Just 60 days separate us from the 2025 regular season opener for the New Orleans Saints. The Saints will open this season by hosting the Arizona Cardinals to kick off their 59th year in the NFL.
New Orleans is coming off a 5-12 record and will enter the 2025 campaign with Kellen Moore as their new head coach. Reserve offensive lineman Kyle Hergel currently wears number 60 for the Saints. Hergel is looking for his second year with the team after making the squad as an undrafted rookie last season.
Here's a look at all the players previous to Hergel that wore No. 60 for New Orleans.
Saints History of 60
Oct 15, 2017; New Orleans Saints center Max Unger (60) snaps the ball to quarterback Drew Brees (9) against the Detroit Lions. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-Imagn Images
Oct 15, 2017; New Orleans Saints center Max Unger (60) snaps the ball to quarterback Drew Brees (9) against the Detroit Lions. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-Imagn Images
• Brian Schweda, DE (1967-68)
• Doug Sutherland, G (1970)
• Carl Cunningham, LB (1971)
• Greg Westbrooks, LB (1975-77)
• Don Reese, DE (1978-80)
• Steve Korte, C (1983-89)
• Derek Kennard, G (1991-93)
• Craig Novitsky, G (1994-96)
• Kendall Gammon, LS (1997)
• Ben Archibald, OT (2005)
• Nick Leckey, C (2009)
• Brian De La Puente, C (2011-13)
• Max Unger, C (2015-18)
• Patrick Omameh, G (2019)
• Albert Huggins, DT (2021)
• Kyle Hergel, G (2024-present)
Nov 12, 1978; FILE PHOTO; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Steve Bartkowski (10) is pressured by New Orleans Saints defensive end Don Reese (60). Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-Imagn Images
Nov 12, 1978; FILE PHOTO; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Steve Bartkowski (10) is pressured by New Orleans Saints defensive end Don Reese (60). Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-Imagn Images
Brian Schweda was the first player to wear 60 for the Saints, doing so in their first two seasons of existence. Over those two years, Schweda suited up in 24 games and 2.5 sacks with 3 fumbles forced.
Doug Sutherland was the first Saints draft choice to wear No. 60, though only doing so for 10 games without a start in one season. He was one of seven of the 16 players that wore 60 for New Orleans that did it for one year or less.
The NFL career of Don Reese is most infamous for drug problems and controversies. However, Reese was also a good player. He played three seasons with the Saints, suiting up in 42 games and contributing 17 sacks with 3 fumble recoveries. Sports Illustrated, back when they were a reputable organization, printed a magazine story in 1982 highlighting Reese' drug addiction and behind the scenes issues in the NFL.
New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Steve Korte (60) against the Los Angeles Rams. Credit: signd.com
New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Steve Korte (60) against the Los Angeles Rams. Credit: signd.com
Steve Korte arrived as a Round 2 selection in the 1983 NFL Draft from the Arkansas Razorbacks. The 1983 draft was littered with Pro Football Hall of Fame players in the first round, but Korte would have a quietly solid seven-year career in the NFL.
All of Korte's seven seasons were with the Saints. Over that span, he'd appear in 83 contests with 63 starts. He is the highest drafted player by New Orleans to wear number 60, with the most games played in that jersey number.
Derek Kennard is most famously known for part of a Dallas Cowboys offensive line that dominated the NFL. Kennard played for the Saints before his stint in Dallas. He started all of his 35 games with New Orleans over three years, including 32 consecutive games through the 1992-93 campaigns.
Dec 23, 2012; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) under center with Brian de la Puente (60) during against the Dallas Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Dec 23, 2012; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) under center with Brian de la Puente (60) during against the Dallas Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Craig Novitsky followed Kennard in No. 60 as a fifth round choice in the 1994 NFL Draft. Novitsky played three years with New Orleans, starting 10 of his 41 games played. Kendall Gammon was a long snapper with the Saints for four seasons, but only wore 60 for the second of those four years.
The Saints have had several standout centers over the years, including Korte, Brian De La Puente, and Max Unger in the number 60. De La Puente was the center for some of the most prolific offenses in NFL history, starting 44 of 48 games between 2011 and 2013.
Unger was part of a 2015 offseason trade that sent All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks. He was an outstanding addition to an already strong line in New Orleans.
Oct 2, 2016; New Orleans Saints center Max Unger (60) looks over the San Diego Chargers defense before the snap. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
Oct 2, 2016; New Orleans Saints center Max Unger (60) looks over the San Diego Chargers defense before the snap. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
Unger started 63 of a possible 64 games during his four seasons as a Saint before retirement, consistently playing at a Pro Bowl level. Only Korte has played more games for New Orleans while wearing number 60.
Since Unger's retirement, three players have worn 60 for New Orleans in six years since 2019. If Kyle Hergel makes the team and keeps his current number, he'll be the first of the last three to do it for more than one season.