Bama Central

Bama in the NFL: Roman Harper, Mark Ingram II Hold Special Place in Saints History

Alabama standouts turned broadcasters both played prominent roles in New Orleans, and helped a city devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Christopher Walsh

Bama in the NFL: Roman Harper, Mark Ingram II Hold Special Place in Saints History
Bama in the NFL: Roman Harper, Mark Ingram II Hold Special Place in Saints History /
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One would think that being so close to Tuscaloosa, the New Orleans Saints would have a rich history with Alabama Crimson Tide players in the NFL. But that hasn't been the case.  

New Orleans served as as the swan song to Kenny Stabler's career, and was also the brief late home for fellow quarterback Richard Todd. In terms of legacy, though, the former Crimson Tide players who top the list with this franchise have to be running back Mark Ingram II and safety Roman Harper.

Not only were they top draft picks by the organization — the Saints traded up to take Ingram with the 28th-overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, while Harper had been a surprise second-round pick in 2006 — and both two-time Pro Bowl selections, but they were crucial in helping New Orleans recover following the devastation from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Ingram played 12 NFL seasons. He rushed for 8,111 yards and 65 touchdowns over his career, also catching 303 passes for 2,125 yards and another five scores. He had three 1,000-yard seasons, led his team in rushing five times, and finished with 19 career 100-yard outings. 

Although the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner, the first in Alabama history, also spent time with the Ravens and Texans, Ingram posted the majority of his stats with the Saints. Over 10 seasons with New Orleans he rushed for 6,500 yards and scored 57 total touchdowns. The rushing yards and 52 rushing touchdowns are both first on the franchise's all-time list. He's just one of just four players to have multiple 1,000-yard seasons with the team (two) and one of only three players to do so during consecutive seasons.

Harper played nine seasons with the Saints. Of his 818 career tackles, 683 were with New Orleans, along with 17 of his 18 sacks, 14 of his 15 forced fumbles, and seven of his 11 interceptions. 

He helped lead New Orleans to Super Bowl XLIV, and the Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl 50.

Interestingly enough, both players left the Saints via free agency, but ended up returning and closing their careers back in New Orleans. Ingram was traded by the Texans during the 2021 season, and then played a final season in 2022. Harper signed a one-year deal for 2016 to serve as a mentor and veteran presence in the secondary. 

Both have become popular college football analysts, Harper with ESPN/SEC Network and Ingram with Fox Sports on the "Big Noon Kickoff" show.

Bama in the NFL: New Orleans Saints

The Franchise

National Football Conference

South Division 

Team Colors: Old Gold, Black and White

Founded: 1966, and was an expansion team in 1967

Stadium: Caesars Superdome (capacity 73,000)

Playing Surface: Turf Nation-M6 

Training Camp: Ochsner Sports Performance Center, Metairie, La.

New Orleans Saints logo

All-Time Alabama Players

  1. James Carpenter, OG, 2021
  2. Travis Carroll, LB, 2002 - 2003
  3. Sylvester Croom, C, 1975
  4. Brandon Deaderick, DE, 2014
  5. Roman Harper, DB, 2006 - 2013, 2016
  6. Mark Ingram, RB, 2011 - 2018, 2021-2022
  7. Dameian Jeffries, DE, 1995
  8. Tony Johnson, TE, 1996 - 1998
  9. Les Kelley, LB, 1967 - 1969
  10. Mark McMillian, DB, 1996
  11. Ogden, Ray, TE, 1967
  12. Kenny Smith, DT, 2001 - 2003
  13. Ken Stabler, QB, 1982 - 1984
  14. Vinnie Sunseri, DB, 2014
  15. Richard Todd, QB, 1984 - 1985

Crimson Tide Players Drafted

Year

Player

Pos.

Round

Pick 

Overall

1967

Leslie "Les" Kelly

RB

1

26

26

1992

Robert Stewart

DT

8

22

218

1995

Dameian Jeffries

DE

4

10

108

1996

Toderick Malone

WR

6

37

204

2001

Kenny Smith

DT

3

19

81

2006

Roman Harper

S

2

11

43

2011

Mark Ingram II

RB

1

28

28

2014

Vinnie Sunseri

S

5

27

167

Super Bowl Appearances

Roman Harper. Super Bowl XLIV (Feb. 6, 2010)

Harper was credited with seven tackles and a forced fumble as the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17. The win was seen as a huge victory for rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Drew Brees completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns to earn MVP honors.

New Orleans Saints safety Roman Harper (41) and quarterback Drew Brees (9) warm up before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in 2012.
Matt Stamey / USA Today Sports

Major Awards/Honors

All-Pro

None

Pro Bowl

Mark Ingram (2): 2014, 2017

Roman Harper (2): 2009, 2010

In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the 23nd story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.

AFC

NFC

See Also:

Bama in the NFL: The Ultimate Crimson Tide Database
Bama in the NFL: Active Alabama Crimson Tide Players by Team

Published
Christopher Walsh
CHRISTOPHER WALSH

Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of BamaCentral, which first published in 2018. He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004, and is the author of 26 books including Decade of Dominance, 100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Nick Saban vs. College Football, and Bama Dynasty: The Crimson Tide's Road to College Football Immortality. He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.