Best Saints By The Numbers: #57

All summer long, we’re going to list the best players in New Orleans Saints history to wear every number, 00-99.

Yesterday, we did #56.

Today, #57:

The pick: Rickey Jackson

When deciding who is the best New Orleans Saints player to ever wear #57, the choice is limited to offensive lineman Larry Coombs, long snapper Jason Kyle, and linebackers Mike Morgan, Jim Merlo, Rickey Jackson, Curtis Holden, and Colby Bockwoldt.

Our selection, a pretty easy one, is going to be Jackson, an outside linebacker, who played for the Saints for 13 years, from 1981-1993.

After playing his college football at Pittsburgh, Jackson was selected by the Saints in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-2, 243-pound Jackson was part of the first Bum Phillips draft class, which also featured the likes of George Rogers, Frank Warren, Hoby Brenner, and Jim Wilks.

As a member of the “Dome Parol” linebacking corps, Jackson was a 13-year starter for the Saints, compiling 1,104 tackles, to go along with 115 sacks, seven interceptions, and 27 fumble recoveries.

A six-time Pro Bowler during his time with the Saints, Jackson was a key fixture in of one of the top defensive units in the league during his time with the franchise, and ranks as arguably the best player in franchise history.

Jackson left the Saints following the 1993 and spent the final two season of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played for two seasons, prior to retiring after the 1995 season.

In all, Jackson played in 15 seasons in the NFL, recording 1,173 tackles, 128 sacks, 8 interceptions, and 29 11 fumble recoveries.

In 2010, Jackson was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.