Just 13 days from today will see the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals square off in the regular season opener for both teams in the Superdome. Velus Jones Jr. has worn No. 13 for the Saints throughout training camp and preseason. It’s a number that hasn’t been worn often in franchise history, only six players have done so. However, it was worn by an NFL record-holder and one of the most productive players in the history of New Orleans. Here’s a look at each player who wore this jersey.
Saints’ History of No. 13
QB Doug Nussmeier (1996-97)
WR Joe Morgan (2012, 2014-15)
WR Michael Thomas (2016-23)
WR Equanimeous St. Brown (2024)
RB Velus Jones Jr. (current)
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Larry Cipa was the first to wear No. 13 for New Orleans and also the first Saints draft choice to wear it. A Round 15 selection in 1974, Cipa was a backup quarterback for two seasons. He appeared in eight games, making three starts with a 1-2 record. Cipa had a completion percentage of 37%, throwing for 424 yards with a touchdown and 3 interceptions. After Cipa, it would take over two decades before another New Orleans player would wear a No. 13 jersey.
Doug Nussmeier was a fourth-round choice by the Saints in the 1994 NFL draft. Nussmeier would be with the team for four years, but wouldn’t appear in a game until 1996 and played in just five games over that year and the next. He’d make two starts with an 0-2 record out of those five contests, throwing for a total of 455 yards with a touchdown and 3 interceptions on a 56.1% completion percentage. Nussmeier has been an offensive assistant coach at the NFL or college level since 2003 and is entering his first year as the Saints offensive coordinator.
20 Dec 1998: Lamar Smith #36 of the New Orleans Saints running with the ball after he receives the hand off from the Quarterback Kerry Collins #13 during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Saints 19-17.
Kerry Collins had a productive 17-year NFL career that began with the Carolina Panthers and included an NFC championship with the New York Giants. In between that was a forgettable one-year stint with the Saints. Collins was picked up after being released by Carolina in 1998, starting seven games for New Orleans with a 2-5 record. As part of coach Mike Ditka’s ridiculous quarterback carousel, Collins had a 49.2% completion percentage while throwing for 1,202 yards with 4 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
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After Collins, Joseph Morgan would be the next Saints player to wear No. 13 in 2012. Morgan was a lethal deep threat his first year with the Saints, gaining 379 yards and scoring 3 times on only 10 receptions. After that, a series of personal issues and a deep receiving corps limited Morgan to only seven games and 4 catches the rest of his career. Still, his 21 games is the second most of any New Orleans player to wear No. 13.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints reacts after his teams win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Eagles 20-14. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
A Round 2 choice from the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2016 NFL draft, Michael Thomas is the highest-drafted player by the Saints to wear a No. 13 jersey. His 83 games are also the most by far of anyone to wear the number. Thomas had a historic start to his career that has him holding several spots in the New Orleans record books and a few places in the NFL record books.
Nobody in NFL history had more catches or receiving yards than Thomas did over his first four seasons. In that span, he had a yearly average of 117.5 receptions and 1,378 yards. He led the league in catches twice and yardage once, winning the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year award while setting a lengthy list of team records for single game and season production. In 2019, Thomas had 149 catches to set an NFL single-season record.
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Unfortunately, foot injuries that began in 2020 caused Thomas to have a rapid physical deterioration. Between 2020 and his final year with the Saints in 2023, Thomas was only able to suit up in 20 of a possible 67 games and was a shadow of his once-dominant self. A career that started with a probable spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame should still see Thomas someday in the Saints Hall of Fame. His 573 career receptions are third in franchise history, with his 6,569 receiving yards ranking fourth.
Equanimeous St. Brown was a far cry from Michael Thomas when it came to production or impact when he succeeded him in the No. 13 jersey. St. Brown appeared in only two games and did not record a catch. Velus Jones Jr. now may get his turn for a New Orleans offense desperate for playmakers.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 13 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 13