Best Saints By The Numbers: #59

All summer long, we’re going to list the best players in New Orleans Saints history to wear every number, 00-99.

Yesterday, we did #58.

Today, #59:

The pick: Keith Mitchell

When deciding who is the best New Orleans Saints player to ever wear #59, the choice is limited to offensive lineman James Campen and linebackers Fred Whittingham, Wayne Colman, Chuck Evans, Chris Martin, Rufus Porter, Keith Mitchel, J.J. Jones, Derrick Rodgers,  Ronald McKinnon, Matt McCoy, and Anthony Waters.

Our selection is going to be Mitchell, a linebacker, who played for the Saints for five years, from 1997-2001.

After playing his college football at Texas A&M, where he compiled 34 career sacks, Mitchell was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Saints following the 2001 NFL Draft.

After a rookie year in which he started two games and totaled 4.5 sacks in 2001, Mitchell became a fulltime starter for the next four years, including the 2000 season, in which he was selected to the Pro Bowl, after racking up 60 tackles, to go along with 6.5 sacks.

In five years with the Saints, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Mitchell compiled 259 total tackles, including 18.5 sacks, to go along with eight fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and one touchdown.

Mitchell left the Saints following the 2001 season and signed with the Houston Texans, with whom he played one season, before spending the 2003 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, prior to retiring.

In seven complete NFL seasons, Mitchell accumulated 285 tackles, including 19.5 sacks, to go along with eight fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and one touchdown.