Countdown to New Orleans Saints Kickoff: A History of No. 2

The 2017 regular season has begun, but the New Orleans Saints must wait 2 more days before the initial kickoff of their new year. The Saints will begin the season by taking on the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis, MN on Monday night football.

Canal Street Chronicles pushes our way towards the finish line of an eventful offseason by today looking back at the Saints players who have worn the No. 2 for New Orleans.

Aaron Brooks (QB, 2000-2005)

The Saints traded for Brooks in the 2000 offseason, after he had spent a year as one of Brett Favre's backups in Green Bay. Brooks became a starter in the 11th week that year, when starter Jeff Blake went down with injury. He went 3-2 down the stretch, and led New Orleans to it's first playoff win in franchise history, throwing for 266 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 31-28 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams.

Brooks threw for a career high 3,832 yards in his first full year as a starter in 2001. That was the first of 4 straight seasons that he finished in the top 10 in passing yards, while finishing in the top 10 in touchdowns and completions 3 of those 4 years. His career high 27 touchdown passes in 2002 led a Saints scoring offense that finished 3rd in the league, as New Orleans was in playoff contention entering the season's final month each of Brooks' first three years as starter.

The 2005 season was Brooks' worst as a pro, resulting in him being benched over the season's final 3 games, then released at year's end. He would go on to play 2006, his final season, with the Oakland Raiders. Brooks had a 38-44 record as Saints starter, 35-34 before that '05 season, starting 82 consecutive games. His 120 touchdown passes ranks 2nd in Saints history, behind only the great Drew Brees, and his 19,156 passing yards ranks 3rd in team history. Aaron Brooks was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2014.

John Kasay (K, 2011)

The Saints signed Kasey as a free agent in 2011 to replace injured starting kicker Garrett Hartley. Kasey had started his first four years in Seattle, then had kicked for the Carolina Panthers for 15 years before joining the Saints. The 2011 season saw Kasey finish 2nd in the NFL with a career high 147 points. He was perfect on all 63 of his extra point attempts, also ranking second in the league, and converted over 82% of his field goal attempts. He was released in the preseason of 2012, upon Hartley's return, and went on to retire later that year.

Other Saints players to wear No. 2: Chip Lohmiller (1995), Olindo Mare (2007), Zach Hocker (2015)