Saints Countdown To NFL Kickoff With The History Of Number 91
Saints Countdown To NFL Kickoff With The History Of Number 91 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
There are 91 days between now and the 2025 season opener between the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals.
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New Orleans is hoping to improve on their 5-12 record from last year. They'll look to do it with a new head coach in Kellen Moore and several new faces in key places.
Wearing number 91 for the Saints this season will be rookie defensive lineman Vernon Broughton, a third round choice. Here's a look at the other players who have worn that number for New Orleans during a regular season game.
Saints History of 91
Feb 3, 2010; New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith speaks during a press conference for Super Bowl XLIV. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-Imagn Images
• Monte Bennett, DT (1981)
• Ken Marchiol, LB (1987)
• Robert Goff, DT (1990-95)
• Brady Smith, DE (1996-99)
• Grady Jackson, DT (2002-03)
• Will Smith, DE (2004-12)
• Kasim Edebali, LB (2014-16)
• Trey Hendrickson, DE (2017-20)
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• Ethan Westbrooks, DE (2021)
• Josiah Bronson, DT (2021)
• Kentavius Street, DT (2022)
• Kyle Phillips, DE (2023)
• Kendal Vickers, DT (2024)
Oct. 17, 1999; Tennessee Titans quarterback Neil O'Donnell (14) under pressure from New Orleans Saints defender Brady Smith. © George Walker IV / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bennett was the first to wear 91 for New Orleans in 1981, appearing in 16 games and making six starts during his only year with the team. The number wasn't worn again until 1987, when Marchiol used it for three games as a replacement player during the player strike.
Goff was the next to don 91 when joining the Saints as a free agent from Tampa Bay in 1990. He was the first to wear the number for multiple years, recording 5.5 sacks and returning 2 of his 4 fumble recoveries for touchdowns in six years as a Saint.
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Brady Smith came on as a third-round choice in 1996. In four years with New Orleans, he had 13 sacks and was second on the team with 11 stops for loss in 1999.
Grady Jackson came to New Orleans with great expectations as a free agent in 2002. He fell far short of those expectations and would be released midway through his second year with the team. In 22 games with the Saints, Jackson had 9 sacks and just 14 stops for loss.
Sept 14, 2008; Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell (17) is sacked by New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Will Smith came to New Orleans as the 18th overall choice in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. There is little argument that he's the best player to ever wear 91 for the Saints. He also wore the number for the longest, playing 139 games and all of his nine NFL seasons in New Orleans.
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Smith had 67.5 sacks and 90 tackles for loss as a Saint. He also had 2 interceptions and forced 20 fumbles, including an NFL-best 6 forced fumbles in 2004.
Smith was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Saints Ring of Honor in 2019. Tragically, his life was lost during a traffic related shooting in 2016.
Dec 21, 2015; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) is sacked by New Orleans Saints linebacker Kasim Edebali (91). Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-Imagn Images
Edebali followed Smith in the number 91 as an undrafted rookie in 2014. He played three years in New Orleans, managing 8 sacks, 10 QB hits, and 7 stops for loss as a rotational pass rusher.
Hendrickson came to the Saints as a third-round pick in an incredible 2017 draft haul by the team. In his four years with the team, Hendrickson had 20 sacks, 43 QB hits, and 18 tackles for loss.
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Hendrickson's breakout season was 2020, his last year in New Orleans. He had 13.5 sacks, 25 QB hits, and 12 stops for loss that year to lead the Saints in all three categories.
Sep 9, 2019; New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) sacks Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4). Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-Imagn Images
Westbrooks, Bronson, Phillips, and Vickers played a combined 13 games for the Saints. Collectively, they had 17 tackles which included one for loss. Street played in all 17 contests for New Orleans in 2021, managing 3.5 sacks and stops for loss with 9 quarterback pressures.
Broughton now comes to the Saints in hopes of improving a defense that ranked 30th overall and an embarrassing 31st against the run a year ago. Listed at 6'5" and 311-Lbs., Broughton has the potential versatility to play in the middle or on the end of 3-man fronts for new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
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Related: Derek Carr Further Explains Retirement Decision From New Orleans Saints
Related: Former Saints Defensive Star Arrested, Per Report
Related: Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 92
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
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