There are 62 days left before the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season and 59th year in the NFL.
New Orleans will open this year at home against the Arizona Cardinals. They'll also do it with a new head coach in Kellen Moore along with several other new faces.
None of the new or returning players wear the uniform number 62 for the Saints currently. It was last worn by guard Lucas Patrick for 11 games last season. Today, we look at all who wore the number 62 for New Orleans.
Saints History of 62
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame center John Hill. Credit: Crescent City Sports
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame center John Hill. Credit: Crescent City Sports
• Ross Gwinn, G (1968)
• John Hill, C (1975-84)
• Brad Leggett, C (1991)
• Jay Hilgenberg, C/G (1993)
• Jeff Uhlenhake, C (1994-95)
• Kandall Gammon, C (1996)
• Jerry Fontenot, C (1997-2003)
• Lawrence Virgil, DT (2014)
• Cameron Tom, C (2020)
• Nick Easton, G (2019-20)
• Tommy Kraemer, G (2023)
• Lucas Patrick, G (2024)
Former New Orleans Saints center Brad Leggett (62) poses with father and former Saints defensive lineman Earl Leggett (left). Credit: Players Capitol Group
Former New Orleans Saints center Brad Leggett (62) poses with father and former Saints defensive lineman Earl Leggett (left). Credit: Players Capitol Group
Ross Gwinn was the first to wear 62 for the Saints, but did it for just two games during the 1968 campaign. It wasn't worn again until the arrival of John Hill in 1975.
Hill played 10 of his 14 NFL seasons with the Saints. He appeared in 138 games in that span, making 134 starts. His tenure with New Orleans is the longest, by far, of any player to wear No. 62.
One of the best linemen in franchise history, John Hill was voted onto the Saints 50th Anniversary squad and in 1992 was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame. Hill and G Jake Kupp, inducted that same season, were the first offensive linemen to receive that honor.
Brad Leggett played three seasons with the Saints, but wore 62 only during the 1991 campaign. Brad's father Earl Leggett was also a standout defensive tackle for the Saints during their first two seasons in 1967 and 1968. Earl and Brad were the first father-son duo to play for New Orleans.
New Orleans Saints center Jerry Fontenot (62). Credit: nosaintshistory.com
New Orleans Saints center Jerry Fontenot (62). Credit: nosaintshistory.com
Jay Hilgenberg played just one year for the Saints in 1993, suiting up for nine games with six starts. Jay had a terrific career with the Chicago Bears before joining his brother Joel Hilgenberg in New Orleans. Joel is one of the better linemen in Saints history. Both brothers ended their NFL careers with New Orleans in 1993.
Jeff Uhlenhake joined the Saints in 1994 after a standout career with the Miami Dolphins. Uhenlake continued strong play in New Orleans, starting 30 contests during his two years with the team.
Kendall Gammon actually played four seasons with the Saints as primarily the team's long-snapper on special teams. He wore 62 for only one of those years, his first with New Orleans.
Jerry Fontenot is a local New Orleans product that starred at Lafayette High School and began his NFL career with the Chicago Bears. After eight years with the Bears, he'd join his former Chicago coach Mike Ditka with the Saints in 1997.
New Orleans Saints center Jerry Fontenot (62) prepares for a snap against the San Diego Chargers. Credit: SB Nation
New Orleans Saints center Jerry Fontenot (62) prepares for a snap against the San Diego Chargers. Credit: SB Nation
Fontenot played seven years in New Orleans, starting 100 games in the process. He was the anchor on one of the league's better offensive lines. His tenure in No. 62 is second only to John Hill for the most in franchise history.
The first and only defensive player to wear 62 for the Saints was Lawrence Virgil, who did it for only one game in 2014. Out of the 12 players to suit up in the number 62 for the franchise, not a single one was drafted by the Saints.
Since Fontenot left after the 2003 season, five players have worn the 62 jersey for the Saints over the last 21 years. Four of them were with the team one year or less, with three combining for just six games.
Nick Easton was the lone exception over those two decades. Easton was a Saint for two years, playing 22 games and making 15 starts. Patrick started 10 of his 11 games with the Saints before departing in free agency this offseason.