Jeff Duncan
| Jeff Duncan | |
| Born | 9 12, 1978 |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Sports journalist, columnist |
| Employer | NOLA.com / The Times-Picayune |
| Known for | Coverage of the New Orleans Saints and Louisiana sports |
Jeff Duncan is an American sports journalist and columnist who covers professional and collegiate sports in Louisiana for NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune. Known primarily for his extensive reporting on the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL), Duncan has established himself as one of the leading voices in Louisiana sports media. His work encompasses news reporting, opinion columns, podcasts, and long-form interviews with prominent figures in the New Orleans sports landscape, including team owners, coaches, and players. Duncan's reporting has addressed subjects ranging from NFL offseason strategy and franchise ownership to broader developments across Louisiana's sports scene. He has been a regular contributor to the Saints' official media programming and maintains a prominent role in the regional sports journalism community.
Career
Sports Journalism at NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune
Jeff Duncan has built a career as a sports columnist and reporter at NOLA.com, the digital platform associated with The Times-Picayune, one of New Orleans' principal newspapers. His coverage focuses heavily on the New Orleans Saints, though he also writes about the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and other Louisiana sports topics.
Duncan's reporting encompasses a wide range of formats. He writes opinion columns analyzing team strategy, roster construction, and front-office decision-making. His work frequently provides readers with detailed assessments of the Saints' competitive outlook, personnel moves, and organizational direction. In January 2026, Duncan published a column outlining his priorities for the Saints during the NFL offseason, detailing how the franchise should approach roster-building efforts.[1]
Duncan also produces annual forecast columns that look ahead at the most significant sports stories and events anticipated in Louisiana. In early 2026, he published his "crystal ball" column for the year, projecting the biggest sports developments expected across the state.[2]
Reporting on Saints Ownership
A significant thread in Duncan's journalism involves the ownership of the New Orleans Saints. He has conducted interviews with Gayle Benson, the owner of both the Saints and the Pelicans, covering the state of both franchises during periods of competitive difficulty. In November 2025, Duncan conducted what was described as a "wide-ranging interview" with Benson in which she addressed the struggles of both the Saints and Pelicans.[3] The interview covered organizational challenges and Benson's perspective on the direction of her two professional sports franchises.
In February 2026, Duncan authored a column examining the potential future ownership of the Saints, focusing on Todd Graves, the co-founder of Raising Cane's, who had publicly expressed interest in purchasing the franchise. Duncan's column explored the question of whether and when such a transaction might occur, noting that Benson had stated she was not selling the team.[4]
Podcast and Broadcast Work
In addition to his print and digital journalism, Duncan has participated in podcast and broadcast programming related to the Saints. In January 2026, he appeared on the official Saints Podcast alongside NFL on FOX broadcaster Chris Myers. The episode, hosted by Erin Summers, featured a preview of the Saints' game against the Atlanta Falcons and discussion of the Saints' Pro Football Hall of Fame candidates.[5] Duncan's participation in the team's official media content reflects his standing as a recognized authority on the franchise.
Other Notable People Named Jeff Duncan
The name Jeff Duncan is shared by several other notable Americans in different fields. To avoid confusion, these individuals are briefly noted here.
Jeff Duncan (baseball coach)
Jeff Duncan is the head baseball coach at Kent State University, where he has led the Golden Flashes baseball program since 2013. He became the program's 17th head coach during the summer of that year and has been credited with continuing the winning traditions of Kent State baseball.[6]
Duncan's tenure at Kent State has been marked by stability and sustained competitiveness. In January 2026, Kent State University announced that Duncan had signed a contract extension, securing his position as head coach for additional years.[7] The Akron Beacon Journal subsequently reported details of the extension, including salary information and performance incentives.[8]
As of 2026, Duncan has been at the helm of the Kent State baseball program for over twelve years, making him one of the longer-tenured coaches in the program's history.[6]
Jeff Duncan (politician)
Jeff Duncan (born 1966) is an American politician who has served as a U.S. representative from South Carolina.
Jeff Duncan (musician)
Jeff Duncan is an American heavy metal guitarist.
Jeff Duncan (baseball player)
Jeff Duncan (born 1978) is a former American professional baseball player who played as an outfielder for the New York Mets.
References
- ↑ DuncanJeffJeff"Jeff Duncan: My to-do list for the Saints and how they should attack this offseason".NOLA.com.January 2026.https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/jeff-duncan-to-do-list-for-the-new-orleans-saints-offseason/article_1462292a-6bbb-4b29-8954-6ff75f4abe2f.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ DuncanJeffJeff"Jeff Duncan's crystal ball for the 2026 Louisiana sports year".NOLA.com.January 2026.https://www.nola.com/sports/jeff_duncan/jeff-duncans-crystal-ball-for-2026-louisiana-sports-year/article_aeab6e18-fe05-4165-8f07-70d5275fc3c8.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ DuncanJeffJeff"Gayle Benson addresses the struggling Pelicans and Saints in a wide-ranging interview".NOLA.com.November 14, 2025.https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/gayle-benson-saints-pelicans-interview/article_956ff3d2-3f91-47ad-9a7b-ec92be1709ea.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ DuncanJeffJeff"Jeff Duncan: Todd Graves would be a great Saints owner one day. The question is, will he?".NOLA.com.February 2026.https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/jeff-duncan-todd-graves-would-be-a-great-saints-owner-one-day-the-question-is/article_d8c7cc3a-d61e-4d86-8507-bdd6125de0da.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "Chris Myers, Jeff Duncan on Saints Podcast | January 2, 2026".New Orleans Saints.January 2, 2026.https://www.neworleanssaints.com/audio/chris-myers-jeff-duncan-nfl-hof-falcons-saints-podcast-january-2-2026.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Jeff Duncan - Baseball Coach".Kent State Golden Flashes.October 2025.https://kentstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/jeff-duncan/1475.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "Longtime Kent State baseball coach Jeff Duncan signs contract extension with KSU".Akron Beacon Journal.January 29, 2026.https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/kent-state/2026/01/29/kent-state-baseball-news-coach-jeff-duncan-signs-contract-extension/87125597007/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "Kent State baseball coach Jeff Duncan's contract extension details".Akron Beacon Journal.February 10, 2026.https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/kent-state/2026/02/10/kent-state-baseball-coach-jeff-duncan-contract-extension-salary-length-bonuses/88590780007/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.