Saints kicker Blake Grupe entered Sunday as the archetypical player trying to make it in the NFL preseason.
The Sedalia, Mo. native and Arkansas State graduate went undrafted, despite scoring the second-most points in the history of the Sun Belt and putting together a decent fifth season at Notre Dame. He signed with New Orleans shortly after the draft ended, despite the fact the Saints already have a Pro Bowl kicker in Wil Lutz.
Grupe, however, emerged from the Saints’ 26–24 win over the Chiefs a cult hero after drilling the winning 31-yard field goal at the buzzer.
It served as a nice consolation after Grupe, per a postgame tweet, was not recognized by team officials before or after the game.
Step 1: get questioned walking onto the field pregame for not having credentials
Step 2: hit a game winner
Step 3: get stopped by security thinking I was a fan when trying to walk out the player exit
Stay humble. Thankful. Great team win! @Saints #WHODAT
— Blake Grupe (@blakegrupe) August 13, 2023
Before the game, Grupe said he was “questioned walking onto the field pregame for not having credentials.” After it, he said he was “stopped by security thinking I was a fan” as he tried to leave the Caesars Superdome through the player exit.
A direct hit in his only attempt of the game couldn’t buy Grupe—listed at 5’7” and 156 pounds—an iota of leeway. Such is life in the preseason.
