The New Orleans Saints carry a deep No. 28 legacy into the 2025 opener against the Arizona Cardinals, a roster thread that runs from the Dome Patrol-era savages to today’s fresh faces. Julian Blackmon is the latest to slide into No. 28, teaming with Justin Reid to form a younger, more athletic safety duo in a rebuild-minded secondary. The piece traces a long line of No. 28 wearers—greats and flashes alike—highlighting Gene Atkins’s seven-year run and Latavius Murray’s two-year surge, among others, as the jersey’s enduring mark on Saints defense and identity.

Blackmon’s arrival signals a shift toward playmaking and turnover potential, a key fantasy implication as Reid and Blackmon look to spark more turnovers and limit big plays. The No. 28 thread stretches through Antonio Williams, Mark Ingram II (the early high draft pick who wore 28 briefly before settling at 22), C.J. Spiller’s questionable tenure, and Latavius Murray’s efficient run—reminders that the Saints prize versatility and a defensive tone-setter when selecting this number. In a franchise already rebuilding, Blackmon’s No. 28 could translate into immediate splash plays and improved back-end efficiency as the season opens in Week 1.

In short, the No. 28 story is about more than a number; it’s a lens on New Orleans’ evolving defense and a signal to fantasy managers to watch the back end closely as Blackmon and Reid try to recreate a disruptive secondary identity for a Saints squad chasing a return to form.