Story by
The Black and Gold Pantheon: Who Belongs on the Saints’ Modern Mount Rushmore?
- Story by
- The Black and Gold Pantheon: Who Belongs on the Saints’ Modern Mount Rushmore?
Debating a franchise's "Mount Rushmore" is the ultimate exercise in sports bar diplomacy. It requires weighing peak dominance against career longevity, statistical superiority against emotional resonance, and individual accolades against team success.
For the New Orleans Saints , defining a Mount Rushmore over their entire 60-year history usually leads to a generational divide. The old guard rightfully demands inclusion for the legendary "Dome Patrol" linebackers of the late '80s and early '90s—Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Pat Swilling, and Vaughan Johnson. But if we narrow the lens to the last 30 years, we enter a completely different era of Saints football. This period covers the painful closing acts of the 1990s, the post-Katrina renaissance that birthed a championship culture, and the consistent postseason contention that followed.
Advertisement
If you had to chisel just four faces into a modern, 30-year Black and Gold monument, who earns immortality?
Here are the Top 4 most Who Dat fans will mention, but the tough omissions are a head scratcher and definitely are viable can
1. The Undisputable Cornerstone: Drew Brees (2006–2020)
Let's not waste time debating the obvious. Drew Brees isn't just on the Saints' Mount Rushmore; he is the mountain.
Arriving in 2006 alongside head coach Sean Payton, Brees didn't just resurrect a football franchise; he helped heal a city still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Over 15 seasons, Brees transformed the Saints from historical underdogs into a perennial offensive juggernaut.
Advertisement
The resume speaks for itself:
-
Super Bowl XLIV MVP
-
Two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year
-
A first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer
-
Multiple 5,000-yard passing seasons that altered how modern offense is played
Brees redefined the ceiling of what New Orleans football could achieve. His spot is etched in granite forever.
2. The Defensive Anchor: Cameron Jordan (2011–Present)
If Brees defines the modern offense, Cameron Jordan represents the soul of the modern defense. Drafted in the first round in 2011, Jordan has provided a level of elite consistency on the defensive line that the franchise had rarely seen outside of the Dome Patrol era.
Jordan became the franchise's all-time official sack leader, surpassing Rickey Jackson's team record. Beyond the elite pass-rushing metrics and the eight Pro Bowl nods, Jordan's durability and leadership through multiple eras of Saints football make him a lock. He embraced the city of New Orleans just as fiercely as it embraced him, cementing his status as one of the greatest defensive players to ever wear the Fleur-de-lis.
Advertisement
3. The Ultimate Weapon: Alvin Kamara (2017–Present)
Choosing the third face requires looking at the explosive era of the late 2010s, and no skill player revolutionized the Saints' modern offense quite like Alvin Kamara.
Arriving as a third-round pick in 2017, Kamara instantly won Offensive Rookie of the Year and changed the blueprint for the modern, dual-threat running back. His balance, vision, and deceptive running style turned the Saints' screen game into an unstoppable art form. He holds the franchise records for rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns, highlighted by his unforgettable six-touchdown Christmas Day performance. While guys like Deuce McAllister and Mark Ingram II have massive arguments for their historic contributions and cultural impact, Kamara's peak dominance and sheer statistical output give him the edge.
4. The Unsung Iron Man: Jahri Evans (2006–2016)
Every Mount Rushmore needs a pick that honors the engine room, and the Drew Brees era does not happen without arguably the greatest offensive guard of his generation: Jahri Evans.
Advertisement
Drafted out of tiny Bloomsburg University in 2006, Evans became a fundamental pillar of the Super Bowl-winning roster. He started 169 games for the Black and Gold, earning four First-Team All-Pro selections and five consecutive Pro Bowls. Evans was tasked with keeping the interior pocket clean for a shorter quarterback, and he did it at a Hall of Fame-caliber level for a decade. Putting a lineman on Mount Rushmore isn't flashy, but it's the correct football decision.
The Tough Omissions
Narrowing 30 years down to four names means leaving icons at the base of the mountain:
-
Marques Colston : The most prolific wide receiver in team history, whose quiet consistency defined the early Sean Payton era.
-
Michael Thomas : In 2019, Thomas set the NFL's all-time single-season receptions record with 149 catches.
-
Demario Davis : The emotional heartbeat of the defense since 2018, playing at a First-Team All-Pro level while anchoring the post-Brees era.
-
Deuce McAllister & Mark Ingram II: Two powerhouse backs who carried the franchise during transitional eras and remain beloved pillars of the community.
-
Willie Roaf: A Hall of Fame tackle who dominated the late '90s, though the team's lack of postseason success during his tenure keeps him just outside the top four of the modern era.
A Mount Rushmore is ultimately a reflection of a fan base's identity. If you look at the last 30 years of New Orleans Saints football, it is defined by a rise from irrelevance to championship glory, sustained excellence, and an unbreakable bond between the players and the city. Brees, Jordan, Kamara, and Evans perfectly capture that narrative.
Advertisement
Who makes your cut?Would you swap out a lineman for Colston's stats, or does a guy like Deuce McAllister deserve the spot for what he meant to the fans?
