Congrats to our 2022 #Saints Hall of Fame class:
Fred McAfee and Devery Henderson! ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/BqLxUuPDdH
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) June 9, 2022
Here’s some well-deserved recognition for two underrated players in New Orleans Saints history: the team announced Thursday that wide receiver Devery Henderson and running back Fred McAfee will be inducted to the Saints Hall of Fame, with further celebrations of their accomplishments planned for the weekend of Oct. 28-30 prior to New Orleans’ Week 8 kickoff with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Additionally, longtime trainer Kevin Mangum was named the recipient of the Joe Gemelli “Fleur de Lis” award for his decades with the team. Hired way back in 1981, Mangum has seen a lot of change within the organization and shares some unique insight to the franchise’s early days. It’s great to see him get his recognition.
Henderson, 40, joined the Saints as a second round draft choice out of LSU in 2004 and spent nine seasons with New Orleans before calling it a career. He currently boasts the seventh-most receiving yards in franchise history and leads all Saints players with 200-plus career receptions in yards gained per catch (17.9). He paced the NFL in yards per catch twice, in 2006 (23.3) and 2008 (24.8), as one of the most dangerous big-play threats of his generation.
McAfee, 53, was picked in the sixth round of the 1991 draft out of Mississippi College and spent 10 years with the Saints as a player (across two different stops — he had a 5-year stop in Pittsburgh while also spending a year in both Arizona and Tampa Bay), making a name for himself on special teams after leading the team in rushing yards as a rookie (picking up 494 yards in just 9 games). He’s continued to work in New Orleans’ front office since retiring in 2006 and is entering his second year as vice president of player engagement.
