The New Orleans Saints are officially just 59 days away from opening their 2026 regular season against the Detroit Lions, but the ghost of a former Seahawks Pro Bowler still looms over the jersey number that's sitting empty on their current roster. That's right, no one on the Saints is rocking No. 59 right now, which is wild considering some of the history behind it, including a guy who used to dominate for *our* beloved Emerald City squad.
From Saints Originals to Our Guy Rufus: The Early Years of No. 59
The No. 59 jersey has seen some action in New Orleans, starting way back with linebacker Fred Whittingham, who played 20 games in the franchise's first two years. Then came Wayne Colman, a starting linebacker for most of his seven seasons, playing 79 games and racking up 2 interceptions, 2 sacks, and 5 fumble recoveries. Chuck Evans, an eighth-round pick in 1980, followed, giving them 26 games as a reserve. Even offensive lineman James Campen wore it, the only O-lineman to date, playing just six games in '87 and '88, with three starts during the player strike. But then, our guy, Rufus Porter, stepped into that No. 59 for the Saints in '95. You remember Rufus, right? The two-time Pro Bowler for the Seahawks! It’s tough to hear, but the source says he was "no longer that caliber of player" by the time he hit New Orleans. He spent two years there, managing 3 sacks and a forced fumble in 26 games. That's a far cry from his Seattle glory days. After Porter, the Saints did strike gold with undrafted linebacker Keith Mitchell, who tied Colman for the longest tenure in the 59 jersey at 79 games over five years. Mitchell was a legit playmaker, scoring 3 touchdowns, grabbing 4 interceptions, forcing or recovering 17 fumbles, piling up 18.5 sacks, and nearly 400 total tackles. That's how you turn an undrafted opportunity into a legacy!The No. 59 Curse: A Quarter-Century of Struggles
Since Mitchell's departure, it's been a revolving door, almost like No. 59 got cursed. In the last 25 years, 11 different defenders have tried to make it work, but none have stuck around for even two full seasons. J.J. Jones played only one year. Derrick Rogers came closest to two years with 23 outings. Ronald McKinnon and Matt McCoy lasted less than a single season. Anthony Waters was on the roster for two seasons but only saw action in 13 games. And get this: Nate Bussey was the highest-drafted Saint to wear 59, a seventh-round pick in 2011, and he officially appeared in zero games. Zero! Trajan Jeffcoat wore it in 2024, and Coziah Izzard in 2025. So, as the Saints gear up to travel north for their season opener against the Lions, they've got an empty No. 59 jersey and a whole lot of history to live up to. Will someone finally break the streak and make that number their own, or will it remain a symbol of lost potential and a reminder of a Seahawks legend's twilight years? We'll find out in 59 days!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.