Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 94
Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 94 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Thursday marks 94 days before the New Orleans Saints begin their 59th NFL season with a regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
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There have been just six players to wear the number 94 during a regular season game for the Saints. Two of them are in the Saints Hall of Fame, while a third also had a standout career in New Orleans.
The best of all of them, DE Cameron Jordan, is one of the greatest players in franchise history and wearing number 94 into his 15th season with the team. Jordan has set an elite standard for a number that already had a high bar before his arrival. Here's a look at all who donned the number 94 in New Orleans Saints history.
Saints History of 94
New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
• Jim Wilks, DE/DT (1981-93)
• Joe Johnson, DE (1994-2001)
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• Charles Grant, DE (2002-09)
• Kawicka Mitchell, LB (2010)
• K.C. Asiodu, LB (2010)
• Cameron Jordan, DE (2011-present)
Jan 13, 1988; FILE PHOTO; New Orleans Saints defensive end Jim Wilks (94) tackles Minnesota Vikings running back Darrin Nelson (20). Mandatory Credit: MPS-Imagn Images
Wilks was the first to wear 94 for the Saints and did so with tremendous success. A 12th round choice in the 1981 NFL Draft, Wilks would go onto play 183 games over the next 13 seasons with the Saints.
After starting his career as a defensive end, Wilks would often play inside at defensive tackle later in his career. He did both with tremendous success for one of the league's better defenses through his tenure.
Wilks 49 sacks over his 13 years, still ninth on the franchise's all-time leader list. He also forced 7 fumbles in a career that saw him miss only one game over his first 11 seasons. Wilks was named to the Saints 45th Anniversary team and inducted into the Saints franchise Hall of Fame in 2001, just the fourth defensive lineman to receive the honor at that time.
New Orleans Saints defensive end Joe Johnson (94) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Credit: neworleanssaintshalloffame.com
When Wilks retired and Rickey Jackson left after the 1993 season, the Saints looked to fill their void in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft. They did so by drafting Louisville defensive end Joe Johnson with the 13th overall choice.
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Johnson would go on to be one of the few legitimate stars for a rebuilding Saints team over the next few years. He'd start 106 of a possible 112 games over a seven-year career in New Orleans, missing the 1999 campaign with injury. Johnson returned in 2000 to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award on perhaps the finest defensive line in franchise history.
Over seven seasons in New Orleans, Johnson had 50.5 sacks and forced 13 fumbles, also recovering 7 fumbles and returning one for a score. He ranks 7th in team history for career sacks. Johnson was a unanimous selection to the Saints 45th Anniversary team and in 2007 was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame.
Jan. 13, 2007; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback (7) Jeff Garcia is sacked by New Orleans Saints (94) Charles Grant. Mandatory Credit: Matt Stamey-Imagn Images © 2006 Matt Stamey
Johnson and fellow star lineman La'Roi Glover both left New Orleans after the 2001 season. The Saints against looked to the draft for help, and found it in the first round with 25th overall choice Charles Grant out of Georgia. In a seamless transition, Grant instantly became the next great 94 for New Orleans.
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Grant would play all of his eight NFL seasons for the Saints. In that time, he had 47 sacks with 66 tackles for loss. He also intercepted one pass, tipped 31 throws, and forced 17 fumbles while turning one recovery into a touchdown. Between 2006 and his final year in 2009, Grant had 48 QB hits and started every game in the Saints Super Bowl XLIV championship season.
Upon Grant's departure after the 2009 season, K.C. Asiodu and Kawicka Mitchell both wore No. 94 in 2010. Each played only one game for New Orleans, combining for 1 sack (Mitchell) and 3 total tackles.
Nov 10, 2024; New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) leaps over a blocker to sack Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The Saints would get their star No. 94 back in Round 1 of the 2011 NFL Draft when they selected a Cal DE named Cameron Jordan with the 24th overall choice. Jordan went on to not only be the best 94 in team history, no small task, but would go on to become one of the greatest players in New Orleans franchise history.
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Over his 13 NFL seasons, Jordan had six years of double-digit sack totals and five more with at least 7.5 sacks. His 233 QB hits and 160 tackles for loss are both tops in team history. Jordan's standout run defense allowed him to be on the field and a force in every situation. Despite an annual high snap count, he's missed only three of a possible 239 starts in his remarkable career.
Jordan's 121.5 career sacks are more than Dome Patrol icon and NFL Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson (the 'official' NFL total). He is second among active players and is 27th in NFL history. His spot in the Saints Hall of Fame is assured. Cam Jordan should also wind up with a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the conclusion of his legendary Saints career.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
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