Saints Jarvis Landry to have high school jersey retired Friday

New Orleans Saints star receiver in Louisiana native Jarvis Landry will be getting his high school jersey number retired on Friday night. Landry’s jersey number 80 will be retired Friday night by his high school alma mater Lutcher high school, in their game against Helena Cox, according to New Orleans Sports columnist Rod Walker.

Landry spent the final three years of his high school playing days on Lutcher’s varsity roster. Over that time, he recorded 113 receptions for 1874 yards and 24 touchdowns. Landry displayed a knack for making big plays and sure-handed catches in high school. Those skills earned him a five-star ranking as a recruit, according to On3’s consensus database. After graduating high school, Landry elected to stay in the state, playing for Louisiana’s most prominent college football institution; Louisiana State University, home of the Tigers.

Landry is one of two players who called the city home to join the Saints this season in hopes of capturing the Lombardi Trophy. He and fellow LSU alum Tyrone Mathieu signed with New Orleans this offseason, After spending their professional careers with other franchises.

The former LSU Tigers road to New Orleans was long and winding. And he started out his NFL career as the second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was one of two star receivers taken out of LSU in the draft, with the other being current free agent Odell Beckham jr. Landry would spend his first four years in Miami, earning Pro-Bowl nods in his last three years. In his final season with the Dolphins, 2017, he led the NFL in receptions with 112. Following that season, the dolphins traded ham to the Cleveland Browns for a 4th and 7th round pick. He would spend another four years with the Browns earning two more Pro-Bowl selections while reuniting with his college teammate and friend Beckham Jr.

This offseason, the Browns went through an overhaul on the offensive side of the ball. One of the casualties of this change was Landry, who was released from his contract. That allowed the veteran Pro-Bowl wide receiver to select his team this time, and he elected to come home on a one-year deal worth $6 million.

Landry’s story is still being written. While the city and much of the state will be celebrating his high school jersey retirement on Friday night, his eyes are set on a much bigger prize. Being from Louisiana, nothing would bring him more joy on the field than to play and win Super Bowl LVI this season as a member of the Saints. So far, he and New Orleans are off to a good start after beating their rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, in Week 1. If they can continue on this path, he and the Saints will give the city something else to celebrate in February along with Mardi Gras.