With only 18 days remaining until the New Orleans Saints kick off their regular season, anticipation is building. The team's first game of 2026 will be an away match against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 13. Rookie wide receiver Bryce Lance is currently donning the number 18 jersey for the Saints, a number with a significant history within the franchise.
Lance, a fourth-round draft pick, is one of three wide receivers selected by New Orleans this spring. Should he retain the number 18, he will become the twelfth player in the team's history to wear it. The countdown to the season provides an opportune moment to reflect on the various players who have previously worn this distinctive jersey for the Saints.
The lineage of the Saints' number 18 jersey began with Hugo Hollas, who played for three seasons (1970-72), amassing 11 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries. Hollas, the only defensive player to wear number 18 for the Saints, notably led the team in interceptions in both 1970 and 1971. His 35 games played represent the second-highest tally for a Saints player wearing this number. Following Hollas, quarterback Dave Wilson, the first overall pick in the 1981 supplemental draft, took over the jersey. Despite being a collegiate star, Wilson's professional career with the Saints didn't meet expectations, marked by injuries and a 12-19 record over 31 starts. Wade Wilson then wore number 18 for two seasons (1993-94), followed by Terry Guess, a fifth-round pick in 1996, who played only one season. Jeff Blake, initially the starting quarterback in 2000, led the Saints to a 7-4 record before an injury opened the door for Aaron Brooks. Terrance Copper, a valuable backup wide receiver, contributed for three years with 38 receptions and 5 touchdowns. More recently, Keith Kirkwood wore the jersey in two separate stints, primarily contributing on special teams. Quarterbacks Spencer Rattler (2024) and Hunter Dekkers (2025) also briefly held the number, though Rattler later switched to number 2. Bryce Lance, as a current fourth-round pick, is poised to potentially establish a significant legacy with the number 18, bringing considerable promise to an offense in need of dynamic playmakers.
This historical overview of the New Orleans Saints' number 18 jersey exemplifies how individual careers, marked by both challenges and triumphs, contribute to the broader narrative of a team. Each player, whether a long-standing starter or a brief contributor, leaves an indelible mark, reminding us that success is built on the collective efforts and personal journeys of many.
