40 days until Saints opener: Every player to wear the No. 40 jersey
Brian Milne and Delvin Breaux created some memorable moments as we look into the New Orleans Saints' history of the No. 40 jersey.
Amidst the 40-day countdown to New Orleans Saints' 2026 opener, fans will witness a unique jersey numbering tradition. The team will welcome second-year edge rusher Fadil Diggs, who dons the No. 40 jersey throughout his tenure with the Saints. Drafted in 2025 as a seventh-round pick, Diggs has seen limited playing time as a rookie.
He follows a long line of Saints players who have worn the No. 40 jersey since 1970, with 18 players having worn it for various lengths of time. Notable past wearers include RB Earl Gros, who donned the jersey for a single game; RB Hoyle Granger, the first to wear it for an entire season; and CB Terry Schmidt, the first to keep it for more than one season while leading the defense in 1974.
Notable players with short-lived tenure wearing No. 40 include CB Robert Massey, Brian Milne, Delvin Breaux, and the recent addition, Fadil Diggs.
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