Saints Countdown To NFL Kickoff With The History Of Number 85
There are 85 days between today and the 2025 New Orleans Saints regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. The Saints will embark on their 59th NFL season, but first year under new head coach Kellen Moore.
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There have been 15 players to wear number 85 for the Saints in a regular season game. Tight end Dallin Holker, entering his second year, is the latest. Here's a look back throughout New Orleans history at some pretty accomplished players that have worn that jersey.
Saints History of 85
New Orleans Saints tight end Henry Childs (85) catches a pass against New York Giants linebacker Brad Van Pelt (10). Credit: neworleanssaints.com
• Ray Poage, WR/TE (1967-70)
• Cephus Weatherspoon, WR (1972)
• John Beasley, TE (1973)
• Henry Childs, TE (1974-80)
• Curtland Thomas, WR (1987)
• Hoby Brenner, TE (1981-93)
• Wesley Walls, TE (1994-95)
• Paul Green, TE (1996)
• Nick Savoie, TE (1997)
• Cam Cleeland, TE (1998-2001)
• Ernie Conwell, TE (2003-06)
• Ronnie Ghent, TE (2007)
• David Thomas, TE (2009-12)
• Dan Arnold, TE (2018-19)
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• Dallin Holker, TE (2024-present)
New Orleans Saints tight end Henry Childs (85) pulls in a reception against the Atlanta Falcons. Credit: neworleanssaintshistory.com
Of the 15 players that have sported number 85 in New Orleans, 13 of them have been tight ends. This started with Poage, who was with the franchise for the first four years of their existence and caught 58 passes for 793 yards and 5 scores.
Childs came over from the Falcons in 1974 and would be the best tight end in Saints history until Jimmy Graham arrived in 2010. In seven years with New Orleans, Childs had 207 receptions for 3,224 yards and 27 touchdowns. He led the Saints in receiving yardage twice and was second on the team in catches three times.
Childs epitomized the modern day tight end, a receiving mismatch for defenses that could make plays deep down the field and who ran well after short receptions. In 1994, Childs was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame. He was the first tight end in franchise history to be inducted and remains one of just two at the position to receive the honor.
New Orleans Saints tight end Hoby Brenner (85) runs after a catch against the San Francisco 49ers. Credit: 1033thegoat.com
The other Saints Hall of Famer at tight end is Hoby Brenner, who joined New Orleans as a third-round choice in the 1981 NFL Draft out of USC. Brenner played his entire 13-year NFL career with the Saints. He had 267 career receptions for 3,849 yards and 21 touchdowns.
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Brenner led the 1985 Saints in catches and receiving yardage, finishing second on the team two other times. He remains the longest-tenured number 85 in team history in both games played (175) and years with the squad. In 2001, Hoby Brenner joined Henry Childs in getting inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame.
New Orleans Saints tight end Wesley Walls (85) blocks against the San Diego Chargers. Credit: neworleanssaintshistory.com
Many remember Wesley Walls for his productive career with the Carolina Panthers. Walls also had a productive two-year stint with the Saints before joining Carolina.
Between 1994 and 1995, Walls caught 95 passes for 1,100 yards and scored 8 times with New Orleans. His 57 receptions and 694 yards in 1995 were both second on the team behind only 1,000-yard wide receiver Quinn Early.
Dec 20, 1998; FILE PHOTO; New Orleans Saints tight end Cam Cleeland (85) after a catch against the Arizona Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK
New Orleans drafted Cam Cleeland out of Washington with a second-round choice in the 1998 NFL Draft. Despite a bizarre rookie hazing incident that affected Cleeland's eyesight for the rest of his career, he'd still pull in a team-high 54 passes for 684 yards and 6 touchdowns in 1998.
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Over three years with the Saints, Cleeland had 93 receptions for 1,147 yards and 11 scores. His rookie output would be the highest, by far, of his eight-year NFL career.
Oct. 8, 2006; New Orleans Saints (85) Ernie Conwell scores a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (25). Mandatory Credit: Matt Stamey-Imagn Images Copyright Matt Stamey
Most remember Ernie Conwell as an underrated complementary weapon with the explosive St. Louis Rams in the early 2000s. Conwell actually spent the last four of his 11-year career with New Orleans. During his time as a Saint, Conwell was an outstanding blocker and added 57 catches for 614 yards and 5 scores.
Like Conwell, David Thomas began his career with the explosive New England Patriots before joining New Orleans for his final four seasons.
Nov. 2, 2009; New Orleans Saints tight end David Thomas (85) breaks free from Atlanta Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton (50). Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images
Thomas had 81 receptions for 677 yards and 7 touchdowns with the Saints. He was an extremely valued blocker and underrated secondary receiver during the Saints 2009-10 Super Bowl XLIV championship squad.
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Both Dan Arnold and now Dallin Holker are pass catching specialists at the tight end spot. Arnold was never able to secure a roster spot. Holker may do so if he can improve his blocking and translate his athletic receiving skills into making him a consistent mismatch for defenses.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
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