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There are just 94 days remaining until the New Orleans Saints 2026 season opener. New Orleans will be on the road to start their year, facing off against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. As the Saints go through their OTA workouts, there is nobody wearing the No. 94 uniform. It's an odd sight to see, because for the last 15 seasons the owner of the 94 jersey was the incomparable Cameron Jordan in New Orleans.
Jordan is one of six players to ever wear No. 94 in Saints history. He's been the best to do it, but perhaps by not as wide of a margin as you'd think. The 94 jersey had been worn by a few other Saints greats previous to Jordan. We take a look at them as our Countdown to Kickoff series continues.
Jim Wilks was the first player to wear No. 94 for the Saints and the first New Orleans draft pick to do so. A 12th round choice in the 1981 NFL Draft, Wilks was the last pick in a major draft haul for the Saints that included Rickey Jackson, George Rogers, Frank Warren, Hoby Brenner, Johnnie Poe, and Hokie Gajan. Six of those players, including Wilks, would end up in the Saints Hall of Fame. Wilks played all of his 13 seasons in New Orleans, suiting up for 183 games. Often overlooked in a defense that featured the intimidating Dome Patrol linebackers, Wilks contributed 49 sacks and forced 12 fumbles. He was a member of the Saints 45th Anniversary team and in 2001 was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame.
Upon Wilks' retirement after the 1993 season, the number 94 was immediately filled by Joe Johnson. The 13th choice in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft, Johnson holds the distinction of being the highest drafted player by New Orleans to wear No. 94. He'd be with the Saints for eight of his ten seasons, including a missed 1999 campaign because of injury, and played a total of 106 games for the team. While with New Orleans, Johnson was a key figure on one of the NFL's top defensive lines. Over seven years, he had 50.5 sacks with 13 fumbles forced and a defensive touchdown. Johnson made two Pro Bowls, including one after 12 sacks in 2000. He joined Wilks on the Saints 45th Anniversary squad and was inducted into the franchise Hall of Fame in 2007.
Charles Grant continued the excellence of No. 94 by taking over the number in 2002 after Johnson's departure. Grant came to the Saints as the 25th overall choice in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He'd be with New Orleans for the entirety of his eight-year career, suiting up in 118 contests. Grant was also paramount to the success of an outstanding defensive front, recording 47 sacks along with 66 tackles for loss, 16 forced fumbles, 31 tipped passes, and a defensive score.
When Grant left after the 2009 campaign, a Super Bowl championship season, two players would don the No. 94 the following year. Linebackers K.C. Asiodu and Kawicka Mitchell each wore the number for one game. They are a mere footnote in what has been the wild success of the 94 jersey for the Saints. As great as Jim Wilks, Joe Johnson, and Charles Grant were, their success and achievements were surpassed by one of the best players in Saints franchise history to wear any number.
With the 24th choice in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, New Orleans selected Cameron Jordan out of California. Between 2011 and 2025, Jordan forged a legendary career. Over that span, he had 132 sacks, 248 QB hits, 175 tackles for loss, 17 forced fumbles, 67 broken up passes, and 3 interceptions with one for a touchdown. Jordan sits atop the career franchise leaders in sacks among many other numbers, with those 132 takedowns second among active players and 19th in NFL history. His 243 games are more than anyone else that has played for New Orleans and 13th all-time in games played for the same team by a non-specialist. Only long-snapper J.J. Jansen of the Carolina Panthers (277) has more games with the same franchise among all active players in the NFL. Cameron Jordan will undoubtedly take his place in the Saints Hall of Fame, with the accolades deserving of a bust in Canton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 94 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 94 jersey
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Jordan is one of six players to ever wear No. 94 in Saints history. He's been the best to do it, but perhaps by not as wide of a margin as you'd think. The 94 jersey had been worn by a few other Saints greats previous to Jordan. We take a look at them as our Countdown to Kickoff series continues.
Saints History of No. 94
- DE Jim Wilks (1981-93)
- DE Joe Johnson (1994-2001)
- DE Charles Grant (2002-09)
- LB K.C. Asiodu (2010)
- LB Kawicka Mitchell (2010)
- DE Cameron Jordan (2011-25)
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Jim Wilks was the first player to wear No. 94 for the Saints and the first New Orleans draft pick to do so. A 12th round choice in the 1981 NFL Draft, Wilks was the last pick in a major draft haul for the Saints that included Rickey Jackson, George Rogers, Frank Warren, Hoby Brenner, Johnnie Poe, and Hokie Gajan. Six of those players, including Wilks, would end up in the Saints Hall of Fame. Wilks played all of his 13 seasons in New Orleans, suiting up for 183 games. Often overlooked in a defense that featured the intimidating Dome Patrol linebackers, Wilks contributed 49 sacks and forced 12 fumbles. He was a member of the Saints 45th Anniversary team and in 2001 was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame.
Upon Wilks' retirement after the 1993 season, the number 94 was immediately filled by Joe Johnson. The 13th choice in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft, Johnson holds the distinction of being the highest drafted player by New Orleans to wear No. 94. He'd be with the Saints for eight of his ten seasons, including a missed 1999 campaign because of injury, and played a total of 106 games for the team. While with New Orleans, Johnson was a key figure on one of the NFL's top defensive lines. Over seven years, he had 50.5 sacks with 13 fumbles forced and a defensive touchdown. Johnson made two Pro Bowls, including one after 12 sacks in 2000. He joined Wilks on the Saints 45th Anniversary squad and was inducted into the franchise Hall of Fame in 2007.
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Charles Grant continued the excellence of No. 94 by taking over the number in 2002 after Johnson's departure. Grant came to the Saints as the 25th overall choice in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He'd be with New Orleans for the entirety of his eight-year career, suiting up in 118 contests. Grant was also paramount to the success of an outstanding defensive front, recording 47 sacks along with 66 tackles for loss, 16 forced fumbles, 31 tipped passes, and a defensive score.
When Grant left after the 2009 campaign, a Super Bowl championship season, two players would don the No. 94 the following year. Linebackers K.C. Asiodu and Kawicka Mitchell each wore the number for one game. They are a mere footnote in what has been the wild success of the 94 jersey for the Saints. As great as Jim Wilks, Joe Johnson, and Charles Grant were, their success and achievements were surpassed by one of the best players in Saints franchise history to wear any number.
You must be registered for see images attach
With the 24th choice in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, New Orleans selected Cameron Jordan out of California. Between 2011 and 2025, Jordan forged a legendary career. Over that span, he had 132 sacks, 248 QB hits, 175 tackles for loss, 17 forced fumbles, 67 broken up passes, and 3 interceptions with one for a touchdown. Jordan sits atop the career franchise leaders in sacks among many other numbers, with those 132 takedowns second among active players and 19th in NFL history. His 243 games are more than anyone else that has played for New Orleans and 13th all-time in games played for the same team by a non-specialist. Only long-snapper J.J. Jansen of the Carolina Panthers (277) has more games with the same franchise among all active players in the NFL. Cameron Jordan will undoubtedly take his place in the Saints Hall of Fame, with the accolades deserving of a bust in Canton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 94 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 94 jersey
Continue reading...
