Best New Orleans Saints Draft Choices From FBS Schools: Pittsburgh

Who is the best player the New Orleans Saints ever drafted from the Pittsburgh Panthers?

From May 1 until the start of the 2016 NFL season on September 11, we’re going to list the best players that the Saints ever drafted from all 128 FBS schools, as of 2015.

Of course, there are a number of schools, including Air Force, Appalachian St., Arizona, Army, Baylor, Boise St., Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Florida, Central Michigan, East Carolina, FAU, FIU, Hawaii, ULM, Miami (Ohio), Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Navy, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico St., Ohio, and South Alabama, in which the Saints have never drafted a player.

Yesterday, we looked at the best player that the Saints ever drafted out of Penn St.

Today, we spotlight the best player the Saints ever drafted from Pittsburgh.

When it comes to selecting the best player the Saints ever drafted from Pittsburgh, the choice is limited to defensive lineman Jerry Boyarsky (1981), running back Craig Heyward (1988), linebacker Rickey Jackson (1981), offensive lineman Bob Kuziel (1972), and defensive lineman Greg Romeus (2011).

The pick is going to be Jackson, a linebacker, who played 4 years for the Saints, from 1967-1970.

After playing his college football at Pittsburgh, Jackson was selected by the Saints in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-2, 243-pound Jackson was part of the first Bum Phillips draft class, which also featured the likes of George Rogers, Frank Warren, Hoby Brenner, and Jim Wilks.

As a member of the “Dome Parol” linebacking corps, Jackson was a 13-year starter for the Saints, compiling 1,104 tackles, to go along with 115 sacks, seven interceptions, and 27 fumble recoveries.

A six-time Pro Bowler during his time with the Saints, Jackson was a key fixture in of one of the top defensive units in the league during his time with the franchise, and ranks as arguably the best player in franchise history.

Jackson left the Saints following the 1993 and spent the final two season of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played for two seasons, prior to retiring after the 1995 season.

In all, Jackson played in 15 seasons in the NFL, recording 1,173 tackles, 128 sacks, 8 interceptions, and 29 11 fumble recoveries.

In 2010, Jackson was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.