Saints’ No. 59 History Set Stage for Detroit Opener

The Countdown to the Lions Showdown

Only 59 days remain until the New Orleans Saints host their 2026 regular season, with the first clash slated against the Detroit Lions in a northern trek. No current Saint bears the No. 59 jersey, leaving the coveted number open as the team counts down to kickoff. The upcoming contest marks the first time the Saints will take the field without a player wearing 59 since the number was introduced.

Early Pioneers of the 59 Jersey

Fred Whittingham became the first linebacker to wear No. 59, appearing in 20 games across the Saints’ inaugural seasons. Wayne Colman followed, anchoring the linebacking corps for seven seasons (1969‑1976) and compiling 79 games—the most by any No. 59 player—plus two interceptions, two sacks and five fumble recoveries.

Chuck Evans, an eighth‑round pick in 1980, was the first of only two Saints selected to wear the number; he logged 26 games over two seasons, the second‑most in the 59 jersey’s history. Chris Martin added 15 appearances in his lone Saints year before James Campen, the franchise’s only offensive player to sport No. 59, saw action in six games and three strike‑season starts in 1987‑88.

Mid‑Era Contributors

Rufus Porter arrived from the Seattle Seahawks in 1995, posting three sacks and a forced fumble across two seasons while appearing in 26 games—tied for the second‑longest stretch in the No. 59 uniform. The 1997 undrafted signee Keith Mitchell turned into a steady presence, playing 79 games (matching Colman’s mark) and amassing 3 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 17 fumble forced or recovered, 18.5 sacks and roughly 400 tackles over five years.

Derrick Rogers (2003‑04), Ronald McKinnon (2005), and Anthony Waters (2009‑10) each contributed brief tenures, with Waters appearing in just 13 games. J.J. Jones had a one‑year stint, while Matt McCoy logged less than a season for the Saints.

Recent Wearers and the Current Void

Dannell Ellerbe arrived via trade in 2014 and managed only 15 games in two years, but he brought some star power to the position. Vince Biegel logged 14 reserve games, Sharif Finch logged one, and neither Trajan Jeffcoat nor Coziah Izzard saw NFL action while wearing 59.

The most notable recent absence is Nate Bussey, a 2011 seventh‑round pick who never appeared in a regular‑season game despite being the highest‑selected player to don the number. With no active player currently assigned No. 59, the Saints will begin the 2026 campaign with the number unclaimed for the first time in decades.

What Lies Ahead for the Number?

As the Saints prepare for the Lions clash in 59 days, the empty No. 59 jersey presents an opportunity for the next wave of talent to define its legacy. Fans and analysts will watch whether the upcoming season becomes a turning point for both the team and the number that once belonged to legends like Colman and Mitchell. Stay tuned to Saints Wire for continued coverage of the jersey countdown and all the latest Saints news.