Latest news with #No.50.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
50 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 50
The first one to wear it was by far the best, as we look back at all who wore No. 50 with the Saints. There is only a 50-day countdown until the New Orleans Saints host the Arizona Cardinals to open their 2025 regular season. Defensive tackle Khalen Saunders wears No. 50 for New Orleans, as he goes into his third year with the team and second with that number. Here is a look back at all the players who have worn the No. 50 jersey for the franchise. Saints' History of No. 50 Jake Kupp was the first to wear No. 50 with New Orleans. Selected by New Orleans in the 1967 expansion draft, Kupp was one of the original stars of the first Saints teams. He started the first five games of their inaugural year of 1967 before being released and picked up by the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints brought him back during the 1968 offseason, where he'd be a fixture on the offensive line for the next eight years. Grandfather of former Rams and current Seahawks wideout Cooper Kupp, Jake Kupp appeared in 106 games with 102 starts as a Saint. It is the most by any player to wear No. 50 for the franchise. Kupp is a member of the 25th, 40th, and 50th New Orleans Anniversary teams. In 1992, he and center John Hill were inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame. They were the first two offensive linemen to receive those honors. New Orleans native and LSU star Ken Bordelon was the first Saints defensive player to wear No. 50. He'd also wear it for longer than any other defensive player with the franchise, suiting up in 82 contests over six seasons. Bordelon had 3 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, along with 2 fumble recoveries and 2 sacks. Jack Del Rio was the first player drafted by the Saints to wear 50. A third round choice in the 1985 NFL draft out of USC, Del Rio went on to have an 11-year NFL career as a player and successful tenure as a coach. Only two of those season as a player were with the Saints, with 2 interceptions, 3 fumbles forced, and 5 fumbles recovered with one touchdown. Del Rio also returned to New Orleans as a defensive assistant coach for two years in 1997 and the 18 players to wear No. 50, only six did so for more than two seasons. Kupp and Bordelon were the first two, with James Allen, Marvin Mitchell, Curtis Lofton, and Andrew Dowell being the others. Ink Aleaga was a Saint for three seasons, but only wore 50 for three games in his first year. Allen was a Round 3 pick in the 2002 NFL draft. He was with the Saints for four years and 48 games, recording an interception and 4 forced fumbles. Marvin Mitchell followed Allen in the 50 jersey. A seventh round choice in 2007, he'd be with New Orleans for 55 games but only two starts. Lofton joined the Saints as a prized free agent signing away from the Atlanta Falcons. He'd start all of his 48 outings with New Orleans over three years and filled up the stat sheet with 392 total tackles. Eighteen of those stops were for loss, including 3 sacks, but he simply wasn't an impactful player for bad defenses. Stephone Anthony holds the distinction of being the highest-drafted player by New Orleans to wear No. 50. The 31st pick in Round 1 of the 2015 NFL draft from the Clemson Tigers, Anthony got his career off to a wonderful start. He led the team with 116 tackles as a rookie, including 5 for loss, while intercepting a pass and returning a fumble for a touchdown. By 2016, Anthony's alarming lack of instincts and awareness was routinely exposed by opponents. New Orleans traded Anthony to the Miami Dolphins early in 2017 for a late-round draft pick. He'd return to the Saints in 2019, wearing No. 58, but primarily played on special teams. Since the Anthony disappointment, four players have worn No. 50 since 2017. Only Dowell, a special teamer, did it for more than two seasons. Khalen Saunders goes into his second year in the 50 jersey for the Saints. Saunders is expected to help improve the middle of a New Orleans defense that helped the team to an abysmal 31st ranking against the run last year.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 50: a history of the number and who wore it best
The Steelers countdown to kickoff is here — and we're at 50 days until Pittsburgh faces off against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. In the spirit of the countdown, we're taking a look at the history of No. 50 and the players who wore it best. Current Steelers No. 50 wearer: LB Malik Harrison Malik Harrison is the current wearer of No. 50 on the Steelers roster. Drafted by the Ravens with the 98th overall pick in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Harrison spent his first five NFL seasons in Baltimore, where he totaled 174 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks across 76 games. He signed with the Steelers on a two-year, $10 million contract this offseason, aiming to serve as Pittsburgh's dedicated run-stopping linebacker. Last five Steelers to wear No. 50: Best No. 50 in Steelers history: LB Ryan Shazier Despite only playing four seasons, Ryan Shazier is the best Steeler to ever wear No. 50. Drafted by Pittsburgh with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Shazier wasted little time emerging as one of the league's most dynamic inside linebackers. From 2014 to 2017, Shazier produced 299 combined tackles, 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, seven forced fumbles, and seven interceptions — being named to two Pro Bowls for his elite play. As many Steelers fans are aware, Shazier tragically suffered a career-ending spinal cord injury in 2017, but he never gave up on his long road to recovery — inspiring those facing seemingly impossible challenges in their lives. Though his time on the field was brief, what Shazier brought to the Steel City of Pittsburgh is irreplaceable — making him the best Steeler to ever wear No. 50. Honorable mention: LB David Little, who played in 179 games for the Steelers from 1981 to 1992 and earned one Pro Bowl during his consistent tenure with Pittsburgh. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
