49 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 49 jersey

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49 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 49 jersey

Bob Rose , Saints Wire

Sun, Jul 26, 2026 ·

2 min read

Saints History of No. 49

DB Major Hazelton (1970)

WR Bob Wicks (1974)

DB Ralph McGill (1978-79)

WR Artie Owens (1980)

DB Frank Wattelet (1981-87)

TE Tommie Stowers (1992-93)

DB Shiloh Keo (2016)

LS Zach Wood (2017-current)

Major Hazelton was the first to don a No. 49 for New Orleans, but did so for only three games in 1970. Bob Wicks was the first offensive player to wear it, only playing in five contests for the team without a catch. Ralph McGill came over from the rival San Francisco 49ers for the last year of an eight year career. McGill played one year and 13 games for the Saints, intercepting one pass and recovering a fumble.

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 21: Safety Frank Wattelet #49 and linebacker Rickey Jackson #57 of the New Orleans Saints make a play against running back Roger Craig #33 of the San Francisco 49ers during the game at Candlestick Park on September 21, 1986 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 26-17. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

None of the eight players who wore No. 49 for the Saints were drafted by the franchise. Only Frank Wattelet began his NFL career with New Orleans, arriving as an undrafted rookie in 1981. Wattelet was with the Saints for seven years and 91 games, the second longest tenure for anyone to wear 49 with the team without it being close. The 16 games Tommie Stowers played with the Saints in No. 49 is the third longest stretch. Wattelet showed good ball skills in the New Orleans secondary, intercepting 12 passes over his career and adding 10 fumble recoveries.

Zach Wood is the longest-tenured Saint to wear 49, suiting up in all 149 of the New Orleans games since arriving in 2017. Listed as a defensive end, Wood has never played a defensive snap. Instead, he's one of the NFL's most steady long snappers and a crucial player if at an often undervalued position. Wood will extend his streak into 2026 as the glue of a rebuilding Saints special teams units.

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Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Young athletes run drills during his Youth Football Camp at Pine Forest High School Saturday, July 11, 2026, Emerson was on hand helping to run drills, engage with the youth, and provide hydration, giveaways, and lunch.

(John Blackie/Pensacola News Journal, John Blackie/Pensacola News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

49 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 49 jersey

Saints History of No. 49

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

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Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

Photos from Saints DB Martin Emerson Jr.'s youth football camp

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