With 24 days left until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2026 season, the number on the countdown lines up neatly with the number on Devin Neal’s back. The Saints open on the road at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13, and Neal is now wearing No. 24 as he tries to carve out a bigger role after a promising rookie season.
Neal is also the latest name in a long line of Saints to wear that jersey. He’s the 26th player in franchise history to take the field in No. 24, a group that stretches all the way back to the team’s early years and runs through a mix of defensive backs, running backs, and safeties.
Elijah Nevett was the first Saint to wear No. 24, doing it over 37 games during the team’s first four seasons. In his final two years with New Orleans, he picked off 6 passes and forced 4 fumbles. The first offensive player in the number was Joe Williams, who put up 188 yards from scrimmage in 14 games during his lone season with the club.
A few years later, Clarence Chapman quietly became one of the most durable No. 24s in Saints history. The defensive back played 57 games for New Orleans and finished with 5 interceptions. Marvin Lewis was the first Saints draft pick to wear the number, though the sixth-round selection in 1982 lasted just one game with the team.
Terry Hoage brought a different kind of pedigree. He was the first New Orleans defensive player drafted to wear No. 24, and he arrived after starring at Georgia on a team that played for the national championship. Hoage spent the first two years of his 12-year NFL career in New Orleans and turned in a strong 1984 season with 4 interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, plus 92 tackles, which ranked second on the team.
Milton Mack owns the record for most games played by a Saint in No. 24.
The fifth-round pick out of Alcorn State appeared in 67 games over six seasons and intercepted 7 passes, including 4 as a rookie in 1987. He also finished his Saints run with 2 sacks.
The number has also had its share of productive runners. Derek Brown wore it as a rookie in 1993 and led the team with 705 rushing yards, the best total of his four-year career.
Mario Bates, the highest-drafted Saint to wear No. 24, came in as a second-round pick in 1994 and made the biggest offensive mark of the group. Over four seasons, he ran for 2,554 yards and 21 touchdowns, with his best year coming in 1995 when he paced the team with 951 rushing yards and 7 scores.
Since Bates, the jersey has bounced around more often. In the 28 years after his arrival, 14 players have worn No. 24, and only four lasted more than two seasons in it.
Fred Weary was one of them. A fourth-round pick in 1998, he spent four seasons with the Saints and recorded 24 pass breakups, 6 interceptions, and a touchdown return.
Leigh Torrence also made his presence felt in the secondary, coming away with 2 interceptions and 9 pass breakups as a reserve. Corey White had a more boom-or-bust stretch, but he still produced 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 15 pass breakups in three seasons.
Sterling Moore and Vonn Bell each wore the number for two seasons and left a clear imprint. Moore picked off 2 passes, forced a fumble, and broke up 16 throws.
Bell, who wore No. 48 for two years before switching to No. 24, spent four seasons with New Orleans and became one of the team’s most productive all-around defenders. He had just 1 interception, but he also logged 15 pass breakups, 7 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, 8 sacks, and was a steady tackle leader year after year.
The most recent No. 24 before Neal was Johnathan Abram, whose stint is described as forgettable. Before that, Dwayne Washington wore the number after switching from No. 27 and stood out mainly for his special teams work.
Now it belongs to Neal, who played in 10 games as a rookie, flashed real upside, and saw his offensive role grow before an injury ended his season. Entering year two, he remains very much in the mix for the Saints’ No. 3 running back job.
In Other News...
Saints Got An Early Warning Against A Serious NFC Contender
The joint practice in Los Angeles offered the Saints an early look at just how sharp the Rams can be when their offense is clicking. Matthew Stafford looked comfortable and efficient, with Davante Adams emerging as a clear problem for New Orleans to sort through, while tight end Terrance Ferguson and receivers Konata Mumpfield and Jordan Whittington also found ways to make plays. Puka Nacua was out, but the rest of the Rams' passing group still gave the Saints plenty to process.
There was some unevenness behind Stafford, with backup quarterbacks Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson both working through rough stretches before settling in a bit, and Bennett appearing slightly ahead of Simpson. On the other side of the ball, Josaiah Stewart made his presence felt as a disruptive defender, while punter Ethan Evans had some accuracy concerns that stood out. For the Saints, it was the kind of practice that can be useful not just because of what was done well, but because it showed where a contender can still expose openings. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Suddenly Need More From Bryce Lance Than Expected
Bryce Lance did a little more than just take advantage of a busy joint practice against the Rams. The rookie receiver caught all five of his targets and hauled in two touchdown passes from Tyler Shough, a showing that stood out in a session where New Orleans was looking for signs of depth and reliability from its younger pass-catchers. Head coach Kellen Moore singled out Lances contested catches against talented defenders, a notable compliment for a player trying to carve out a larger role early.
The opportunity may be arriving sooner than the Saints expected. With Jordyn Tyson dealing with a hamstring injury that could keep him out for about two months, Lance suddenly looks like someone New Orleans may need to lean on in games, not just in practice. For a rookie, that shifts the conversation from development to responsibility, and it gives the Saints another reason to keep watching whether the flashes he showed against Los Angeles can carry over when the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Face A Roster Squeeze That Could Decide Several Jobs
With the preseason winding down, the Saints are sorting through a roster picture that still has several jobs hanging in the balance. Running backs Kendre Miller, Devin Neal and Ty Chandler are all trying to make the case for one of the limited spots available, while kicker Charlie Smyth is under pressure to sharpen his performance before the team has to make hard decisions.
The competition goes beyond the backfield, too, with Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler battling for backup quarterback duties as the cut deadline approaches. On the perimeter, Bryce Lance, Kevin Austin and Barion Brown have been getting more chances because of injuries and rest days, giving the Saints a longer look at players who could matter when the roster finally gets trimmed. [Read more 🡒]