New Orleans Saints
On the 1st of November 1966, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle announced that the city of New Orleans had been awarded an expansion franchise. The team was named for the classic jazz standard "When the Saints Go Marching In" after local civic group leader Dave Dixon suggested delaying the announcement to coincide with All Saints' Day. John W. Mecom Jr., a young oilman from Houston, became the team's first majority stockholder. His preference for blue clashed with league rules, so the team adopted black and gold to honor the petroleum industry. Tom Fears served as the inaugural head coach while the team played at Tulane Stadium. Their first game on the 17th of September 1967, ended in a 27, 13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams despite a 94-yard kickoff return touchdown by John Gilliam. For most of their first twenty years, the Saints finished third or fourth in their division. They went 20 consecutive seasons without a winning record or playoff appearance until 1987. One bright spot occurred on the 8th of November 1970, when kicker Tom Dempsey made an NFL-record 63-yard field goal to defeat the Detroit Lions 19, 17. The team lost its first 14 games in 1980, prompting sportscaster Bernard Diliberto to suggest fans wear paper bags over their heads.
The 2005 season began under extraordinary circumstances following Hurricane Katrina. The scheduled home opener against the New York Giants was moved to Giants Stadium due to damage inflicted on the Superdome. The remainder of their home games were split between the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Despite playing no regular-season games in New Orleans, the team managed to win three straight games leading up to the season finale. They defeated division rival Carolina but were eliminated from playoff contention after the St. Louis Rams beat the New York Jets. The Saints finished the year with a 3, 13 record while playing away from their home city. This displacement marked the only time in franchise history that they played no regular-season games in New Orleans during a single season. The emotional weight of the situation was palpable as players returned to the Superdome for the 2006 season opener.
On the 17th of January 2006, the Saints hired Sean Payton as head coach and signed quarterback Drew Brees to a six-year, $60 million deal on March 14. The September 25 home opener became the first game back in New Orleans since the hurricane, drawing a sellout crowd of 70,003 fans. ESPN broadcast the game to 10.85 million homes, making it the highest-rated program in network history at that time. Steve Gleason blocked a punt on the opening series which resulted in a touchdown for New Orleans. The team won the NFC South title on December 17, clinching their first division crown on home soil. They advanced to the Divisional Playoffs where they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27, 24 before losing to the Chicago Bears 39, 14 in the NFC Championship. The following year, the Saints started 13, 0, setting an NFL record for the longest undefeated season opening by an NFC team. They lost their final three regular-season games but still reached Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts. The victory marked the franchise's first league championship win.
The 2012 season was dominated by a bounty scandal involving coaches and players. Head coach Sean Payton received a one-year suspension while defensive coordinator Gregg Williams faced a lifetime ban from the league. The investigation revealed an illegal program designed to reward players for injuring opponents. The team finished with a 7, 9 record after starting four straight losses under interim offensive line coach Aaron Kromer. Joe Vitt returned from his six-game suspension to serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season. Despite Brees leading the league with 5,177 passing yards, the defense allowed 7,042 yards, setting an NFL record. The scandal cast a long shadow over what had been a successful period for the organization. It remains one of the most significant controversies in modern NFL history.
Black and gold have always been the team colors since 1967, though John Mecom Jr. initially preferred blue. The league barred black helmets during the 1969 preseason because Mecom did not notify them of the change. Black helmets were not introduced until 2022 after the NFL repealed its one-helmet rule. The team wore white jerseys at home when playing at Tulane Stadium from 1967 through 1974 except in 1969 and 1970. Field temperatures reached extreme levels on PolyTurf surfaces, causing the heavily favored Los Angeles Rams to wilt in the 1971 season opener. The Saints switched to white pants in 1975 coinciding with their move to the Superdome. They began wearing black pants with white jerseys in 1983 under coach Hank Stram before reverting to gold pants with both jersey types in 1986. A fleur-de-lis logo appeared on sleeves and sides of pants from 1986 through 1995 before being replaced by a simpler design. The team introduced an all-white Color Rush uniform in 2016 which they wore undefeated eight times during the regular season.
The Atlanta Falcons serve as the Saints' oldest rival with both teams created as original franchises along the southern coast in the late 1960s. As of the 2025 season, the Falcons lead the series 58, 57 after defeating New Orleans 27, 20 in the 1991 NFC Wild Card game. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have developed a strong rivalry since joining the NFC South in 2002, with the Saints leading 40, 25 overall. Carolina Panthers defeated New Orleans every year from 2002 to 2008, a seven-season streak that included a 19, 7 home victory sparking Jim Mora's infamous resignation rant. The Minnesota Vikings hold a 25, 13 advantage over the Saints as of 2024 but lost to them in the 2018 playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams once shared a fierce divisional rivalry until realignment in 2002. Animosity resurged when the Rams hired defensive coordinator Gregg Williams before he was implicated in the Bountygate scandal. Both teams traded insults following the controversial 2018 NFC Championship Game where a critical pass to Tommylee Lewis was illegally broken up without a flag thrown.
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Common questions
When was the New Orleans Saints franchise awarded and who announced it?
NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle announced that the city of New Orleans had been awarded an expansion franchise on the 1st of November 1966. John W. Mecom Jr., a young oilman from Houston, became the team's first majority stockholder.
What happened to the New Orleans Saints during the 2005 season after Hurricane Katrina?
The scheduled home opener against the New York Giants was moved to Giants Stadium due to damage inflicted on the Superdome. The remainder of their home games were split between the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
How did the New Orleans Saints win their first league championship in Super Bowl XLIV?
The team started 13, 0 in the following year before losing their final three regular-season games but still reached Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts. The victory marked the franchise's first league championship win.
Why did the New Orleans Saints face a bounty scandal in the 2012 season?
Head coach Sean Payton received a one-year suspension while defensive coordinator Gregg Williams faced a lifetime ban from the league for an illegal program designed to reward players for injuring opponents. The investigation revealed that the team finished with a 7, 9 record after starting four straight losses under interim offensive line coach Aaron Kromer.
When did the New Orleans Saints introduce black helmets and what colors have they worn since 1967?
Black helmets were not introduced until 2022 after the NFL repealed its one-helmet rule because the league barred them during the 1969 preseason. Black and gold have always been the team colors since 1967, though John Mecom Jr. initially preferred blue.