Saints countdown: Justin Reid to debut in No. 21 jersey
Veteran safety Justin Reid will wear No. 21 for the New Orleans Saints as the team prepares for its season opener against the Detroit Lions.
The New Orleans Saints will open their 2026 campaign on September 13 against the Detroit Lions, with veteran safety Justin Reid slated to wear the No. 21 jersey. Reid, signed as a free agent in the 2025 offseason, is the latest in a line of 28 players who have donned the number since the franchise’s inaugural draft in 1967. The piece chronicles each former No. 21, from early defensive backs like John Douglas to notable running backs such as Dalton Hilliard and recent contributors like Jamaal Williams.
It notes that most of the 27 previous wearers held the number for a single season or less, and highlights Reid’s role in the Saints' defensive plans after his time with two Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs teams. The countdown serves as a historical look ahead of the upcoming kickoff.
Why it matters
It highlights the Saints' roster update and honors the legacy of a historic jersey number before the new season begins.
In this story
