You’ll see some names that already made an appearance in the 80s list. Keep in mind, some guys may be ranked ahead of others not because they were better players for the Saints in their careers, but because they were better in the 90s. An important distinction here. Here’s the 10 best in the 90s:
1. Willie Roaf, T – He played 7 seasons in the 90s and made the Pro Bowl 6 times. He’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nuff’ said.
2. Pat Swilling, LB – He played just three years in the 90s with the Saints but he was unstoppable during that span. He made the Pro Bowl all three years (1990-1992) and he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 when he recorded 17 sacks. He was also on the all 80s team.
3. Wayne Martin, DE – Played the entire decade with the Saints (1989-1999). Posted five double digit sack seasons during that span and made the Pro Bowl once. He’s second all time in team history with 82.5 career sacks and he was elected to the Saints Hall of Fame in 2003.
4. Rickey Jackson, LB – Jackson is clearly a top 3 Saint all time. To be clear, I’m not saying Swilling and Martin had better careers with the Saints than Jackson had. I’m just saying they were better in the 90s. Jackson played 4 seasons with the Saints in the 90s, making the Pro Bowl twice. During that span he had seasons with 13.5 sacks and 11.5 sacks twice. He was also #1 on the all 80s team.
5. Vaughan Johnson, LB – He played 4 seasons in the 90s, making the Pro Bowl 3 times. As hard of a hitter as the Saints have ever had. Inducted to the Saints Hall of Fame in 2000.
6. Sam Mills, LB – Played 5 seasons in the 90s and made 2 Pro Bowls. Jackson, Swilling, Johnson and Mills teamed up as what was unquestionably the best linebacking core in NFL history, called “the Dome Patrol”. He was also on the all 80s team.
7. Morten Andersen, K – He was also #2 on the all 80s team. Played 5 seasons in the 90s for the Saints, making the Pro Bowl twice.
8. Jim Dombrowski, G – He played for the Saints from 1986-1996 and was an elite guard throughout his time with the team. Ridiculous that he never made a Pro Bowl as he was clearly deserving. Inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2003.
9. Joel Hilgenberg, C – Like Dombrowski, he was a rock for a very long time. Inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2006. Played from 1984-1993. He made his only Pro Bowl in 1992, playing some of his best football late.
10. Joe Johnson, DE – Played five seasons in the 90s for the Saints, making the Pro Bowl once. Inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2007, his 50.5 career sacks with the Saints is 6th all time in team history.
Previous entries:
Top 10 from the 1980s
Top 10 from the 1970s
Top 10 from the 1960s
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