eight Pro Bowls, the most for a defensive player in club history and second overall. He now has a franchise-record 118.5 career sacks. The nine-time defensive captain is the first defensive lineman in team record books and second Saint overall to record at least 7.5 sacks in nine different seasons, the only to do so in 11 straight campaigns, and just the fourth player in franchise history to record at least six seasons with double-digit sack totals. At the start of the 2024 season, the explosive and physical defensive end registered multiple sacks in a game (1.5 or more) 27 times in his career and was one of only three defensive linemen to register at least 60 passes defensed since coming into the league. Jordan has posted career totals of almost 800 stops, three interceptions, 64 passes defensed, 15 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries and one blocked kick. In 11 career postseason games, Jordan tallied 42 tackles (32 solo), 5.5 sacks and five passes defensed, and is the club's all-time leader in quarterback takedowns in the playoffs. At the beginning of the 2024 season, Jordan's regular season games played was tied for 33rd all-time among NFL defensive linemen and he is the second Saint to ever appear in at least 200 games.
DEMONSTRATES POSITIVE CHARACTER & MODELS A LIFESTYLE OF GIVING BACK
As the Saints Man of the Year nominee in 2017 and 2021, Cameron's mantra shared with anyone he encounters has remained the same and is centered on challenging himself and encouraging others to be 1% better every day in every facet of their lives. "consistency" refers to a steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, and form – and this is the nucleus of his character and committed efforts as a servant leader. Cameron's passion to engage in charitable endeavors is innate as he credits the examples shown by and what has been instilled in him by his parents, while giving all praises to God for being able to provide support to those in need. His focus (and self-stated duty) is simply to do his part to "move the needle" towards improvement and aid where he can for the betterment of our society. As a seasoned veteran, Cameron strives to set the tone and motivate his younger teammates and others along a paralleled philanthropic path. He embraces the opportunity to assist the community by rising to meet its needs and provide a boost, with an infectious personality that easily leads to a genuine connection where each person he encounters feels like they're family because to him, they are family. Community members don't see him as "Cam Jordan with the Saints," but rather "my guy Cam".
DEDICATION & COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY EFFORTS
THIS YEAR
Whether encouraging the importance of education, safe and healthy lifestyles, mentorship, addressing food insecurity, or simply creating a fun and memorable moment, Cameron keenly understands the critical need of being present in the lives of our youth as he continues to inspire change with targeted efforts toward their comprehensive development. He understands the need of equipping the next generation with the proper guidance and resources to become well-rounded, exceptional contributors to society. His annual summer camp hosted hundreds of boys and girls from multiple parishes and organizations with messaging centered on three principles – character, courage, and confidence – and the importance of both physical fitness and proper nutrition. Cameron continues to participate in team Play Football Experience camps and Play 60 Pop-Ins during recess at local schools. Supporting safe and healthy play in sports, he donated Guardian Caps to a local high school football team and participated in high school cancer awareness rallies during Crucial Catch month as well. Cameron visits local elementary schools every week stressing the importance of literacy and earning a good education, maintaining good character, and striving to improve in some way every day, while sharing his personal school experiences. This year, he will donate $10,000 to each school (almost 20 in total) to support its respective needs. He launched The Cam Jordan Foundation with a fundraising event to fund his newly formed scholarship program which will provide individual financial support to high school students as they prepare to enter college. Understanding the need to address food insecurities, he provided post-practice meals to local high school football players, supported the Annual Saints Players Turkey Giveaway, and will also provide hundreds of families with a turkey and boxes of non-perishable food items for Thanksgiving in partnership with a local food bank. As a Super Bowl LIX Host Committee Champion, Cameron shared the importance of proper nutrition with students as part of the Super School Meals Kickoff Celebration and will be participating in STEM events at local schools and other Community Champion related events. Cameron feels as though sharing life experiences and advice during mentorship moments with youth at elementary schools, high schools, and juvenile detention centers is key to their understanding that perfection is not necessary, but the consistent attempt to learn, grow, and improve is most essential. With his support of the re-launch of Big Brother, Big Sisters in New Orleans, he is excited to further lean into his vocation of mentorship and will continue engagements with Youth Empowerment Project as well. Continuing to support teammates' charitable events and club-related efforts alike, he will also participate in the "My Cause, My Cleats" campaign once again while also preparing to host exciting Christmas holiday giveaways.
IN YEARS PAST
Every moment deserves to be mentioned, but mere categories of previous community efforts include: mentorship programming and regular engagement and support with students at local schools, as well as youth who are part of after-school programs, like Youth Empowerment Project and Boys & Girls Club; served as the ambassador for the Saints Kids Club and the local Dairy Council's program; hosted countless shopping sprees (for families in need, students for back-to-school supplies/uniforms/necessities, and domestic violence victims), annual school backpack giveaways, as well as bike and toy giveaways (with local Marines); participated in multiple NFL-USO tours overseas; engagement with local military; hospital visits; home rebuilds and refurbishment projects; fellow player and team/organization event support; Listen & Learn events in support of criminal justice reform; movie nights for local youth; Christmas holiday events and shoe giveaways; continuous support to various community endeavors through his charitable foundation; and innumerable random acts of kindness. Specific efforts to highlight include his support during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he raised $20,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank, donated over a thousand hot meals to food-insecure residents, and provided transitional housing for residents facing evictions. He also supported a captain-led campaign that aided residents who received services from United Way and raised $50,000 to support the Greater New Orleans Foundation through a promotion to tally in-game sacks for funds. He provided opportunities for young adults to join the workforce as youth sports coaches with The 18th Ward. Cameron also remains aware of societal needs to equip police officers with leadership development and community engagement training so that they can work alongside citizens to build a more just, safe, and inclusive city through his sponsorship of Crescent City Corps and the New Orleans Police Department.