re: Alltime Saints Jersey # Countdown to First Preseason Game

This was a tough one, but one play, one play gets this player for me today because it was such a big play. And he wasn't even on our team at the time.

#81 for only a year in 2005 Az-Zahir Hakim!!!

The play, December 30, 2000. That's right, the Saints first playoff win ever.




With 3:52 left in the game against the reigning SuperBowl Champion Rams, Marshall Faulk had a 25 yard touchdown reception to cut the lead of the Saints to 31-20. The Rams went for an onside kick which Dre' Bly recovered. Two plays later Warner completed a 42 yard touchdown pass to Az-Zahir Hakim. Faulk then caught a pass in the endzone for a two-point conversion which cut the lead to 31-28 with 2:36 left. St. Louis failed to recover the second onside kick attempt but forced New Orleans to punt.

The Play: The punt was muffed by Az-Zahir Hakim, and the Saints' Brian Milne recovered the ball to seal the victory. The first playoff victory in Saints history.





Hakim later signed with Detroit for three years, then the Saints for the 2005 season, started two games and had 34 receptions for 489 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 34 punt returns for 260 yards and 9 kick off returns for 171 yards.





He bounced around the league for a year or two after then opened up a burger place called Quickies Arizona.