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New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram just wanted a number that suited him, and in 2022 he’ll be No. 5 on the roster.
Dat 5️⃣ @markingramII | #Saints pic.twitter.com/FAJmni20oa
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 26, 2022
The number switch came as part of a swap with Saints quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton wanted to get the No. 14 that he has worn for all of his NFL career.
The number change should make Ingram very happy.
When the former Heisman Trophy winner was traded to the Saints last season, the available numbers on the roster were limited. He was stuck with No. 14 and none too thrilled about it.
Ingram, a former first-round pick of the Saints in 2011 (No. 28 overall), had worn No. 28 and No. 22, his number when he played at Alabama, but neither were available.
“A lot of running backs are in thirties, but 30′s too big a number for me,” Ingram told AL.com at the time of the trade. “It’s just too wide. I’m short, stocky. I got to have a number that fits me a little bit…The number options were limited, so I grabbed 14 because it seemed the best of the worst.”
Ingram is heading into his 12th season in the NFL, ninth with the Saints. He has also played for the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texas. Ingram has rushed for 7,878 yards and 64 touchdowns in his career.
He was an All-American and Heisman winner in 2009, rushing for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. Ingram’s efforts help lead Alabama to its first BCS championship under Nick Saban.
Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.
