Best Saints By The Numbers: #61

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 #60

Today, #61:

The pick: Joel Hilgenberg

When deciding who is the best New Orleans Saints player to ever wear #61, the choice is limited to offensive linemen Del Williams, Mike Watson, Joel Hilgenberg, Sam Adams, Greg Loberg, Ed King, and Montrae Holland.

Our selection is going to be Hilgenberg, an offensive lineman, who played for the Saints for 10 years, from 1984-1993.

After playing his college football at Iowa, Hilgenberg was drafted by the Saints in the fourth round of the 1984 NFL Draft.

A native of Iowa City, Iowa, Hilgenberg was a backup center in his first three years with the Saints, before taking over as the starting center prior to the 1987 season.

With the exception of the 1988 season, when he started at right guard, Hilgenberg remained the starting center for the Saints through the 1993 season, after which he retired.

In ten years with the Saints, including the 1992 season, when he was named to the Pro Bowl, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Hilgenberg played in 142 games for the Saints, 97 as a starter.