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Sunday marks 56 days until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2026 season. The Saints will travel north to take on the Detroit Lions to start their year on Sunday, Sept. 13. Currently, no player will wear No. 56 for the Saints as they head into training camp.
In New Orleans, the 56 jersey has been worn at an elite level for the last eight seasons by Demario Davis at linebacker. Unfortunately, Davis departed this offseason to the New York Jets as a free agent. Another legendary Saints defender, linebacker Pat Swilling, also wore 56 nearly two and a half decades ago. Our countdown to kickoff series continues with a look at all 19 New Orleans players who have worn this jersey.
James Ferguson was the first to put on 56 for the Saints, doing so for four games in 1968. A 17th-round pick, Ferguson was also the first player drafted by New Orleans to wear 56 and along with center Lee Gross (32 games), one of only two offensive players to wear the number. Willie Hall, Gross, and Reggie Mathis were all Round 2 draft picks by New Orleans, but played a combined 96 games and seven seasons with the team. At 31st overall in 1972, Hall is the highest-drafted player by New Orleans to wear No. 56.
Dennis ''Dirt'' Winston came to the Saints in 1981 as a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Winston played four seasons with New Orleans before ending his career back in Pittsburgh. With New Orleans, Winston had 2 sacks and 7 interceptions, returning two of those for touchdowns in 1984. Of the 19 players to wear No. 56 for the Saints, 16 were linebackers. That includes two who are among the best players in the history of the franchise.
New Orleans used a third-round choice in the 1986 NFL Draft on Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Pat Swilling. He'd have 4 sacks as a rookie reserve in 1986, but would be entrenched as a starter by 1987 and become the final piece in the iconic Dome Patrol foursome of linebackers. Swilling played in 107 regular season games for the Saints over seven years, second only to Demario Davis as the longest to wear No. 56. He had 76.5 sacks as a Saint, still fourth on the franchise's all-time career list.
Swilling had 16.5 sacks in 1989 and an NFL-best 17 sacks in 1991, still a single-season franchise record as he won the 1991 Defensive Player of the Year award. Additionally, Swilling had 3 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, along with 24 forced fumbles with New Orleans. He earned four Pro Bowls and 1st Team All-Pro honors twice with two 2nd Team All-Pro accolades. Pat Swilling has been criminally overlooked for what is a rightful a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. However, he was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2000, joining Dome Patrol teammates Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, and Vaughan Johnson.
Ernest Dixon and Charlie Clemons had some modest success at linebacker wearing No. 56 for the Saints through the late 1990s and early 2000s. They combined to play 94 games in six seasons, recording 18.5 sacks and 3 interceptions. Clemons led the Saints in 2001 with 13.5 sacks. Orlando Ruff followed Clemons in No. 56 in 2003. Ruff played two years with the team, managing 2 interceptions and was among the team leaders in tackles both seasons.
Jo-Lonn Dunbar flashed great potential when arriving to New Orleans as an undrafted rookie in 2008. Dunbar was a special teams star that also started 28 of his 56 games in New Orleans. A knee injury sidelined him for the team's Super Bowl XLIV championship run in 2009, but Dunbar was otherwise a solid all-around defender. He'd return to the Saints in 2015 to finish out his career, but wore No. 54 that year. Ronald Powell showed that same kind of potential, but a knee injury ended his career early. Michael Mauti played three seasons in New Orleans, suiting up in 35 games for mostly standout special teams duty. Mauti also followed in the footsteps of his father, wide receiver Rich Mauti, in a career as a Saint.
It would take tremendous feats to surpass the accomplishments of Pat Swilling in No. 56 with the Saints, but Demario Davis did just that. Once arriving as a free agent in 2018, Davis helped transform the New Orleans defense into an elite unit. He was also an iron man, starting 131 regular season contests while missing just two outings over eight years with the team. Davis was often been overlooked in Pro Bowl and All-Pro voting, but has still managed to go to two Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro recognition during the 2019 campaign and 2nd Team All-Pro honors four times. Demario Davis has averaged over 115 total tackles per year with the Saints. He had 78 stops for loss, 31.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 48 passes broken up. More than just filling up the stat sheet, Davis' elite instincts, athleticism, versatility, and leadership has made him one of the best all-around defenders in the NFL. Even though he appeared to lose a step in 2025, Davis will be greatly missed in the locker room and especially on the field in 2026. Once he concludes his career, Davis will certainly be alongside Pat Swilling in the Saints Hall of Fame and should have enough of a resume', as Swilling does, for a spot in Canton as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 56 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 56 jersey
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In New Orleans, the 56 jersey has been worn at an elite level for the last eight seasons by Demario Davis at linebacker. Unfortunately, Davis departed this offseason to the New York Jets as a free agent. Another legendary Saints defender, linebacker Pat Swilling, also wore 56 nearly two and a half decades ago. Our countdown to kickoff series continues with a look at all 19 New Orleans players who have worn this jersey.
