NFL

It was on November 1, 1966 on All Saints Day the NFL announced the city of New Orleans would receive the sixteenth NFL franchise, it was the obvious choice to name the team the “Saints”. The New Orleans Saints first regular season game took place on September 17, 1967 against the Los Angeles Rams in front of nearly 81,000 people in Tulane Stadium. The Saints would lose the game 27-13 and start off the season 0-7 finishing with a 3-13 record. Even with the struggling Saints team the fans continued to support them with an average home attendance of over 75,000. In 1975, the Louisiana Superdome which seats around 70,000, was constructed to hold New Orleans Saints games.The Saints didn’t have a winning season, with finishes of 8-8 in 1979 and 1983, until 1987 with a 12-3 record losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings 44-10. From 1988-1992, the Saints had a string of successful seasons by their standards by not having a losing season, winning the NFC West in 1991 for the first time in franchise history, and making the playoffs three straight years.

In 2000, the Saints finished tied for first in the NFC West with a 10-6, thirty-three years after the Saints came into the NFL they finally won a playoff game defeating the St. Louis Rams 31-28 in the first round. The Saints would lose to the Minnesota Vikings in the next playoff game 34-16 but all things considering the Saints past, it was a very successful season. After a drought of five seasons with mediocre success and a 3-13 record in 2005, the Saints came alive in 2006 winning the NFC South with a 10-6 record. With additions like play maker Reggie Bush, wide receiver Marques Colston, and productive quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints made their way to the NFC Championship game. The Saints defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round 27-24 it what was a considered a upset by most. The Saints would lose to the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship game 39-14 but this was by far the most successful season in the Saints franchises history.

The New Orleans Saints have had their share of talents players despite their mediocre success throughout their history which include quarterback Archie Manning, wide receiver Joe Horn, fullback Lorenzo Neal, running back Ricky Williams, defensive end Doug Atkins, and kicker Morton Anderson.

The Saints also award a member of the organization with the Joe Gemelli “Fleur De Lis” Award for outstanding contributions to the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints play in the NFC South which is a “flip-flop” division with each team winning the division the last five seasons. The Saints would like to build on their 2006 season and take the next step and reach the Super Bowl in franchise history. The Saints have the outright support of their fans through many years of disappointing seasons. Nothing would please the party town of New Orleans more then with a Super Bowl victory.