Countdown to New Orleans Saints Kickoff: A History of No. 3

The New Orleans Saints are only 3 days away from their first game of the 2017 season. The Saints travel north to face the Minnesota Vikings in the 1st Monday night football game of the year. Canal Street Chronicles continues our countdown to kickoff series, by looking back at some of the Saints players who have worn the No. 3.

Bobby Hebert (QB, 1985-1992)

Hebert joined the Saints in 1985 after a three-year career in the USFL, where he won the league's 1st championship with the Michigan Panthers and ended as the league's all-time leading passer. After two years as Dave Wilson's backup, Hebert was named the team's starter for the 1987 season, where he led the Saints to their first winning record and 1st playoff berth in franchise history.

Hebert's 3,156 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and almost 59% completion percentage in 1988 all ranked within the NFL top 10, as he led the Saints to a second consecutive winning season at 10-6, although just narrowly missing the playoffs. After holding out the entire 1990 season due to a contract dispute, Hebert returned for the '91 season to lead the Saints back to the playoffs, and the first divisional title in franchise history by going 8-1 in his 9 starts. He again finished in the league's top 10 in passing yards (3,287), passer rating (82.7), and touchdowns (19) during a 1992 season where he had a 12-4 record as a starter while leading New Orleans once again into the postseason. Hebert left the Saints after that season, finishing his last four years with the Atlanta Falcons.

Bobby Hebert finished his Saints career with a record of 49-26 as a starter, and his 14,630 passing yards and 85 touchdowns each rank 4th on the team's all-time list. He was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 1999.

John Carney (K, 2001-2006, 2009-2010)

Carney kicked in the NFL for an incredible 23 years. He first joined New Orleans in 2001 after spending 11 years with San Diego. He ranked within the league's top 5 in field goal percentage in 2001, '02, and '06, while also ranking in the league's top 10 in field goals made and total points scored in each of those seasons. He left New Orleans after the '06 season as a free agent, but returned in 2009 as a replacement to the suspended Garrett Hartley.

Carney kicked in the first 11 games for the eventual Super Bowl champions, scoring 89 points and converting on nearly 77% of his field goal attempts. He was re-activated for two games in 2010 as a temporary replacement to Hartley, then subsequently released, bringing an end to his career.

Carney had an 82.8% field goal percentage during his eight total years with New Orleans, scoring a total of 768 points. He was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2014.

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Kicker Wil Lutz enters his second season with New Orleans. He was signed just before the regular season opener in 2016, and after some struggles through the first half kicked well down the final stretch of the year. Lutz missed just two of his 25 attempts from less than 50 yards last season, nailed a long of 57 yards, finished 5th in the league with 133 points, and was voted onto the NFL's All-Rookie team.

Other Saints players to wear No. 3: Skip Butler (1971), John Leypoldt (1978), Mark Royals (1997-98), Shayne Graham (2013-14)