Saints History of No. 56
- C James Ferguson (1968)
- LB Hap Farber (1970)
- LB Willie Hall (1972-73)
- C Lee Gross (1975-77)
- LB Rusty Rebowe (1978)
- LB Reggie Mathis (1979-80)
- LB Dennis Winston (1982-85)
- LB Pat Swilling (1986-92)
- LB Ron Weissenhofer (1987)
- LB Ernest Dixon (1994-97)
- LB Chris Bordano (1998-99)
- LB Charlie Clemons (2001-02)
- LB Orlando Ruff (2003-04)
- LB Alfred Fincher (2005-07)
- LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (2008-11)
- DE Jay Richardson (2013)
- LB Ronald Powell (2014)
- LB Michael Mauti (2015-17)
- LB Demario Davis (2018-25)
James Ferguson was the first to put on 56 for the Saints, doing so for four games in 1968. A 17th-round pick, Ferguson was also the first player drafted by New Orleans to wear 56 and along with center Lee Gross (32 games), one of only two offensive players to wear the number. Willie Hall, Gross, and Reggie Mathis were all Round 2 draft picks by New Orleans, but played a combined 96 games and seven seasons with the team. At 31st overall in 1972, Hall is the highest-drafted player by New Orleans to wear No. 56.
Dennis ''Dirt'' Winston came to the Saints in 1981 as a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Winston played four seasons with New Orleans before ending his career back in Pittsburgh. With New Orleans, Winston had 2 sacks and 7 interceptions, returning two of those for touchdowns in 1984. Of the 19 players to wear No. 56 for the Saints, 16 were linebackers. That includes two who are among the best players in the history of the franchise.
New Orleans used a third-round choice in the 1986 NFL Draft on Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Pat Swilling. He'd have 4 sacks as a rookie reserve in 1986, but would be entrenched as a starter by 1987 and become the final piece in the iconic Dome Patrol foursome of linebackers. Swilling played in 107 regular season games for the Saints over seven years, second only to Demario Davis as the longest to wear No. 56. He had 76.5 sacks as a Saint, still fourth on the franchise's all-time career list.
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Swilling had 16.5 sacks in 1989 and an NFL-best 17 sacks in 1991, still a single-season franchise record as he won the 1991 Defensive Player of the Year award. Additionally, Swilling had 3 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, along with 24 forced fumbles with New Orleans. He earned four Pro Bowls and 1st Team All-Pro honors twice with two 2nd Team All-Pro accolades. Pat Swilling has been criminally overlooked for what is a rightful a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. However, he was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2000, joining Dome Patrol teammates Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, and Vaughan Johnson.
Ernest Dixon and Charlie Clemons had some modest success at linebacker wearing No. 56 for the Saints through the late 1990s and early 2000s. They combined to play 94 games in six seasons, recording 18.5 sacks and 3 interceptions. Clemons led the Saints in 2001 with 13.5 sacks. Orlando Ruff followed Clemons in No. 56 in 2003. Ruff played two years with the team, managing 2 interceptions and was among the team leaders in tackles both seasons.
Jo-Lonn Dunbar flashed great potential when arriving to New Orleans as an undrafted rookie in 2008. Dunbar was a special teams star that also started 28 of his 56 games in New Orleans. A knee injury sidelined him for the team's Super Bowl XLIV championship run in 2009, but Dunbar was otherwise a solid all-around defender. He'd return to the Saints in 2015 to finish out his career, but wore No. 54 that year. Ronald Powell showed that same kind of potential, but a knee injury ended his career early. Michael Mauti played three seasons in New Orleans, suiting up in 35 games for mostly standout special teams duty. Mauti also followed in the footsteps of his father, wide receiver Rich Mauti, in a career as a Saint.
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It would take tremendous feats to surpass the accomplishments of Pat Swilling in No. 56 with the Saints, but Demario Davis did just that. Once arriving as a free agent in 2018, Davis helped transform the New Orleans defense into an elite unit. He was also an iron man, starting 131 regular season contests while missing just two outings over eight years with the team. Davis was often been overlooked in Pro Bowl and All-Pro voting, but has still managed to go to two Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro recognition during the 2019 campaign and 2nd Team All-Pro honors four times. Demario Davis has averaged over 115 total tackles per year with the Saints. He had 78 stops for loss, 31.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 48 passes broken up. More than just filling up the stat sheet, Davis' elite instincts, athleticism, versatility, and leadership has made him one of the best all-around defenders in the NFL. Even though he appeared to lose a step in 2025, Davis will be greatly missed in the locker room and especially on the field in 2026. Once he concludes his career, Davis will certainly be alongside Pat Swilling in the Saints Hall of Fame and should have enough of a resume', as Swilling does, for a spot in Canton as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 56 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 56 jersey
Continue reading...
