New Orleans Saints No. 69 History Ahead of Week 1 Opener

Countdown to the 2026 Opener

Sixty‑nine days remain until the New Orleans Saints begin their 2026 campaign against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. The Saints will open the season on the road, marking the start of a new stretch for the franchise. As training camp approaches, the number 69 is already drawing attention across the organization.

Backup offensive lineman Barry Wesley has been assigned the No. 69 jersey for the upcoming season. Wesley spent all but one game of the previous year on the practice squad and now hopes to earn a backup role on New Orleans’ offensive line. He is the 15th player in franchise history to wear the number.

Barry Wesley Takes the #69 Helm

Wesley’s arrival adds a new chapter to the Saints’ storied #69 lineage. After a season largely on the sidelines, he is competing for a critical backup spot during preseason. The pressure is high, as #69 has historically been a number for players who made an immediate impact or endured short tenures.

His opportunity coincides with the team’s preparations for the first regular‑season game, just weeks away. Fans and analysts will watch closely to see if Wesley can break the pattern of fleeting #69 assignments and carve out a lasting role.

Historical Roster of New Orleans #69

The Saints have fielded 15 players in #69 since Andy Dorris first donned the numeral in 1974. Dorris logged 41 games over four seasons, recorded seven sacks and recovered three fumbles—a career highlight that remains the third‑longest tenure for the number. Nat Hudson, a sixth‑round draft pick in 1981, appeared in 16 games as a reserve and became the highest‑drafted player to wear #69 until Tom Ackerman later eclipsed that mark.

Ackerman, selected in the fifth round of the 1996 draft, amassed 78 games—the most of any #69 wearer—though only 18 started. Pat Swoopes appeared in parts of two seasons, while Anthony Hargrove played 30 games across 2009‑2010, contributing six sacks and six forced or recovered fumbles, including a defensive touchdown.

Multiple players logged brief stints, underscoring the number’s fleeting nature. Bill Fifer appeared in four games in 1978, and later contributors such as McKinley Boykin (3 games in 2007), Anthony Zettel (1 game in 2020), Jabari Zuniga (1 game in 2022), and Chris Reed (1 game in 2022) each made minimal impact. Kentavius Street stood out in 2022 with 17 games and 3.5 sacks, the most recent extended run.

Barry Wesley now joins this list, though his tenure has yet to include any game action. The pattern of short assignments suggests #69 is often a waiting period for players awaiting a breakthrough or a stepping‑stone role.

The legacy of #69 continues to evolve as the Saints prepare for the first kickoff. With the season only 69 days away, the team hopes Wesley can add a memorable performance to this storied sequence when the Saints face the Detroit Lions.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: …