Saints No. 16 jersey history: every player who wore it

With 16 days until the New Orleans Saints open their 2026 season at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13, third-year wide receiver Bub Means currently wears No. 16 — only the tenth player in franchise history to don that number. After a promising rookie stretch, Means missed all of 2025 with injury but has looked sharp in 2026 training camp as he fights for a spot in the wideout rotation.

Key Takeaways

• Bub Means is the current Saints No. 16 and just the tenth player to wear it since 1967.
• Lance Moore owns the jersey's legacy: 101 games, 346 catches, and a Saints Hall of Fame induction in 2018.
• Ken Stabler, Tom Blanchard, and Ian Book also wore 16 across six decades of Saints football.
• Means missed 2025 with an ankle injury after catching 9 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown early in 2024.
• The Saints' countdown-to-kickoff series tracks jersey history as the Sept. 13 road opener approaches.

Who currently wears No. 16 for the Saints?

Bub Means took over No. 16 in 2024 as a rookie fifth-round pick from the Pitt Panthers. In his first three games of extensive action, he caught 9 passes for 118 yards and a score, showing productive potential before an ankle injury ended his rookie year before the midway point.

Means missed all of 2025 with a separate ankle injury. Through 2026 training camp, however, he has looked extremely sharp and like a legitimate weapon for the New Orleans offensive attack. The Saints travel north to face Detroit on Sept. 13 to begin the regular season.

Which Saints player had the greatest impact in No. 16?

Undrafted wide receiver Lance Moore is the clear answer. Moore played 101 games for the Saints over eight years — by far the most of anyone to wear No. 16. He totaled 346 receptions for 4,281 yards and 38 touchdowns, ranking in the franchise top 10 for catches, receiving yards, and scoring receptions.

Moore's 2008 breakout featured 79 catches, 928 yards, and 10 touchdowns to lead the team in all three categories. He made a critical 2-point conversion catch during the Saints' Super Bowl XLIV victory and became just the seventh Saint with a 1,000-yard receiving season in 2012. He entered the Saints Hall of Fame in 2018.

What is the complete history of the Saints No. 16 jersey?

Bo Burris was the first, a 1967 second-round pick who played three seasons with 4 interceptions and a scoring return. Steve Ramsey was the first offensive player in No. 16, appearing in one 1970 game. Punter Tom Blanchard held the number from 1974–78 across 71 games, ranking third in franchise punts with 447.

Hall of Famer Ken Stabler wore 16 from 1982–84, starting 22 of 25 games with an 11–11 record. Mike Buck, Brandon Coleman, Bennie Fowler, and Ian Book followed across later eras. Book became the first rookie quarterback to start for New Orleans since Archie Manning in 1971, though his 2021 Monday night debut against Miami ended in a 20–6 loss.

How does the No. 16 countdown fit the Saints' preseason build-up?

The franchise has been running a daily countdown-to-kickoff series that pairs remaining days until the opener with jersey-number history. A recent Saints Wire look at No. 18 followed the same format, spotlighting rookie Bryce Lance as the current wearer while tracing names from Hugo Hollas to Terrance Copper.

For more trending countdown and sports coverage, explore our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub. Full No. 16 details are documented in Yahoo Sports' franchise history breakdown.