Roman Harper is returning to the Saints after two years with the Panthers

Jan 4, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Saints safety Roman Harper (41) leaves the field after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2013 NFC wild card playoff football game at Lincoln Financial Field. The Saints defeated the Eagles 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

After appearing in a Super Bowl with the Panthers in February, safety Roman Harper is returning to the team he actually won that game with during the 2009 season, according to the agency that represents him.

Harper, 33, played his first eight seasons with the Saints, the team that drafted him as a second-round pick in 2006. He was a Pro Bowl selection in both 2009 and 2010, but New Orleans allowed him to leave to sign a modest two-year, $4.5 million contract in 2014. He started all 32 games for the Panthers in 2014 and 2015 after starting only five of nine games with New Orleans the year before.

The Panthers reportedly made no attempt to retain Harper, and it's unlikely he'll be more than a backup with the Saints, who are trying to bolster their defense after it ranked 31st in the league last season.