NEW ORLEANS -- On the day before the Saints hope to take home its first NFL championship, the team had another special first: former linebacker Rickey Jackson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jackson played from 1981 to 1993 for the Saints and was a corner of the 'Dome Patrol defense, one of the best linebacker corp in NFL history.
Jackson, who retired in 1995 after two years with the San Francisco 49ers, had 128 sacks and 1173 tackles. He still ranks third in NFL history with 28 fumble recoveries.
Jackson went to six Pro Bowls, was NFL Player of the Month twice and earned All-Pro honors six times in his career.
He's the Saints' all-time sack leader with 115, 32 sacks more than the second-most. At 195 games, he has played in more games than any other Saints save for kicker Morten Andersen, who finished No. 7 on the list.
He led the Saints in sacks four straight years and five out of six from 1983 to 1988.
San Francisco wide receiver Jerry Rice, Minnesota VIkings defensive tackle John Randle, Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, Floyd Little, Dick LeBeau and Washington Redskins guard Russ Grimm join Jackson in the hall of fame.
