32 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 32

USA Today

06-08-2025

Taking a look at the best players to wear No. 32 in Saints history
There are 32 days remaining until the new coach Kellen Moore and the New Orleans Saints host the Arizona Cardinals in their 2025 regular season opener. Tyrann Mathieu had worn No. 32 with the Saints for the last three years. His surprising retirement at the start of training camp opens that jersey number for the taking unless Kai Kroeger manages to win the punting job. Here are all the players who have suited up in No. 32 for the franchise.
Saints' History of No. 32
Running back Tom Barrington was the first to wear 32 for the Saints, suiting up in 51 games over the first four years of franchise history. Barrington rushed for a total of 493 yards and 3 scores with New Orleans, tying for the second longest stint for any player who wore No. 32 for the team. Jeremy DeRatt was the first defensive player to wear the number for the franchise but played only six games in one season with the Saints. DeRatt was one of 15 players that wore 32 for one year or less for New Orleans.
It would take until 1992 and 10 previous players wearing it until the Saints drafted a player who wore No. 32. That was Vaughn Dunbar, a first round choice in the NFL 1992 draft. Dunbar played three seasons for New Orleans as a solid backup, gaining 636 yards from scrimmage, including a team-high 565 rushing yards as a rookie. However, his overall production was disappointing, considering his draft status and the fact he was the second back selected in that year's draft.
The Saints tried two different Round 1 cast-offs from other teams that wore No. 32 for them in the early 2000s. The first was Ki-Jana Carter, the first overall choice in the 1995 draft was suffered a catastrophic knee injury as a rookie with the Cincinnati Bengals. Trying to resurrect his career with New Orleans, Carter played just 10 games for the Saints over two seasons and rushed for 89 yards. A first round choice (21st overall) with the Buffalo Bills in 1997, Antowain Smith had slightly more success in one year as a Saint, but not much. Smith was the leading rusher during the team's disastrous Hurricane Katrina season of 2005, but picked up only 659 yards after the season-ending knee injury to top back Deuce McAllister.
Jabari Greer played five years with New Orleans, but wore No. 32 only during his first year with the team in 2009. He was a key contributor from the start, intercepting two passes with one touchdown return as an instrumental part of the team's Super Bowl XLIV championship defense. Johnny Patrick followed Greer in the 32 jersey as a Round 3 choice in the 2011 draft. Patrick was a disappointment, playing only two seasons with New Orleans and recording one interception in 28 games as mostly a reserve defensive back.
Kenny Vaccaro was the highest-drafted player by the Saints to wear the 32 jersey. The 15th overall choice in Round 1 of the 2013 draft from the Texas Longhorns, Vaccaro's 68 games with New Orleans is the longest by any to wear No. 32. Vaccaro had 8 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 7.5 sacks with the Saints. Despite those decent numbers, he was also susceptible to big plays and rarely made the big plays in favor of his defense.
Five players wore No. 32 over a five-year stretch between Vaccaro and the 2022 arrival of Louisiana local favorite Tyrann Mathieu. All wore it for less than a full season. A legend at St. Augustine High School and the LSU Tigers, Mathieu came home to New Orleans in his 10th NFL season. It turned out that he'd wrap up his NFL career in a New Orleans No. 32 jersey.
Mathieu played 51 games with the Saints, tied for the second longest tenure of anyone to wear 32. His tackling was often an issue, but he still had outstanding instincts and baited opposing quarterbacks like an expert. Mathieu had 10 interceptions as a Saint, leading the team during all three of his seasons in that category. He returned one of those picks for a score while adding 5 fumbles either forced or recovered. Mathieu retired as 2025 training camp began, leaving as probably the best player to wear No. 32 for his hometown team.