Saints Countdown To Kickoff With History Of Number 99
Saints Countdown To Kickoff With History Of Number 99 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The New Orleans Saints are 100 days before their 2025 regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. On September 7, the Saints kick off their 59th season. They'll do it with a new head coach in Kellen Moore.
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Defensive end/edge rusher Chase Young currently wears the number 99 for the Saints as he enters his second year with the team. Here's a look at the other significant players that have worn 99 during the regular season throughout New Orleans Saints history.
Saints History of 99
Nov 25, 2007, Carolina Panthers running back DeShaun Foster (26) is tackled by New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas (99) and defensive end Charles Grant (94). Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
• Tony Elliott, DT (1982-88)
• Joel Smeenge, DE (1990-94)
• Willie Broughton, DT (1995-96)
• Pio Sagapolutele, DT (1997)
• Darren Mickell, DE (1999)
• Norman Hand, DT (2000-02)
• Kenderick Allen, DT (2003)
• Shaun Smith, DT (2004)
• Hollis Thomas, DT (2006-08)
• Jimmy Wilkerson, DE (2010)
• Aubrayo Franklin, DT (2011)
• Paul Kruger, DE (2016)
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• Adam Bighill, LB (2017)
• Shy Tuttle, DT (2019-22)
• Khalen Saunders, DT (2023)
• Chase Young, DE (2024-present)
Nov 28, 2019; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws an interception to New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Shy Tuttle (99). Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-Imagn Images
Outside of Young, Hand is perhaps the most famous player to wear 99 in New Orleans history. In three seasons with the team on part of a spectacular defensive front, Hand had 9 sacks and 21 tackles for loss in addition to being a terrific defender against the run.
Elliott had an underrated career with the Saints as the team built one of the league's best defenses through the 1980s. The team's longest-tenured player to wear 99, Elliott had 13 sacks in his seven years.
Thomas also had an overlooked but effective three years in New Orleans. During that time, he had 6.5 sacks and 16 stops for loss while clogging the middle against the run.
Former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Norman Hand (99). Credit: huffpost.com
Tuttle became a cult hero with his interception and subsequent stiff-arm of Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan as a rookie in 2019. He was also a standout run defender that had 4 sacks and 9 tackles for loss as a Saint.
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Chase Young becomes just the seventh player in franchise history to wear the number 99 for more than one year of the 16 players that donned the jersey. In 2024, Young led the Saints with 21 QB hits and 34 pressures. He had 5.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss with a forced fumble while appearing in all 17 games for first time in his five-year NFL career.
Related: Undrafted Saints Lineman Easton Kilty Could Power His Way To A Roster Spot
Related: Pro Football Focus Snubs Saints In Under-25 Rankings
Related: Saints Quarterback Ranking According To Pro Football Focus
Related: Most Underrated Saints Player Highlighted By PFF
Related: Trevor Penning May Have A New Home On Saints Offensive Line
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
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