The NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 countdown launched today with a name Saints fans know by heart. New Orleans defensive end Cameron Jordan landed at No. 100 on the player-voted list, kicking off the annual reveal produced by NFL Films.
The drop hit X this evening and came with a crisp highlight package that showed exactly why Jordan still belongs. In the clip, the 6-foot-4, 287-pound edge rusher explodes off the line, collapses the pocket, and finishes the play with his trademark violence. An opposing voice cuts in: “I think, you know, he got two sacks against us that week.” No fluff. Just respect.
Jordan returns to the list for the first time since 2023. At 36, he is not hanging on. He is still producing.
A resurgent 2025 that demanded attention
Last season Jordan posted 10.5 sacks, 47 tackles, and two forced fumbles across 17 games. It marked his seventh career double-digit sack campaign and pushed his franchise record to 132 sacks, good for 17th on the NFL’s all-time list.
What stood out was not just the numbers. It was the way he won. Reduced snaps in prior years had some wondering if the peak had passed. Jordan answered by staying on the field every week, winning with technique, hand usage, and football IQ rather than pure athleticism. Quarterbacks still feel him coming. Coordinators still have to account for him on third down.
No. 100 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026…@Saints DE Cameron Jordan! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/sJD3vujJgh
— NFL (@NFL) June 22, 2026
The player vote carries extra weight here. Current NFL players watch the film. They know who creates real problems. Jordan’s peers put him back in the top 100 because the production and the respect remain.
What the ranking signals for Jordan and the Saints
This nod is more than a participation trophy. It is proof that longevity at the highest level still gets recognized when the work shows up on tape. Jordan has built a career on consistency, durability, and leadership. He rarely misses games. He sets the tone in the locker room. Younger linemen watch how he prepares and how he finishes.
For the Saints heading into 2026, the timing matters. A veteran who can still win one-on-one matchups and mentor the next wave gives the defense a foundation. Jordan is not just chasing quarterbacks anymore. He is chasing history while helping the team stay competitive.
The clip NFL Films chose for the reveal captured the essence. It was not about one spectacular play. It was about the sustained pressure that wears on offenses week after week. That is the Jordan effect.
The countdown rolls on
The Top 100 series continues with short-form episodes dropping weekdays on X, moving through the rest of the list in the coming weeks. Today’s reveal set a strong tone. It reminded everyone that the list is not just about highlight-reel rookies or MVP quarterbacks. It also honors the players who have earned their place through years of elite performance.
Jordan has done that in New Orleans for more than a decade. The No. 100 spot is a fitting way to open the conversation for 2026.
Saints fans already knew. Now the rest of the league has the latest reminder.