Saturday marks 43 days until the New Orleans Saints regular season officially begins. New Orleans will be on the road to start 2026 with a showdown at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Undrafted rookie running back CJ Donaldson is wearing No. 43 for the Saints at the start of training camp.
Donaldson finished his collegiate career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, a program where the Saints have had a lot of success. He's trying to become the team's latest undrafted gem, but also the 18th player to wear the 43 jersey in franchise history. Here's a look at each who did it previously.
Saints History of No. 43
- DB Dicky Lyons (1970)
- RB Dave Kopay (1971)
- RB Larry Collins (1980)
- RB Bobby Fowler (1985)
- RB Garland Jean-Baptiste (1987)
- DB Kim Phillips (1989)
- CB Tyrone Legette (1992-95)
- CB Ashley Ambrose (1999)
- CB Keyuo Craver (2002)
- CB Mike McKenzie (2004)
- S Kevin Kaesviharn (2007-08)
- RB Darren Sproles (2011-13)
- S Vinnie Sunseri (2014)
- S Marcus Williams (2017-21)
- LB Ryan Connelly (2021)
- P Matthew Hayball (2024)
- CB Michael Davis (2025)
Dicky Lyons was the first to wear the No. 43 with New Orleans, intercepting one pass in his four games with the Saints. Dave Kopay was the first offensive player
to do it, playing 10 games in 1971 but not recording an offensive statistic. The number wouldn't be worn again until 1980. Kim Phillips, a Round 3 choice (79th overall) in 1989, was the first New Orleans draft pick to wear No. 43. Phillips lasted just one season and five games with the Saints and was out of the league altogether by 1991.
None of the first six players that wore 43 for the Saints lasted a complete season, playing only 40 games combined. The first to break that trend was Tyrone Leggett, who arrived as a third round pick in the NFL draft from the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Leggett was the 72nd overall selection, making him the second highest New Orleans draft choice to wear No. 43. He played 53 games for the team over four years, also making him the second longest stint for the franchise in that jersey. As a Saint, Leggett had just 1 interception and 2 sacks in largely reserve duty.
After Leggett came four defensive backs to wear 43 over the next 13 years, with none wearing it for more than a year. Mike McKenzie had a successful six-year stint with New Orleans but only wore 43 during his first season with the team before switching to No. 34. In all, 13 of the 17 players that had 43 with the Saints wore the jersey for one season or less.
The arrival of Darren Sproles as a free agent in 2010 boosted an already elite offense to historical levels. He was with the Saints for just three years and 44 games, but was an incredible all-purpose threat. Sproles accounted for 3,048 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns with New Orleans, adding another 2,492 yards and a score on kick and punt returns. His 2,696 all-purpose yards in 2011 set an NFL record that still stands, while his 86 receptions in 2011 set a single-season franchise record for a running back.
Marcus Williams was selected by the Saints in Round 2 of the 2017 NFL draft with the 42nd overall choice. He is the highest drafted player by New Orleans to wear No. 43, with his 76 games also the most for any player to wear the jersey. Williams was a ball hawk during his time with the Saints. In his five years with the team, he'd intercept 15 passes, broke up 38 others, and forced 3 fumbles.
Following Williams, Ryan Connelly played only one game in the uniform and Matthew Hayball was one of a revolving door of punters the Saints have used for one year each. Michael Davis appeared in 11 contests last season as a special teams contributor. CJ Donaldson now gets his chance at becoming the first offensive player to wear 43 in New Orleans in over a dozen years.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 43 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 43 jersey
