Linebackers have always been vital to the New Orleans Saints’ defense. Their exceptional skills and contributions have shaped the team’s legacy. From Hall of Fame inductees to Pro Bowl selections, these players have left a mark on the franchise. Let’s explore the top 10 linebackers in New Orleans Saints history, highlighting their accolades and statistical accomplishments. No shock, but the vaunted Dome Patrol tops the list. Considered the best linebacking crew in NFL history, their status as the top linebackers in Saints history is secure.
DOME PATROL
Rickey Jackson, a Hall of Fame inductee, tops our list. He boasts six Pro Bowl selections and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1990. His stats include 128 sacks, 194.5 tackles for loss, 1,104 total tackles, 26 fumble recoveries, and eight interceptions.
- Pat Swilling
Pat Swilling, a five-time Pro Bowl player and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1991, had an impressive career with the Saints. He amassed 76.5 sacks, 31 tackles for loss, 579 total tackles, 11 fumble recoveries, and four interceptions.
- Sam Mills
Sam Mills earned four Pro Bowl selections. He recorded 20.5 sacks, 38 tackles for loss, 588 total tackles, 11 fumble recoveries, and four interceptions during his time with the Saints.
- Vaughan Johnson
Vaughan Johnson, also a four-time Pro Bowl selection, showcased his skills with 12 sacks, 75.5 tackles for loss, 664 total tackles, 10 fumble recoveries, and six interceptions.
Only Active Player on the List
- DeMario Davis
DeMario Davis, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has been a stalwart in the Saints’ defense. He has 19 sacks, 43 tackles for loss, 614 total tackles, six fumble recoveries, and six interceptions.
- Jonathan Vilma
Jonathan Vilma, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, excelled on the field. He has 10.5 sacks, 30 tackles for loss, 870 total tackles, four fumble recoveries, and 11 interceptions.
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- Scott Fujita
Scott Fujita, a Pro Bowl linebacker, contributed significantly. He recorded 12 sacks, 51 tackles for loss, 543 total tackles, seven fumble recoveries, and five interceptions during his time with the Saints.
- Mark Fields
Mark Fields, the former number 1 pick of the 1995 draft, showcased his talent with the Saints for 6 years. He had 23 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 527 total tackles, 8 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions.
- Scott Shanle
Scott Shanle, a reliable linebacker for the Saints, recorded 8.5 sacks, 48 tackles for loss, 683 total tackles, five fumble recoveries, and five interceptions during his tenure.
- Keith Mitchell
Keith Mitchell, a Pro Bowl linebacker for the Saints, contributed with 22.5 sacks, 62 tackles for loss, 428 total tackles, eight fumble recoveries, and three interceptions during his time with the team.
These linebackers have etched their names in Saints history through their exceptional performances. Their accolades and statistical achievements reflect their dedication and skill in playing a pivotal role in the New Orleans Saints’ defense over the years.
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
Publisher — Black Source Media
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu