27 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 27

Just 27 days from today, the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals face off in the regular season opener for both teams. Isaac Yiadom returned to the Saints after one year in San Francisco. He wears No. 27 for the Saints and is expected to play a big role in the team's new-look secondary. Yiadom also returns to the number he wore in his previous New Orleans stint. Here's the full list of players that wore that jersey.

Saints' History of No. 27

• WR Walter Roberts (1967)
• CB Bobby Thompson (1969)
• RB Rod McNeill (1974-75)
• S Ray Brown (1978-80)
• CB Greg Stemrick (1983)
• S Antonio Gibson (1986-89)
• CB Reggie Jones (1991-94)
• CB Selwyn Jones (1994)
• CB Vashone Adams (1997)
• S Rob Kelly (2000)
• RB James Fenderson (2001-03)
• CB Ken Irvin (2002)
• RB Aaron Stecker (2004-08)
• S Malcolm Jenkins (2009-13, 2020-21)
• RB Edwin Baker (2014)
• CB Damian Swann (2015)
• RB Dwayne Washington (2018-19)
• CB Alontae Taylor (2022)
• CB Shemar Jean-Charles (2024)
• CB Isaac Yiadom (2023, current)

Walter "Flea" Roberts was not only the first to wear No. 27 for the Saints, but also one of the first stars for the team. Roberts played only one season and 13 games as a Saint, but was an explosive all-purpose threat. He had 384 receiving yards and 3 scores, including a 96-yard play still second longest in franchise history. Also a kickoff returner, Flea averaged over 26 yards per return with a score. The crowning achievement of his career came on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles. Roberts scored touchdowns on a kickoff return, a fumble return, and a reception on only five touches to propel the Saints to a 31-24 victory, their first win in franchise history.

Rod McNeill, a fourth-round pick in 1974, was the first player drafted by the Saints to wear No. 27. McNeill lasted just two seasons as a backup running back, picking up 498 total yards and scoring 5 times. Former Falcon Ray Brown succeeded McNeill in No. 27 in 1978. The defenses Brown played on for his three seasons as a Saint were awful, but he managed to record 7 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries. Antonio Gibson was another defensive back to wear No. 27, but played on the elite Dome Patrol units of the late-1980s and early 1990s. Gibson lasted four years and 58 games in the No. 27 jersey, the third longest stint of any Saints player in the number, and had 3 interceptions in mostly backup and special teams duty. A fifth-round choice in 1991, Reggie Jones was another backup defensive back for the early and mid-1990s teams. He played four years, recording 6 interceptions in the process.

Aaron Stecker was the first significant offensive contributor for the Saints to wear No. 27 since Flea Roberts. Stecker was mostly a fullback with New Orleans from 2004 to 2008, but accounted for 2,017 yards and 8 touchdowns. His 65 games are the second most of any player to wear No. 27. Dwayne Washington is the only other offensive player of note to make a meaningful contribution to Saints in No. 27. Washington wore two different numbers during his four year stretch with New Orleans. He didn't get many touches as a runner, though he did have a 100-yard outing in the 2018 season finale. Washington was also one of the most respected special teams players in the NFL over his career.

Malcolm Jenkins is a future member of the Saints Hall of Fame that had two separate stints with the Saints. Both were in a No. 27 jersey, making his 103 games the most for any New Orleans player who's worn the jersey. Jenkins was 14th overall choice in Round 1 of the 2009 NFL draft, also making him the highest drafted player by New Orleans to wear No. 27. He was instrumental in helping the Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV title as a rookie, then went on to be one of the better safeties in the history of the franchise.

Jenkins played a total of seven seasons in New Orleans. Over that span, he had 10 interceptions and returned 3 of them for scores. Jenkins added 8 fumbles forced and 5 recovered, returning one of those for a touchdown. Annually among the team leaders in tackles, Jenkins also had 8 sacks and 19 stops for loss while usually being one of the Saints defensive leaders.

Malcolm Jenkins has been arguably the best of several standout defensive backs in New Orleans to wear No. 27, including a few who have come after him. Alontae Taylor had a strong rookie year wearing No. 27 before switching to No. 1. Shemar Jean-Charles had an interception as a backup corner last year before moving on in free agency. Between them is Isaac Yiadom, who shocked the NFL with his 2023 performance when pressed into a bigger role because of injuries. Yiadom was among the league leaders with 14 passes broken up that season, adding an interception while allowing less than 49% completion percentage when targeted. Yiadom returned to the Saints this offseason after a year with the 49ers. Armed with a three-year contract, Yiadom is the early favorite for a starting corner job and will undoubtedly be a big part of any success the New Orleans defense has in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 27 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 27