​We have 61 days to wait until the New Orleans Saints take the field for their 2026 season opener. New Orleans will travel north to start their campaign, playing at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Undrafted rookie Keeshawn Silver will wear No. 61 as the Saints begin training camp at the end of the month.Silver is one of several new additions New Orleans made on their defensive line this offseason. While the Saints are looking to improve in the middle, Silver is looking to become only the 10th player to wear a 61 jersey for the franchise. Here’s a look at everyone who has done it.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementG Del Williams (1967-73)OT Roger Finnie (1979)G Sam Adams (1981)C Joel Hilgenberg (1984-93)G Greg Loberg (1987)G Ed King (1995-97)G Montrae Holland (2003-06)DT Keeshawn Silver (current)Del Williams was the first to wear 61 in New Orleans. A third-round pick in the 1967 NFL Draft, he’s also the highest drafted Saints selection to wear the number. Williams played his entire seven-year career with the franchise as a starting right guard. His 92 games are the second-most of any Saint to wear the 61 uniform. It took six years for another New Orleans player to wear 61 after Williams. Roger Finnie had it for eight games in 1979, followed by Sam Adams in 1981 as a 16-game starter.In the fourth round of the 1984 NFL Draft, Joel Hilgenberg was chosen by New Orleans. At the 97th overall pick, he was the second-highest Saints draft choice to wear the 61 jersey. Hilgenberg went on to play 142 games over 10 seasons in New Orleans, longer than anyone else who has worn the number. He was mostly a reserve during his first three years before taking over the center role in 1987. Over the next seven seasons, Hilgenberg made one Pro Bowl and is widely considered to be one of the top centers in the history of the franchise. In 2006, Hilgenberg was officially inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame.When Hilgenberg was with the Saints, Greg Loberg borrowed the number briefly as a replacement player during the 1987 NFL players strike. Ed King succeeded Hilgenberg in the uniform in 1995, starting all 16 games at guard in 1996 but playing only 19 total games in three seasons. Montrae Holland was the first to wear 61 this century as a fourth-round choice, 102nd overall, in the 2003 NFL Draft. Holland played the first four of an eight-year career in New Orleans, suiting up in 52 contests.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSince Holland, only two have worn 61 over the last two decades. Josh LeRibeus had 23 appearances over two seasons, while Connor McGovern had six games in 2024 as the last to wear the number. If Keeshawn Silver emerges from a tough competition to make the roster, he’ll be the first New Orleans defensive player to wear 61 if he keeps the number.1 / 21The actor John Goodman was recognized by the crowd at the official opening of the new John Goodman Amphitheatre at Missouri State University on October 30, 2022.
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