No. 21 in New Orleans has become a rooted symbol of versatility and playmaking, a jersey history that climbs from the franchise’s early corners to modern multi-faceted backs and shutdown corners. Justin Reid currently wears it for the Saints, but the number’s lineage is packed with names who defined the position and era, from John Douglas to Keenan Lewis and Jamaal Williams. The piece layers in Kamara’s notable 2018-20 No. 21 scoring run, Hilliard’s Pro Bowl season, and a string of one-year stints that defined the jersey’s evolving identity.

For fantasy and betting fans, the history underscores how a No. 21 wearer often signals a defensive-minded deputy or a versatile back who can contribute in multiple ways. Reid’s upcoming 2025 role looms as a focal point in a Saints secondary, while earlier No. 21s show how the number has swung between backfield durability and DB-ball hawking. The season opener vs. Arizona adds a fresh lens to examine the 21 jersey’s influence and the Saints’ evolving offensive-backfield or defensive schemes in a marquee Week 1 matchup.