New Orleans Saints fans were understandably frustrated after the team’s wire-to-wire loss against the rival Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, but their post-game gripes on social media caught the eye of one team captain.
Safety Justin Reid, who grew up in Louisiana and played at Dutchtown High School, took to X to respond to several fans’ criticism shortly after the game.
Hours before the Saints’ defeat in what was a celebratory event for the city in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Saints’ first home game post-Hurricane Katrina, Reid posted on X calling for fans to show out.
“I need an exceptionally spirited atmosphere in the Superdome today,” Reid posted Monday morning.
As the night went sour, Saints fans returned to the post to criticize Reid’s performance on a night in which the Saints’ defense allowed 45 points and 420 yards, including 205 rushing yards.
“And don’t say s*** like this when you don’t make any plays,” one fan said in reference to Reid’s post.
“I made plays. Not that it matters, that s*** was unacceptable,” Reid said in a reply to the fan’s post.
Reid went on to reply to two other fans who responded to his tweet. In one exchange, a fan called Reid a “scrub,” to which Reid answered, “Yo mama.”
The next morning, Reid walked back his comments in part while defending himself against fans who he said were twisting his words.
“I probably should not of got on twitter so quickly after the game but I’m upset too,” Reid posted Tuesday morning. “I got pride and I ain’t just gonna be punching bag for negativity and be silent about it. If I ever did that, then i wouldnt care!”
While Reid acknowledged he didn’t play “a perfect game,” he pushed back against Saints fans who’d said he was giving “low effort,” saying “I probably care the most.”
“I desperately want to play well for the city and for us to win games,” Reid went on to say. “I hold myself and everyone else to a high standard and I got no problem with accountability.”
I’m a grown man FROM Louisiana. I don’t need coddling from nobody but some of yall trying to make it seem like I don’t care or show low effort. On the contrary I probably care the most!! I probably should not of got on twitter so quickly after the game but I’m upset too. I got pride and I ain’t just gonna be punching bag for negativity and be silent about it. If I ever did that, then i wouldnt care! I desperately want to play well for the city and for us to win games. I hold myself and everyone else to a high standard and I got no problem with accountability. I got a big problem with people calling me out my name and useless negativity. It’s a very small portion of some of yall that just enjoy twisting every word that comes out of my mouth into the most negative possible interpretations. I never said I played a perfect game. I have a lot individually (and we collectively) to work on bc we aint there yet and it’s not even close. But I am a good player and I make plays and I’m never gonna let anyone make me feel different about that. Thanks my two cents and now im done with it.
— Justin Reid (@JustinqReid) October 6, 2026
Reid joined the Saints in 2025 as a free agent, signing a three-year, $31.50 million contract, after three years as a starter for the Kansas City Chiefs. While with the Chiefs, Reid was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams.
So far this season, Reid has 19 combined tackles. He tallied four against the Falcons.
