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18 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 18
From Hugo Hollas, Dave Wilson, and Wade Wilson to Terrance Copper
In just 18 days, the New Orleans Saints will host the Arizona Cardinals in their 2025 regular season opener. There haven't been many that have worn the No. 18 in Saints history. Here's a look at the full list of the players who have worn the jersey.
Saints' History of No. 18
Hugo Hollas wore No. 18 first with the Saints, recording 11 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries over a three-season stint. His 5 interceptions in 1970 and 1971 led the team each year. He is the only defensive player to date that has worn No. 18 for the franchise. His 35 games are the second most of any New Orleans player to wear No. 18.
Dave Wilson was selected first overall by the Saints in the 1981 supplemental draft, costing New Orleans their first-round draft choice the following season. Wilson was a collegiate star for the Illinois Fighting Illini, but never came close to living up to expectations as a pro. He started four games as a rookie but missed the 1982 season with a knee injury. Despite numerous opportunities, Wilson was never able to hold on to the starting job with New Orleans.
Nevertheless, his 53 games over seven seasons are the most for anyone to wear No. 18 for the Saints. Wilson made 31 starts at quarterback, resulting in a 12-19 record. He completed a lowly 53% of his throws for 6,987 yards with 36 touchdown passes and 55 interceptions. The 1981 Saints finished with a 4-12 record, which would have resulted in the third overall choice in the 1982 draft if not forfeited because of Wilson. In that draft, future Hall of Famers Mike Munchak and Marcus Allen, along with multi-time Pro Bowlers Jim McMahon, Gerald Riggs, Mike Quick, and Roy Foster were first-round selections.
Another Wilson got his turn at quarterback wearing No. 18 for the Saints in 1993. Wade Wilson was a standout for the Minnesota Vikings through the 1980s and early 1990s before joining New Orleans. Wilson was with the team for two years and was their starter in 1993. With the Saints, Wilson had a 57.9% completion percentage with 2,629 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
Terry Guess is the only one of two out of the 10 players who have worn No. 18 to be chosen in the regular draft by the Saints. A fifth round choice in 1996 out of Gardner-Webb, Guess is also one of only five players from that school to play in the NFL. He lasted only one season in the league, suiting up in three games and catching 2 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Aaron Brooks is given the credit for the 2000 Saints surprising run to a division title and the franchise's first playoff victory. What some forget is that it was Jeff Blake that was the starter to begin that season, engineering the Saints to a 7-4 mark before suffering a broken foot. Blake was brought in that year after a career with nice numbers, but not many wins with the Cincinnati Bengals. In those 11 starts for New Orleans, Blake completed 60.7% of his passes for 2,025 yards with 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. With Brooks' sudden success, Blake wouldn't start another game for the Saints and left after 2001 to finish out his career with four different teams in his last four years.
Terrance Copper was a valuable backup wideout on the first New Orleans teams under Sean Payton and Drew Brees. In three years with the Saints, Copper had 38 receptions for 511 yards and 5 touchdowns. His 35 games in No. 18 are the third-most of any Saint to wear that jersey.
Keith Kirkwood made the New Orleans roster in 2018 as an undrafted rookie. He was with the Saints for two separate stints, wearing No. 18 both times for a total of 27 games. Kirkwood was mostly used on special teams, but wound up with 20 receptions for 264 yards and 3 scores.
A Round 5 selection, 150th overall, in the 2024 NFL draft from the South Carolina Gamecocks, Spencer Rattler is the highest drafted player by the Saints to wear No. 18. He'd make six starts as a rookie, with New Orleans losing all seven of his game appearances. Rattler had a 57% completion percentage, throwing for 1,317 yards with 4 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and 5 fumbles. He switched to No. 2 this season, as he's competing with rookie second round choice Tyler Shough for the team's starting quarterback job.
