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A wait of 66 days remain until the New Orleans Saints will open their 2026 season. The Saints will be on the road to start their year, playing at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Reserve guard William Sherman had No. 66 to end last season and remains in the jersey going into training camp.
Sherman bounced around a few practice squads before landing in New Orleans. In doing so, he became the 17th player in franchise history to wear a 66 jersey. Our countdown to kickoff series continues with a look at each of them.
Bill Cody first wore 66 for the Saints, joining the franchise for it's first four years of existence. Cody played 40 games in that stretch, recording an interception and recovering 4 fumbles with 1.5 sacks. Royce Smith was the first offensive player to wear the number. As the eighth overall choice in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft, he's also the highest-drafted player by New Orleans to wear the 66 uniform. However, he played only 24 games and two seasons with the team, making just 13 starts. Rocky Rasley followed him with 14 games in his only season in New Orleans.
Tom Wickert was a Saint for two years, but made only eight game appearances. The infamous Conrad Dobler came to New Orleans in 1978, starting all 16 contests of the 1979 campaign. Louis Oubre was a fifth-round choice of the Saints in the 1981 NFL Draft. Oubre played 37 games in his three years with the team and was an underrated part of the offensive line. Chuck Commiskey wasn't as big of a contributor as Oubre, but was a backup for most of his 34 appearances over his three seasons.
Larry Williams had a brief six-game stretch in 66 with the Saints in 1991 before Mike Verstegen had it a few years later. A third-round pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, Verstegen is the second-highest New Orleans draft choice to wear the 66 uniform. He played with the Saints for two years while appearing in 22 contests. Another five years would pass before someone would again wear 66 for the team. Victor Riley was a Saint for three years, but only wore 66 for his first in 14 games during the 2002 season.
Brian Young is the only defensive player to wear 66 for New Orleans. Young's 64 games is also the longest stretch for anyone to wear the number. Young was with the Saints from 2004 through 2008, the last five of a nine-year career. During that stretch he had 12 sacks with 4 fumbles forced or recovered.
Ben Grubbs was brought in as the starting left guard in 2012 by New Orleans. Grubbs started every game during his three-year stay, making one Pro Bowl. His 48 games are the second-longest tenure of anyone to don the 66 uniform. Grubbs departed after the 2014 season, with nobody owning the 66 jersey for the next seven years. Between 2021 and 2024, Jordan Mills, Forrest Lamp, Lewis Kidd, and Shane Lemieux have all briefly appeared in the uniform. They had only 30 forgettable games combined between them.
William Sherman was brought in early into the 2025 season. Sherman appeared in seven games, making two starts. He'll now compete against some key newcomers to keep a spot on the New Orleans offensive front.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 66 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 66 jersey
Continue reading...
Sherman bounced around a few practice squads before landing in New Orleans. In doing so, he became the 17th player in franchise history to wear a 66 jersey. Our countdown to kickoff series continues with a look at each of them.
Saints History of No. 66
- LB Bill Cody (1967-70)
- G Royce Smith (1972-73)
- G Rocky Rasley (1974)
- OT Tom Wickert (1975-76)
- G Conrad Dobler (1978-79)
- G Louis Oubre (1982-84)
- G Chuck Commiskey (1986-88)
- G Larry Williams (1991)
- G Mike Verstegen (1996-97)
- OT Victor Riley (2002)
- DT Brian Young (2004-08)
- G Ben Grubbs (2012-14)
- OT Jordan Mills (2021)
- G Forrest Lamp (2021)
- OT Lewis Kidd (2022)
- G/C Shane Lemieux (2024)
- OT William Sherman (2025-current)
Bill Cody first wore 66 for the Saints, joining the franchise for it's first four years of existence. Cody played 40 games in that stretch, recording an interception and recovering 4 fumbles with 1.5 sacks. Royce Smith was the first offensive player to wear the number. As the eighth overall choice in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft, he's also the highest-drafted player by New Orleans to wear the 66 uniform. However, he played only 24 games and two seasons with the team, making just 13 starts. Rocky Rasley followed him with 14 games in his only season in New Orleans.
Tom Wickert was a Saint for two years, but made only eight game appearances. The infamous Conrad Dobler came to New Orleans in 1978, starting all 16 contests of the 1979 campaign. Louis Oubre was a fifth-round choice of the Saints in the 1981 NFL Draft. Oubre played 37 games in his three years with the team and was an underrated part of the offensive line. Chuck Commiskey wasn't as big of a contributor as Oubre, but was a backup for most of his 34 appearances over his three seasons.
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Larry Williams had a brief six-game stretch in 66 with the Saints in 1991 before Mike Verstegen had it a few years later. A third-round pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, Verstegen is the second-highest New Orleans draft choice to wear the 66 uniform. He played with the Saints for two years while appearing in 22 contests. Another five years would pass before someone would again wear 66 for the team. Victor Riley was a Saint for three years, but only wore 66 for his first in 14 games during the 2002 season.
Brian Young is the only defensive player to wear 66 for New Orleans. Young's 64 games is also the longest stretch for anyone to wear the number. Young was with the Saints from 2004 through 2008, the last five of a nine-year career. During that stretch he had 12 sacks with 4 fumbles forced or recovered.
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Ben Grubbs was brought in as the starting left guard in 2012 by New Orleans. Grubbs started every game during his three-year stay, making one Pro Bowl. His 48 games are the second-longest tenure of anyone to don the 66 uniform. Grubbs departed after the 2014 season, with nobody owning the 66 jersey for the next seven years. Between 2021 and 2024, Jordan Mills, Forrest Lamp, Lewis Kidd, and Shane Lemieux have all briefly appeared in the uniform. They had only 30 forgettable games combined between them.
William Sherman was brought in early into the 2025 season. Sherman appeared in seven games, making two starts. He'll now compete against some key newcomers to keep a spot on the New Orleans offensive front.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 66 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 66 jersey
Continue reading...
