43 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 43

The 2025 regular season opener for the New Orleans Saints is in 43 days from today. Under new head coach Kellen Moore, the Saints will open this year at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Second year punter Matthew Hayball currently wears No. 43 for New Orleans. This is a look at the 16 players who have worn this number with the franchise.

Saints' History of No. 43

• DB Dicky Lyons (1970)
• RB Dave Kopay (1971)
• RB Larry Collins (1980)
• RB Bobby Fowler (1985)
• RB Garland Jean-Batiste (1987)
• DB Kim Phillips (1989)
• CB Tyrone Leggett (1992-95)
• CB Ashley Ambrose (1999)
• CB Keyuo Craver (2002)
• CB Mike McKenzie (2004)
• S Kevin Kaesviharn (2007-08)
• RB Darren Sproles (2011-13)
• S Vinnie Sunseri (2014)
• S Marcus Williams (2017-21)
• LB Ryan Connelly (2021)
• P Matthew Hayball (2024-current)

Dicky Lyons was the first to wear the No. 43 with New Orleans, intercepting one pass in his four games with the Saints. Dave Kopay was the first offensive player to do it, playing 10 games in 1971 but not recording an offensive statistic. The number wouldn't be worn again until 1980. Kim Phillips, a Round 3 choice (79th overall) in 1989, was the first New Orleans draft pick to wear No. 43. Phillips lasted just one season and five games with the Saints and was out of the league altogether by 1991.

None of the first six players that wore 43 for the Saints lasted a complete season, playing only 40 games combined. The first to break that trend was Tyrone Leggett, who arrived as a third round pick in the NFL draft from the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Leggett was the 72nd overall selection, making him the second highest New Orleans draft choice to wear No. 43. He played 53 games for the team over four years, also making him the second longest stint for the franchise in that jersey. As a Saint, Leggett had just 1 interception and 2 sacks in largely reserve duty.

After Leggett came four defensive backs to wear 43 over the next 13 years, with none wearing it for more than a year. Mike McKenzie had a successful six-year stint with New Orleans but only wore 43 during his first season with the team before switching to No. 34. In all, 12 of the 16 players that had 43 with the Saints wore the jersey for one season or less.

The arrival of Darren Sproles as a free agent in 2010 boosted an already elite offense to historical levels. He was with the Saints for just three years and 44 games, but was an incredible all-purpose threat. Sproles accounted for 3,048 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns with New Orleans, adding another 2,492 yards and a score on kick and punt returns. His 2,696 all-purpose yards in 2011 set an NFL record that still stands, while his 86 receptions in 2011 set a single-season franchise record for a running back.

Marcus Williams was selected by the Saints in Round 2 of the 2017 NFL draft with the 42nd overall choice. He is the highest drafted player by New Orleans to wear No. 43, with his 76 games also the most for any player to wear the jersey. Williams was a ball hawk during his time with the Saints. In his five years with the team, he'd intercept 15 passes, broke up 38 others, and forced 3 fumbles.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 43 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 43