Saints Sign Ex-Steelers Fullback

The New Orleans Saints signed fullback Zander Horvath on Thursday, the club announced. Horvath, 6-3, 230, was originally selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Purdue. Horvath spent time with the Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023.

Horvath was signed to the Steelers’ practice squad on Sept. 2 after the Chargers released him. His tenure was short, however, as the he got released on Oct. 9. Horvath re-signed with the Chargers practice squad on Nov. 22, only to be released on December 1.

If he tested at the NFL Combine, Horvath would have been the most athletic fullback ever to test there. He posted a perfect 10 out of 10 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), running a 4.60 40-yard dash, 35.5-inch vertical jump, 31 bench press reps, 4.25 short shuttle, 6.75 3-cone, and 10-foot-3-inch broad jump.

That testing allowed Horvath to get drafted by the Chargers in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Purdue. In his rookie campaign, Horvath rushed for eight yards on four carries and caught five passes for eight yards with two touchdown, while adding one special teams tackle. Horvath was a first-team Pro Football Journal All-Rookie selection at the fullback/H-back position. An avid special teamer, Horvath played 256 special teams snaps last year on kick return, kick block, punt return, and punt coverage, turning into a core of that unit for Los Angeles.

Horvath’s best season at Purdue came in the COVID-shortened season when he racked up 304 yards receiving and 442 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He earned Big Ten Third-Team honors following the impressive shortened season. In his senior season, he put up over 400 total yards, with 320 of those yards coming on the ground.

A native of Mishawaka, Ind., Horvath played his high school ball at Marian High School where he rushed for 3,373 yards and 50 touchdowns and accrued several honors including being named Indiana All-State, Academic All-State, and a USA Today Midwest Regional All-American selection.