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Saints Countdown To NFL Kickoff With The History Of Number 70

Sunday means 70 days separate us from now until the 2025-26 season opener for the New Orleans Saints.

New Orleans will open their year at home against the Arizona Cardinals. This is their 59th year of NFL existence, but first season under new head coach after the team finished 5-12 a year ago.

One of the returning faces for the Saints in 2025 is offensive lineman Trevor Penning, who wears jersey number 70. A first round choice in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Northern Iowa, Penning is entering his fourth year with the team but is expected to play guard, his third different position.

The 19th overall pick in 2022, Penning is the second highest drafted New Orleans player to wear 70. Here is a look at all Saints to wear that jersey.

Saints History of 70

• Errol Linden, OT (1969-70)

• Sam Holden, OT (1971)

• Craig Robinson, OT (1972-73)

• Dave Hubbard, OT (1977)

• Mark Meseroll, OT (1978)

• Jim Rourke, OT (1985)

• Bill Contz, OT (1986-88)

• Kevin Haverdink, OT (1989)

• Chris Port, OG (1991-95)

• Marcus Price, OT (2000-01)

• Jammal Brown, OT (2005-08)

• Michael Ola, OT (2019)

• Mitchell Loewen, DE (2017-19)

• Christian Ringo, DE (2021-22)

• Trevor Penning, T/G (2022- present)

September 12, 2021; New Orleans Saints defensive end Christian Ringo (70) celebrates after a sack of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12). Credit: © Bob Self/Florida Times-Union via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Errol Linden was the first to put on a number 70 for New Orleans. However, he didn't appear in any games through his two seasons with the franchise.

Sam Holden was the first player drafted by the Saints to wear number 70 during a regular season game. Holden was a second round choice in 1971. He played in only nine games as a rookie with no starts. It was also the only season of a one-year career in the NFL.

Craig Robinson was the first to play in multiple games for more than one year wearing No. 70 for New Orleans. A 16th round draft pick in 1971, Robinson played in 19 games for the team between the 1972 and 1973 campaigns.

1992 Topps Stadium Club football card of New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Chris Port. Credit: ebay

Five previous players had worn 70 with the Saints between 1969 and 1985 before someone finally started a game in the number. That player was Jim Rourke in 1985, who started five of 13 game appearances in his only year with New Orleans. Bill Contz followed him up by playing three years and 27 games with 16 starts as a Saint.

Kevin Haverdink played three years with New Orleans. However, he wore 70 only during his rookie year of 1989 during 16 games and 7 starts at left tackle. Chris Port arrived as a 12th round choice in 1990. He'd quietly go on to play five years with the Saints, playing in 69 games and making 50 starts.

Amazingly, Port's five years and 69 games are the most for any New Orleans player who has worn the number 70. Only Marcus Price, who played in 19 games without a start over two years, wore 70 for the Saints between 1996 and 2005.

Nov 26, 2006; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Paul Carrington (91) is blocked by by New Orleans Saints tackle Jammal Brown (70). Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dale Zanine Imagn Images Copyright (c) 2006 Dale Zanine

With the 13th choice in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, the Saints selected Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Jammal Brown. After starting at right tackle as a rookie, Brown would be the team's starting left tackle for the next three years.

Brown missed the 2009 season with injury before departing in free agency. Prior to that, he started all of his 58 games with New Orleans over a four year stretch, making two Pro Bowls in the process. Brown's tenure with the team is the second longest of any player who has worn number 70. He is also the highest drafted player by New Orleans to wear this number.

There wasn't a defensive player to wear 70 for the Saints until Mitchell Loewen in 2017. He was with the team for three years, but appeared in just four games. Christian Ringo followed Loewen as No. 70 on the defensive line, playing in 18 games with four starts in two years.

The Saints used the 19th pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Northern Iowa Panthers tackle Trevor Penning. A foot injury sustained in the preseason of his rookie year kept him sidelined for the first 11 games and limited him to only one start.

Sep 18, 2023; New Orleans Saints running back Tony Jones Jr. (34) follows a block by offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Penning struggled tremendously as the left tackle to open the 2023 season. In fact, he was benched in the year's sixth game and only saw limited playing time the rest of the year.

Moved to right tackle in 2024, Penning's play improved slightly and he started all 17 games. After this year's first round pick of Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and 2024 first rounder Taliese Fuaga, it looks like Penning will be moved inside to guard this season.

Now in a contract year, Penning's play at another new position will likely dictate whether he remains in a New Orleans #70 jersey beyond 2025-26.

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