​In 65 days, the New Orleans Saints will begin their 2026 regular season. The opening game finds New Orleans on the road, facing the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Among the Saints’ roster, newcomer Jeremiah Wright wears No. 65. A rookie offensive lineman, Wright was selected in the fourth round with the expectation that he could eventually step into Cesar Ruiz’s role at right guard. Unless his number changes before the season, Wright will become the 20th Saint to don 65. Our countdown to kickoff continues with a retrospective on all who have worn the number.
Tom Carr was the first Saint to wear 65, doing so in 1968 for four games. He is one of only two defensive players to wear the number among the 19 players who have worn it. The other is Oakley Dalton, a 12th-round pick who appeared in a single game in 1977. Next came Remi Prudhomme, who broke the barrier as the first offensive player to wear 65, playing 19 games over two seasons mostly in reserve duty. Dave Thompson then wore it for two years, appearing in 21 contests on the offensive line. Jeff Hart spent one year with the Saints but did not appear in a game.
Robert Woods joined the team for the final four seasons of his eight-year NFL career, wearing 65 for 45 games and serving as a two-year starter at right tackle. He was followed by Bob Young, whose tenure with the Saints culminated in the final year of his 16-year career, although he made only two game appearances. David Carter spent two seasons and 11 games as a backup while wearing 65. Adam Schreiber, in his second of 16 NFL seasons, was with New Orleans but played in just one game.
Steve Trapilo, drafted in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL Draft, was the first Saints draft pick to wear 65. A sturdy right guard, Trapilo became part of a rugged offensive line that logged 57 games—tied for the second-longest tenure among Saints to wear the number. Willie Williams contributed a full season, starting five games during his time in New Orleans.
With the 10th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, the Saints selected Chris Naeole from the Colorado Buffaloes. Naeole is the highest-drafted Saints player to wear 65. He appeared in 67 games for New Orleans, the most by any player to don the number, and was a standout right guard on a strong Saints offensive line across five seasons. This history adds depth to the legacy of 65, a number worn by a mix of defensive and offensive linemen over the years, each contributing to the team in distinct eras. As Wright steps into the role, the ongoing chapter of 65’s lineage continues to unfold for the Saints.