Established: 1967
Home Field: Louisiana Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana
Owner(s): Tom Benson and Rita Benson LeBlanc
General Manager: Mickey Loomis
Head Coach: Sean Payton
The New Orleans Saints were established in 1967. The team was brought about because NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle needed congressional approval to go ahead with the proposed AFL-NFL Merger. Congressman Hale Boggs (who had connections to New Orleans) made a deal with Rozelle to put a new NFL team in New Orleans in return for that congressional approval. The team currently plays in the NFC South.
Unfortunately, the team was not very good. In fact, the team wouldn’t have a successful year until 1987. In 1980, local media personality Bernard ‘Buddy D’ Diliberto suggested that Saints fans wear a paper bag over their head due to the team’s losing records. The trend caught on and soon spread throughout the NFL and into other North American sports. Finally, in 1987, the team posted a 12-3 record and gained a wild card spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately they lost in the first round, but it was the beginning of what would be the most successful period in the team’s history.
The Saints were up and down (mostly down) throughout the 90s. Despite hiring famed coach Mike Ditka, the team remained one of the worst in the league. In 2000, Jim Haslett took over for Ditka and the team went through some big changes. Haslett’s plan to implement a form of the West Coast Offense (inspired by the Denver Broncos) paid off. The team posted a 10-5 record and gained a place in the playoffs – their first since 1991. The success of the 2000 season couldn’t be replicated, however, and by 2001 they were back to posting losing records. Hurricane Katrina hit in 2004, severely damaging the team’s stadium. They were forced to play home games in Texas and New York until 2006.
Championships
League Championships
None
Conference Championships
None
Division Championships
NFC West: 1991, 2999
NFC South: 2006
Saints Trivia
- It took the Saints more than a decade to achieve their first .500 season. It took them more than two decades to post their first winning season.
- The Saints have a history of drafting players who have either Cajun or Louisiana ties.
- The Saints have two mascots: Gumbo the dog and Sir Saint.
