In 65 days, the New Orleans Saints will kick off their 2026 regular season. New Orleans starts the year on the road with a showdown at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Wearing No. 65 for the Saints is newcomer Jeremiah Wright, a rookie offensive lineman.
Wright was a fourth-round choice with the hopes that he’ll soon be able to replace Cesar Ruiz at right guard. Unless he changes numbers before the start of the year, Wright will become the 20th Saint to wear a 65 jersey. Our countdown to kickoff series rolls on with a look at all who wore it.
Saints History of No. 65
- DT Tom Carr (1968)
- G Remi Prudhomme (1971-72)
- OT Dave Thompson (1974-75)
- OT Jeff Hart (1976)
- DT Oakley Dalton (1977)
- OT Robert Woods (1977-80)
- G Bob Young (1981)
- C David Carter (1984-85)
- G Adam Schreiber (1985)
- G Steve Trapilo (1987-92)
- OT Willie Williams (1994)
- G Chris Naeole (1997-2001)
- G/C LaCharles Bentley (2002-05)
- C Matt Tennant (2010-11)
- G Ricky Henry (2012)
- G Senio Kelemete (2014-17)
- OT Michael Ola (2018)
- OT Caleb Benenoch (2021)
- G Wyatt Davis (2022)
- G Jeremiah Wright (current)
Tom Carr was first to wear a 65 for the Saints, doing so in 1968 for only four games. Carr was the first of only two defensive players out of the 19 to wear the number. The other was Oakley Dalton, a 12th round choice of the Saints who wore it for one game during 1977. Remi Prudhomme followed Carr in the uniform and was the first offensive player to wear it. He did so for 19 games over two years in mostly reserve duty. Dave Thompson also had a two-year stint on the offensive line for 21 contests. Jeff Hart was with New Orleans for one year but had zero game appearances.
Robert Woods joined the Saints for the final four seasons of an eight-year career. He wore 65 for 45 games and was a two-year starter at right tackle. Bob Young immediately followed Woods for what was the final year of his own 16-year career, but had only two game appearances. David Carter had two seasons and 11 appearances as a backup. Adam Schreiber was with the Saints in his second of 16 NFL seasons but would see just one game of action.
Steve Trapilo was the first New Orleans draft pick to wear the the 65 jersey. A fourth-round pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, Trapilo was an underrated right guard for a rugged offensive line through the late 1980s and early 1990s. His 57 games are tied for the second-longest tenure for any Saint who’s worn 65. Willie Williams had one full season, making five starts.
With the tenth overall pick in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft, Chris Naeole was the New Orleans selection from the Colorado Buffaloes. Naeole is the highest-drafted Saints player to wear 65. His 67 games with New Orleans are also the most of anyone to wear the number. Naeole was an outstanding right guard on a strong offensive line in New Orleans through his five seasons before leaving for Jacksonville in free agency.
Following Naeole was LaCharles Bentley, a second-round selection by the Saints in the 2002 NFL Draft. Bentley is the second-highest drafted Saint to wear 65, with his 57 games in the number tied for the second longest tenure. Bentley began his career at guard, but is widely recognized to be one of the best centers the Saints have had. He earned a Pro Bowl selection at both positions after getting 2002 All-Rookie recognition.
After Bentley, Matt Tennant served as a solid backup for two seasons and Ricky Henry appeared in one game wearing the 65 jersey. Then came Senio Kelemete as a free agent. Kelemete put together a quietly solid career with the Saints. His 57 games over six seasons are tied with Bentley and Trapilo as the second-most to wear the number. Kelemete started only 22 of those contests, but was a valuable and versatile reserve at several spots along the offensive line.
Since Kelemete, Michael Ola, Caleb Benenoch, and Wyatt Davis wore 65 for a combined nine games over three seasons each. The most memorable of those was when Benenoch made an emergency start during a 2021 Monday night loss to the Miami Dolphins. Covid had taken out over a third of the New Orleans roster, yet corrupt commissioner Roger Goodell and the league office ignored common sense and decency and refused to postpone the game.
Jeremiah Wright certainly comes in with higher expectations than the last few who were given the 65 uniform. Wright is a somewhat inexperienced but powerful blocker with a good upside. He may not see a lot of reps as a rookie, but figures into the team’s future.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 65 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 65 jersey
