Countdown to New Orleans Saints Kickoff: A History of No. 75

In 75 days, on Sept. 11, Minnesota Vikings will host the New Orleans Saints, in the 2017 season opener for both teams. Canal Street Chronicles continues our own series of countdown to kickoff, today we take a look at the Saints players that have worn the No. 75.

Elex Price (DT, 1973-1980)

Price joined the Saints in 1973, and was an immediate starter in his first season. He went on to start 57 games in seven seasons with New Orleans. The Saints defenses through the 1970s often struggled, but Price did have six fumble recoveries over his career, as well as a defensive touchdown on his only career interception.

Bruce Clark (DE, 1982-1988)

Clark was a prep star in New Castle, PA. (near my hometown), and after starring at Penn State was the 4th overall selection of the Green Bay Packers in the 1980 draft. Rather than playing for the Packers, Clark instead signed with Toronto of the Canadian Football League. The Saints obtained Clark in a trade with Green Bay for the 1982 season, where he started all nine games in that strike-shortened campaign.

He would start 84 out of the 86 Saints games between 1982-87, often providing a pass rushing presence for the improving New Orleans defense. Clark's best season was 1984, when he earned a Pro Bowl berth for his 10.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception. He left New Orleans after the '88 season to play his final year with Kansas City.

An extremely underrated defender with the Saints, Clark had 39.5 sacks and 9 fumble recoveries over his career, while helping the Saints build into a dominant defensive unit through the 1980s and early '90s.

Doug Marrone (OL, 1989)

Marrone only played two NFL seasons. A three-game stint with Miami during the player's strike of 1987, and seeing action in just one contest with the New Orleans Saints in 1989. It was not as a player that Marrone has made his mark in Saints history. He became a coach once his playing career was over.

After a few collegiate assistant jobs, and four years with the New York Jets, Marrone was hired to be the offensive coordinator on Sean Payton's very first Saints staff in 2006. Together, they teamed with newly signed quarterback Drew Brees to make the Saints one of the most prolific offenses in the league.

After 2008, Marrone departed New Orleans to have some success as head coach at Syracuse University. He eventually went on to become the head coach of the Buffalo Bills for two seasons, and now continues to be one of the better offensive assistants in the league.

Tyrunn Walker (DT, 2012-2014)

Walker received very little playing time during his first season as a Saint in 2012. He did develop into a solid complimentary pass rusher for New Orleans in 2013 and '14, contributing 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. After playing the last two seasons in Detroit, Walker was recently released by the Los Angeles Rams for pending legal allegations.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Andrus Peat (OT, 2015-present)

Peat was the Saints 1st round pick in the 2015 draft from Stanford, the 13th selection overall. He was a part-time starter in his rookie year, but pushed his way into the starting lineup last season, primarily at left guard. Peat and the rest of the Saints line helped pave the way for New Orleans to have their first 1,000-yard rusher (Mark Ingram) since 2006. Andrus Peat looks to be one of the key younger pieces of the Saints offensive line moving into the future.